Ohio State Football: Buckeyes don’t need 2020 running back commit

Some Ohio State football fans are worried about the Buckeyes not having a 2020 running back commitment. I’m here to say that they shouldn’t be.

I’ve heard from more than a few Ohio State football fans that they are worried about the Buckeyes not securing a running back commitment in the 2020 recruiting class. Mostly they are worried about the Buckeyes missing out on four-star Jaylan Knighton and five-star Bijan Robinson and why they have not been able to land anyone else.

Head coach Ryan Day was asked about this yesterday and he didn’t seem to be all that worried. Day said that running backs would be foolish not to give Ohio State a long look, as reported by Eleven Warriors.

"Asked whether he’s confident the Buckeyes will be able to make up ground in running back recruiting, Day said, “I think we will.” Seeing what J.K. Dobbins and Master Teague have done this year, he thinks top running backs “would be foolish not to at least give Ohio State a long look.”"

Our own Peter Burnett wrote a great piece on why 2020 running backs are hesitant to commit to Ohio State a few months back. However, I do not believe fans need to be worried at all.

My stance is this: if the Buckeyes land a 2020 commit then great. If they don’t, no big deal.

I say no big deal because of the emergence of Master Teague and the promising play of freshmen Steele Chambers and Marcus Crowley behind him.

I think at this point we can all assume J.K. Dobbins is headed for the 2020 NFL draft. That would put Teague in line to handle the load for next season. At this point in time, I have no doubt at all that he can handle it.

Teague runs with power, agility, acceleration and he has the breakaway speed of a Ferrari. Teague actually was clocked at a 4.31-second 40-yard-dash time in high school, according to Land-Grant Holy Land.

He’s running so well he is sixth in the Big Ten in rushing with 588 yards on only 86 carries. Let’s be honest here too, he would probably be starting on any other Big Ten team aside from Wisconsin.

Freshman running back Steele Chambers also showed that he can play a bit too. In his lone game of extensive action, Chambers ran 8 times for 63 yards and a score against Miami. Highly touted coming out of high school, Chambers had offers from Alabama, Clemson and Auburn, according to 247Sports.

Marcus Crowley however maybe the next in line to be the No. 2 running back. On the season he has 155 yards rushing on 17 carries for a whopping 9.1 yards per rush average.

Appearing in five games this season, Crowley will be remembered thus far for his 53-yard run against Northwestern.

So while Dobbins may leave the Buckeyes after this season, there will still be three young, talented players in the running back room for Tony Alford to coach up. And don’t forget Ohio State is still trying to flip Iowa State commit and Cincinnati native Miyan Williams, according to Eleven Warriors, although it is not imperative that they do so.

Also, not having a 2020 running back commit leaves the door wide open for highly regarded five-star running back Will Shipley to commit to Ohio State for 2021. Seeing an opportunity for early playing time should really entice the Matthews, North Carolina native into signing.

Buckeye fans need not to worry. The running back situation will be just fine for years to come whether or not Ohio State gets a back in the 2020 class or not.