Top 3 Ohio State Running Backs In the 2010’s

#3 Carlos Hyde

The first player on the list and the third-best running back that has worn the Scarlet and Gray in the 2010s is Carlos Hyde.

Hyde had a four-year career with the Buckeyes, however, he did not see serious carries in his freshman season.

In this year he only had 24 rushing attempts for 141 yards and zero touchdowns. He also did not have a single reception in his freshman season as Daniel “Boom” Herron, Brandon Saine, and Jordan Hall were in front of Hyde on the depth chart.

In this season, the Buckeyes went 12-1 and won the Sugar Bowl against the Arkansas Razorbacks, however, all 12 wins along with the Sugar Bowl title was vacated as a result of the notorious tattoo scandal.

In his sophomore season, Hyde saw a huge spike in carries and time on the field. He went from 24 carries to 106 and from 141 rushing yards to 566. Hyde achieved his first rushing touchdown as a Buckeye this season. He finished the year with 10 total rushing touchdowns.

He also had his first college reception this season. He had ten catches on the year for 73 yards.

The 2011 season was arguably the worst in recent Buckeye history. The team had many crucial players graduate in the previous year and along with this lost coach Jim Tressel. With the looming sanctions from the tattoo scandal hanging a dark cloud above the whole program the Buckeyes finished the season with a record of 6-7 and a loss in the Gator Bowl against the Florida Gators.

Carlos yet again vastly improved from his sophomore to his junior year despite only playing 10 games. He became a much bigger part of the offense totaling 185 carries for 975 yards and 16 rushing touchdowns.

Hyde took a dip this season receiving wise with 8 catches for 51 yards, however, he caught his first touchdown in his junior year.

The team greatly improved as well. The hiring of Urban Meyer along with the younger players having another season of experience under their belt. There was a bowl ban on the team. However, they won every single game that they played in this season and if they were not banned from postseason play, it is likely that Carlos Hyde could have even carried the Buckeyes to a championship this season if he was able to come back from the injuries that left him benched in the final two games of the regular season.

His senior year was the best of his college career. He had his first 1000 yard rushing season, most rushing attempts, and had his best season receiving wise. He ran for 1521 yards on 208 attempts and 15 touchdowns.

He caught a career-high 16 passes for 147 yards and 3 touchdowns.

The Buckeyes finished the regular season with a perfect record of  12-0, however, would lose both postseason games, losing to Michigan State in the Big Ten championship and losing to the Clemson Tigers in the Orange Bowl.

Hyde went on to be the 57th overall pick in the 2014 NFL draft by the San Francisco 49ers. He has gone on to play for the Cleveland Browns, Jacksonville Jaguars, Houston Texans, Kansas City Chiefs, and will play the 2020 season with the Seattle Seahawks.