Ohio State Football: J.K. Dobbins set to join elite group of Buckeye backs
Many great backs have passed through the Ohio State football program but J.K. Dobbins may reach a mark that puts him into an elite group.
With Mike Weber’s decision to leave the Ohio State football team and turn pro J.K. Dobbins will get the lion’s share of the carries next season. He is coming off back to back 1,000 yard seasons and may very well join a small group of running backs who have led the Buckeyes in rushing three straight years.
Fullbacks Bob Ferguson (1959-1961) and Jim Otis (1967-69) accomplished that feat and Archie Griffin (1972-1975) did so all four years. Carlos Snow was the team’s leading rusher three times (1988, 89 and 91) but missed the 1990 season.
One back who played before Bob Ferguson led Ohio State in rushing two straight years and 13 have since Archie won his second Heisman Trophy. However, none were the leading rusher three straight seasons.
Here is a list of those outstanding backs which includes Heisman Trophy winners Howard “Hopalong” Cassidy and Eddie George.
- 1954-55 Howard Cassidy
- 1979-80 Calvin Murray
- 1981-82 Tim Spencer
- 1983-84 Keith Byars
- 1986-87 Vince Workman
- 1988-89 Carlos Snow
- 1994-95 Eddie George
- 1996-97 Pepe Pearson
- 1998-99 Michael Wiley
- 2003-04 Lydell Ross
- 2005-06 Antonio Pittman
- 2007-08 Beanie Wells
- 2011-12 Braxton Miller
- 2014-15 Ezekiel Elliott
Robert Smith was the leading rusher the only two years he played for the Buckeyes but he sat out during the 1991 season.
With the number of great backs on this list who never led the Buckeyes in rushing three straight years, if Dobbins can do so it would be quite an achievement. But if he reaches the 1,000 yard mark again it puts him in rarefied air.
Archie Griffin is the only Ohio State running back to have three 1,000 yard rushing seasons. He accomplished that feat his sophomore, junior and senior years. Imagine being mentioned in the same breath as the greatest running back ever to play college football.
Dobbins would set a first as well. He would be the first Buckeye running back to rush for 1,000 yards his first three seasons.
I know some of the running backs mentioned above could have been the leading rusher for three years but had to wait their turn because another talented older player was the starter. But that shouldn’t take away from what Dobbins will have accomplished if he has a third straight 1,000 yard season.
He may have had more opportunities than some of the former Buckeye greats but he has taken advantage of them. As a result, he now has the chance to join an elite group of Ohio State backs.
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With the exception of “Hopalong” Cassidy and Bob Ferguson I have had the privilege of watching all of the players mentioned above carry the football. And I was weaned on Ohio State football by watching Jim Otis running the ball between the tackles and Archie Griffin running over or around defenders, so I have always appreciated the great Ohio State running backs.
I guess that’s why I wanted to point out the fact that Dobbins may be on the verge of exceeding the accomplishments of many great Buckeye running backs I have watched play the last half-century. If he does, that will put him among the elite backs ever to wear the Scarlet and Gray.
Next. Predicting the Buckeyes' depth chart next season. dark
Today you only have to mention Archie, Eddie or Zeke and every Ohio State fan will know which former player you are talking about. If the current star Buckeye running back rushes for 1,000 yards during the 2019 season, I have a feeling you will just have to refer to him as J.K.