Ohio State football: Steele Chambers moving to linebacker?

There have already been some position changes within the Ohio State football program. Could there be one more on the horizon?

The speculation about a position change for Ohio State running back Steele Chambers looks like it is going to happen. According to Buckeye Scoop and their longtime Ohio State football insider Tony Gerdeman, Chambers will make the move to linebacker. Gerdeman said on Twitter there has not been an official announcement, but things are heading that way.

This move makes sense for the Buckeyes and Chambers. He is currently part of a very crowded and talented running backs group. While a rotation at that position is far from being decided, he looks to be on the outside looking in. A switch to linebacker would help a position in need of depth.

With Mitchell Melton apparently out for the season, the team has only seven healthy scholarship linebackers. This doesn’t include transfer Palaie Gaoteote, who is not yet listed on the official roster, or Roen McCullough, who is listed as a combination long snapper and linebacker. A position change would also allow Ryan Day to potentially get another athletic player on the field.

The 6’1, 220-pound sophomore is not unfamiliar with linebacker. When he was being recruited out of Roswell, Georgia, he was officially listed as an athlete. Many wondered if he’d end up at linebacker with the Buckeyes rather than running back. During the June one-day camps for potential recruits, he was seen helping with the linebackers.

Chambers has shown flashes at running back in his two seasons with Ohio State. He’s had just 28 carries but has averaged nearly eight yards per attempt. Although his opportunities have come in mop-up time, he’s been plagued by fumble issues which have led to periods where he has disappeared from the backfield.

I think this is a smart move by the Buckeyes. Day believes in getting his best players on the field even if it means a position change. With three years of eligibility remaining, Chambers has plenty of time to learn the position and make a push for significant playing time.