Ohio State Football: JK Dobbins wins battle of freshman running backs
Ohio State’s JK Dobbins and Wisconsin’s Jonathan Taylor are two of the best freshman running backs in the country. Dobbins had the better day on Saturday.
One of the more interesting matchups heading into the Big Ten Championship game was the duel between the two best freshman running backs in the conference. Ohio State’s JK Dobbins won that battle versus Wisconsin’s Jonathan Taylor hands down.
Dobbins ran the ball 17 times for 174 yards (10.2 yards per carry). Taylor’s stats, 41 yards on 15 carries.
And Dobbins set the tone in the first half with a 77 yard run that let the Badgers know if he found a crease it was off to the races. In one carry he gained nearly as many yards as Wisconsin usually allows on the ground during an entire game.
Yes, the Badgers were only yielding 80.5 yards per game on the ground entering Saturday’s contest. And that was tops in the country.
More from Scarlet and Game
- Ohio State Football: How Denzel Burke has bounced back so far this season
- Ohio State basketball: Buckeyes conference schedule is set
- Ohio State Football rolling into form at the perfect time
- How Ohio State football has done historically versus new Big 12
- Ohio State Football: We need to see “Killer Ryan Day” at South Bend
Dobbins’ rushing total pushed him past Maurice Clarett’s Ohio State freshman rushing record of 1,237 yards. He has now rushed for 1,364 yards with one more game to play. He also has the record for yards from scrimmage by a freshman with 1,499.
And to think Dobbins won this battle against Jonathan Taylor who was the leading rusher in the Big Ten this season. He had already rushed for 1,806 yards 150.5 (ypg). According to Jake Kocorowski of Buckys5thquarter.com it was the third highest rushing total ever in the FBS by a freshman.
The fact that Dobbins won the battle of the two terrific freshman running backs should not diminish the season Taylor had, he was terrific. The large disparity in the stats was in large part due to the fact Ohio State dominated the trenches on both sides of the ball.
Next: Want to make the playoff? Don't lose by 31 to Iowa
Both Dobbins and Taylor are going to be fun players to watch going forward. I suggest you watch them as often as you can over the next two seasons. Because barring injury, the two will probably be heading off to the NFL after that.