Carlos Locklyn gives Ohio State RB Legend Bey a huge vote of confidence ahead of IU game

Ohio State faces a massive test on Saturday against the Indiana Hoosiers. It's a battle between the last two national champs. The Buckeyes are looking for revenge after IU beat Ohio State in the Big Ten Championship last season. However, they will have to do so while dealing with some injuries.

Starting right guard Austin Siereveld is out for this game. Perhaps the bigger issue is that running back Ja'Kobi Jackson is out for the game. He has been the most consistent back that the Ohio State Buckeyes have had this year. Without him, Legend Bey will have to step up. Carlos Locklyn has faith in him.

Carlos Locklyn gives Legend Bey a vote of confidence ahead of IU clash

On social media, Locklyn indicated that the Buckeyes will give Bey plenty of opportunities to carry the football against the Hoosiers.

Locklyn has been pushing Bey to step up and be someone they can count on as a freshman. He has a lot of explosiveness, but he clearly has had issues earning the trust of the coaches. Part of that stems from some of the off-the-field problems that he has had.

However, this is a chance that Bey cannot let go to waste. Bo Jackson is still going to get the majority of the carries in this game, but Bey has a chance to force the coaching staff to give him more carries for the rest of the season. He will likely be the backup ahead of Isaiah West.

A good game from Bey against fifth-ranked IU would set him up to be a much larger part of the offense down the stretch. After a bye next week, Ohio State takes on USC and Oregon in consecutive games. Having Bey be an explosive guy they can count on for both of those contests would be ideal.

Jeremiah Smith is still the key to victory for Ohio State

Of course, Jeremiah Smith is going to get a ton of targets in this game. He is the best player in college football, and Julian Sayin is going to be looking his way every time he drops back to pass. He has shown that he can't be stopped, even when he is double-teamed.

Will another receiver step up and make plays? With Smith likely being double- and possibly even triple-teamed, other receivers are going to have an opportunity to get open. Devin McCuin and Brandon Inniss will be back for this game, so Sayin will get some weapons back.

Ohio State has a chance to not just get revenge but also take control of the Big Ten with a win in Bloomington. After losing to Texas, Ohio State can't afford another loss. Having two losses would really put them on the bubble when it comes to making the College Football Playoff.

Bey wanted to be a Buckeye so that he could play in big moments. The moment doesn't get any bigger than this. Playing on the road against a top-five opponent offers him the chance to put himself on the map. That's exactly what Locklyn expects him to do.

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