Ohio State Football: Miyan Williams continues to excel

As practice continues, the Ohio State football team might have someone emerging in the running back room.

Wednesday morning, the Ohio State Football team had their first preseason practice. We got our first look at who could start for the Buckeyes in the upcoming season. Even though the veteran running back Master Teague III seems to be fully healthy after a limited Spring, the former three-star sophomore tailback Miyan Williams was the starter at practice.

While it was only the first day of practice, this could be significant news for the 2021-22 Ohio State Football team. Could Teague have a fantastic Fall camp and overcome Williams, absolutely. But for now, Williams has the inside track to be Ohio State’s starting running back.

Williams is a 5-foot-8, 227 pound back that packs a punch. Nicknamed “Meatball”, Williams can bounce off would-be tacklers with impressive power, complemented by his ability to accelerate and change directions quickly.

As a freshman, he rarely saw the field with only 10 carries and 64 yards rushing. Williams was presented with opportunities against Michigan State and Clemson due to a roster decimated by COVID. Against Michigan State, Williams had five rush attempts for 28 yards.

In the Sugar Bowl versus Clemson, the freshman back made some eye-popping plays. Williams made his presence known after a very impressive 15-yard run. He made two Tigers miss with sharp jump cuts and showcased his power by pummeling a Clemson defender. This very run could have signaled what’s to come for Williams’ career at Ohio State.

Williams clearly seized his opportunities as a freshman when the Buckeyes had depth issues in the backfield. After Teague was limited this Spring, it looks like Williams took advantage of yet another opportunity. This says a lot about Williams as a player.

The fact Williams is over Teague for now signals Ryan Day will play the best player, regardless of experience. If Williams continues to impress and looks like the best man for the running back job, he will be rewarded. Day commented on Williams’ impressive offseason,

"But we’ll still wait to see how it goes. I thought his pass protection in the spring was excellent. We gotta keep building on that. And for a guy who was a little bit under the radar coming in, he’s made a big impact."

There is a long way to go before Ohio State’s starting lineup is solidified. But the idea of Williams starting is exciting when considering some of his impressive runs last season. The talent is there for Williams, his ability to make people miss would be very valuable.

At this point, who knows who could start at tailback. Williams, Teague, Marcus Crowley, and TreVeyon Henderson all have an equal shot at the starting spot. The way things stand, Day has made it clear the best player will start.