Haskins still growing as he returns to his home state leading Buckeyes

History will be the theme of the day for Dwayne Haskins when Ohio State plays at Maryland on Saturday.

That could turn out to be true in more ways than one.

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This much we know: Haskins will enter the game against the Terrapins needing 51 passing yards to break Joe Germaine’s single-season school record of 3,330 set in 1998.

He also trails J.T. Barrett’s single-season touchdown pass record (35) by two so a pair of marks could fall before the sun goes down Saturday.

“The fact that I’m able to go out here every Saturday and have fun with my teammates who mean the world to me, being so close to all these records is a blessing from God,” Haskins said this week. “And the fact that I’m able to go compete for these records is just a testament to the offense and to the coaches and how great they are game planning for us so I’m looking forward to Saturday.”

Wherever Haskins ends up from a statistical standpoint, reminders of his past figure to be present in College Park. He graduated from the Bullis School in Potomac, Md., and said he expects to have 20 family members in the stands.

Haskins knows many of the players who will be on the opposing sideline, and he was once verbally committed to be a Terrapin before a late offer from Ohio State changed his mind in the winter of 2016.

“I probably would say it was very hard just because of the relationships I had built there with the coaches and teachers and players and commits, just how hard it was to say no I wasn’t going there anymore, but it’s been everything and then some to come to Ohio State,” Haskins said. “It’s been my dream since I was a little kid and just to be here and see how great we’re doing right now and being a part of it instead of just watching has been really cool.”

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Haskins’ stats have him near the top nationally in multiple categories, as has been the case all season, but his teammates have seen something new about him this week in practice.

“I’ve really seen him try to take hold of the offense,” senior receiver Parris Campbell said. “He’s been a lot more vocal than he has been.”

Exactly what brought that on was unclear to Campbell, but he seems to wholeheartedly approve.

“Honestly, I love it. I love where he’s at right now,” Campbell said.

“We’re in a time right now as a team and an offense where championships are won in November, and we need Dwayne to step up and be the guy he’s been all year but just take on more of a leadership role.”

Left tackle Thayer Munford has noticed a more vocal Haskins, too, and said, “It just makes the whole team more energetic.”

Coach Urban Meyer sees Haskins’ growth as part of a natural progression coaches want from their starting quarterbacks.

“Everyone knew Dwayne could throw the ball. Everyone knew he had talent,” Meyer said. “I think the different is more him developing into a leader. He was more vocal this week and the previous week as well. That’s the upside. His leadership just continues to develop and being a quarterback, whether that is here or the next level, you’re going to need to be a leader.”

Ticket prices going up?

In meetings Thursday and Friday, the board of trustees is considering a recommendation to raise the average ticket price about 2.5 percent.

Sticking with the variable pricing plan that was instituted in 2013, reserved seats for Florida Atlantic would be $60 and $65 for Miami University while Cincinnati tickets would be $90, Maryland would be $92, Michigan State $147, Wisconsin $170 and Penn State $198 if approved by the board.

That would add up to $822 for someone who purchased every game as opposed to $799 this season.

In 2017, the total price was $815.

The difference is a result of a lack of a third “marquee” game on the 2018 schedule when the top tickets were Nebraska and Michigan.

In the case of all three years, the actual price a person buying a season ticket would pay is lower, however, because purchasing season tickets yields a 15 percent discount for the general public and a 20 percent discount for faculty and staff.

Student tickets are expected to remain $34 per game ($238 total).

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