Ohio State Football: Why 2020 running backs are hesitant to commit
The Ohio State Buckeyes have yet to receive a commitment from a running back in 2020, bringing up the question, why are they struggling to get a RB?
With a deep backfield, the Ohio State Buckeyes are starting to see some of the drawbacks. Even with J.K. Dobbins, Demario McCall, and Master Teague (among others) the Ohio State backfield is extremely deep.
While depth is of course necessary in the short term, too much depth can sometimes create problems for the long run.
When a running back sees a depth chart full of running backs (9 on Ohio State’s official roster), some look to somewhere where they will have a chance to be “Number 1” as soon as possible. Because of this incredible depth at Running Back, Ryan Day has an embarrassment of riches for Tony Alford, who has produced some fantastic RBs in recent years.
Since being hired by Urban Meyer in 2015, Alford has coached Ezekiel Elliott, Mike Weber, and Dobbins to at least one 1,000-yard rushing season each, Dobbins achieving the feat twice.
This pedigree of talented Buckeye backs, with RB historically being one of the Buckeye’s best positions (see Archie Griffin, Eddie George, Les Horvath, Howard “Hopalong” Cassady and more recently Beanie Wells and Carlos Hyde), should be enough to draw recruits to Columbus in a snap.
However, the draw of programs like Georgia (Kendall Milton) and Texas (Bijan Robinson, not official but favored to commit to play for the Longhorns), and the depth at the position for the Buckeyes contribute to the lack of 2020 RB commits.
The Buckeyes still have plenty of options, but the loss of two 5-star recruits shows that running backs aren’t quite as keen to commit to Ohio State at the moment. However, 5-star RBs haven’t always panned out for the Buckeyes.
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The third-highest ranked RB in 247 Sports’ “all-time” recruiting ranking since 2000, Maurice Clarett, had a fantastic 2002 season and was a key player for the Buckeyes in that National Championship season. Soon afterward he got in trouble with the law and the Ohio State program, never carrying the football for the Buckeyes after that miraculous season.
Second-highest in 247’s ranking, Sam Maldonado who only ran for 218 yards in two seasons playing for the Buckeyes.
The only 5-star who really worked out was Beanie Wells, who rushed for 3382 yards and 30 TDs over three seasons at Ohio State, leading the Buckeyes to a National Championship appearance in 2006 and ’07.
Buckeyes should be Big Ten favorite. dark. Next
Even if the Buckeyes don’t pick up a 5-star, they will almost certainly pick up a RB recruit that will add to a history of greatness, with “Running Back from Ohio State” being the only position to have an individual two-time Heisman Trophy winner .