Over two seasons as a full-time starter at the college level, Ezekiel Elliott did just about everything that a running back can do. The top-five NFL Draft selection rushed for 3,699 yards and 41 touchdowns between the 2014 and 2015 campaigns, and Elliott was arguably the most dynamic player in the country with the ball in his hands.
With that on the table, Urban Meyer and the Ohio State Buckeyes will be attempting to replace a lot of production from Elliott in 2016, and the head coach addressed that very topic in a Sunday press conference. Bill Landis of Cleveland.com brings word from Meyer that Mike Weber and Curtis Samuel are the two leading candidates to garner touches in the OSU backfield:
"Right now, Mike and Curtis are the top two backs in the program, and they're not Zeke level yet. Curtis is pretty close even for a guy that doesn't get as many reps at pass protection."
Samuel is the most experienced returning member of the Ohio State backfield, with more than 500 rushing yards in his career, but the 5-foot-11, 197-pound junior has also moved around the field quite a bit, playing H-Back and wide receiver. As for Weber, the former five-star recruit and redshirt freshman has all the talent in the world, but there is one main issue in which he is lagging behind Samuel.
That problem? Pass protection.
"But Mike's pretty good, and he won't play if he won't. It's just that's something that's very important, and he's a standup guy, so he'll — that's awful high standard to hold him to, but that's what we're holding him to."
Regardless of who ends up with the bulk of the touches at running back, Ohio State's offense is poised to be quite good once again. It helps to have a returning stud in J.T. Barrett at the helm and, just as importantly, the Buckeyes will boast a talented and deep offensive line.
Urban Meyer has a choice to make at running back for the first time since 2013, but he does have quality options.
