Ohio State Football: Thank you, J.K. Dobbins – for everything

Star running back for the Ohio State football team, J.K. Dobbins announced that he is taking his talents to the NFL, concluding his historical career at OSU.

J.K. Dobbins has been a legendary running back for the Ohio State football team the past three seasons. On Monday, Dobbins tweeted that his career at OSU is now coming to an end.

Dobbins has captivated Ohio State fans ever since stepping foot in the Horseshoe as a freshman. Watching his blazing fast, inhuman speed help him get past defenders has been something to marvel at.

He has made fans out of anyone and everyone with his play and determination on the field. Even LeBron James was heard cheering loudly for him in the Cleveland Cavaliers’ locker room during the 2017 Big Ten Championship Game. You can watch the video on Eleven Warriors here.

Dobbins has grown and become a better back each of the past couple of years, but especially this season. Not only did he have that speed, but this season we saw him use muscle to run defenders over.

He eventually ran for a school-record 2,003 yards this season and finished second on the Ohio State all-time rushing list with 4,459 career rushing yards.

We don’t only love him for his talent though. This man has the heart of a champion. Dobbins has constantly expressed his appreciation for his team and Buckeye fans over the years, and he paid them with a gutty performance in the College Football Playoff on Saturday, his last game ever as a Buckeye.

We could all see that he was clearly in pain with an ankle injury, but he pushed through it to try to get The Ohio State University to a national championship. Not many college football players would push their bodies for their schools, at the risk of losing money or draft stock at the next level, but Dobbins did. He wanted to win a national championship, and he, honestly, should still be getting the chance to play for one.

You can tell the appreciation he has for the school and the fans in the letter he wrote, announcing that he is going to the NFL.

This is what Dobbins wrote.

"Dear Ohio State,Thank you for everything. Coming to Ohio from Texas has been nothing short of a dream. I’ve built relationships that will last me a lifetime at this great university. I’ve created bonds with my brother on the teams for the past 3 years that will never be broken.Buckeye Nation, thank you for all the incredible memories. I love you guys more than you will ever know."

Ohio State has had many great backs over the years. Fans never thought they could love a back more than Archie Griffin, then came Eddie George, then after that was Beanie Wells, then Ezekiel Elliott, and then the past three years they fell in love with another great running back – J.K. Dobbins.

Thank you, J.K. It has been a pleasure watching you suit up in the scarlet and gray the past three years. Your play on the field and the class you show off of it is one of a kind. We will always be thankful for you. In the words of Fox broadcaster Gus Johnson, “J.K. all day.”