Ohio State Football: JK Dobbins could be a Heisman candidate in 2019
The Ohio State football team already has one Heisman hopeful for the 2019 season. Can JK Dobbins do enough to give the Buckeyes a second?
The Ohio State Buckeyes will have a new-look offense in 2019 as transfer QB Justin Fields will be the signal caller. Fields sas a highly touted recruit and the highest rated to ever sign with the Buckeyes.
Though Fields has never started a game at the collegiate level he is already a Heisman hopeful near the top of the list. That being the case, his partner in crime in the backfield, RB JK Dobbins, will be “overlooked” per se.
Dobbins has had a stellar start to his career at Ohio State as he has eclipsed the 1,000 yard mark in each of his first two seasons. His vision, ability to find holes and agility make him one of college football’s premier backs, yet he is not receiving much attention.
Much of his flying under the radar is due to Wisconsin RB Jonathan Taylor getting a large chunk of the national attention alongside Clemson’s Travis Etienne. But Taylor also draws most of the Big Ten eyes as the top back in the conference.
Due to the styles of offense both schools run, the statistics do favor Taylor. Though they play the same position their roles are different.
Unlike Taylor, Dobbins is not expected to carry the ball over thirty times per contest to give his team a chance to win. Instead, Ryan Day runs an offense with a pass-first mindset that allows for balance between the air assault and ground attack.
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The versatility of JK Dobbins will be utilized and on full display this season as he will carry the ball around twenty times per game, but will also showcase his blocking abilities and receiving skills out of the backfield. Adding one more threat to the already tough to defend Ohio State offense.
Fields arrived on Ohio State’s campus in early December so he is still learning the playbook and coach Day’s offensive system. There is no doubt Dobbins will be relied upon, especially in the early stages of the season as Fields continues to grow and become more comfortable each week in practice and during games.
These reasons provide strong evidence for a dark horse Heisman Trophy case for JK Dobbins in 2019. He has certainly showed he is capable of maintaining a high level of play, but he was never the focal point of the backfield for an entire season due to splitting carries with current Dallas Cowboy Mike Weber.
Next. Leaving after 3 years paid off for these Buckeyes. dark
Do not be surprised if a candidacy for Dobbins grows throughout the QB-centered 2019 season. His name is one to keep in mind and a player to keep an eye on as the Buckeyes officially usher in the Ryan Day era.