RB Ezekiel Elliott (All B1G, All-American, National Champion, Pro Bowl, All Pro, Dallas Cowboys)

[pnuts34]

I am really going to miss THE BEAST and J. Hall but Rod Smith and Ezekiel Elliott are going to be a powerful one/two punch in the backfield. Sprinkle in some Dontre Wilson, and, of course Braxton and I don't think we lose much. The question will not be in the backfield but along the OL. Warriner has proven that he is a great OL Coach so let's hope that he can help develop Decker, Baldwin, Boren, Elfein, Lisle, etc. into a solid unit.

It's not that easy to just say anymore that smith will be a starter or in the rotation really. It seems like we've been touting him for years as the next Eddie George, or next great RB, and he hasn't done much. I think we can fairly assume Elliott and Wilson will get their carries, but after that, we can't say too much. Smith has 100 total yds from scrimmage this year... I wouldn't pencil him yet, especially with Dunn coming off of a redshirt, and hopefully seeing that the staff will play him or sit him and not care about a transfer. And we still have the wildcard in warren ball as well, smith better start putting in work in the weight room and the film room, or get passed up by the young pups. Seniority won't save you in this crowded and talented backfield.

And scriptohio, I agree, losing Hyde will hurt a lot. Especially after seeing him play like a man possessed this season. He's playing himself into a higher draft status

 

[HorseshoeFetish]

I think we lose quite a bit when we lose Hyde. Very few backs in all of college football has his combination of speed, power, blocking ability, durability, consistency, ability to catch the ball, and ability to hold onto the ball. I do think Elliot will be a very good (maybe even great) back; but he just isn't playing at that level yet. And yes I know Elliot hasn't had a lot of game opportunities to prove himself.

I agree with this, but don't we lose something pretty much every time a RB leaves Columbus? I'll miss Hyde something fierce but I get the feeling that whoever gets labeled as the starting RB next year will be a whole new guy that we hate to lose.

 

[Oh8ch]

I agree with this, but don't we lose something pretty much every time a RB leaves Columbus? I'll miss Hyde something fierce but I get the feeling that whoever gets labeled as the starting RB next year will be a whole new guy that we hate to lose.

It is the nature of the beast in CFB that talent flows in and just as it reaches its peak it flows out. Hyde is clearly one of those beasts. But FWIW in his first season Hyde carried 24 times for 141 yards. Elliot now stands at 24 carries - for 218 yards.

Of course the key next year as it is this is not the man standing behind the QB, but the five in front of him. And replacing four seniors will be much more of a challenge than replacing Hyde.

 

[TDunk]

It is the nature of the beast in CFB that talent flows in and just as it reaches its peak it flows out. Hyde is clearly one of those beasts. But FWIW in his first season Hyde carried 24 times for 141 yards. Elliot now stands at 24 carries - for 218 yards.

Of course the key next year as it is this is not the man standing behind the QB, but the five in front of him. And replacing four seniors will be much more of a challenge than replacing Hyde.

^^ So much this. With Decker being the only returnee (and probably being moved to LT), the big uglies need 4/5 replacements. It was nice to see the second string get some push against PSU, but it won't be the strength of the O next year. The one thing I do like is there should be cohesiveness between the 4 replacements since they have played together as a unit this year.

To keep it on point with this thread, EZE is gonna be one bad dude. He's got quicks, vision, burst, and moves. Excited for his future as he seems to be a solid running back, but a better person ala Archie.

 

[RugbyBuck]

EzE is the future.

 

[ArmyVet83]

EzE is going going to be very, very good. While he is a different back than Hyde, tOSU will not miss a beat at RB. Nice rotation of Smith, EzE, Wilson and maybe Ball. The only question mark will be the O-Line.

 

[southcampus]

I'll admit, I wasn't really high on EzE coming out of HS. His film was great but I was very skeptical of the competition. By all accounts, he is one of the hardest working guys on the team and he makes plays when he's in the game. Good blocker, hard runner, great kid. Seems like a perfect fit for Urban Meyer's Buckeyes.

 

[NJ-Buckeye]

At first mention of him... I remember he was listed as 6' and some 180 lbs... so I didn't pay a ton of attention figuring it meant he was 5'10 175...
This is a big dude.. when I saw him next to Jordan Hall after one of Zeke's TDs early on... had to take a double take
He'll be Carlos size in 2 yrs

 

[pnuts34]

At first mention of him... I remember he was listed as 6' and some 180 lbs... so I didn't pay a ton of attention figuring it meant he was 5'10 175...
This is a big dude.. when I saw him next to Jordan Hall after one of Zeke's TDs early on... had to take a double take
He'll be Carlos size in 2 yrs

What do we want him that size for? I'd be fine if he stayed around 210-215, and kept his speed amd quickness. He seems to be a speedster (since he excelled at track as well) and not a power guy, but can still run over a db if need be. If we need power we still have Dunn for the future. Just my opinion

 

[NJ-Buckeye]

Two years under Mariotti.. and he won't be able to avoid adding 15-20 lbs of muscle

 

[HorseshoeFetish]

Two years under Mariotti.. and he won't be able to avoid adding 15-20 lbs of muscle

According to Urban, Dontre already has.

 

[WaitingforKickoff]

Elliott, Dunn, Ball and Smith by committee next year, and probably in that order. Yes, we are loaded.

 

[ant80]

It seems only yesterday that Rod Smith was called the back with the most upside, and compared to Eddie. Now Elliott is the new flame. Let the contest play out next year, and we'll see.

 

[maximumblitz]

It seems only yesterday that Rod Smith was called the back with the most upside, and compared to Eddie. Now Elliott is the new flame. Let the contest play out next year, and we'll see.

Agreed. And in Urb's press conference today, I believe he mentioned how good all the competition at running back was good, causing everyone to really press hard, resulting in tangible improvements.

 

[pnuts34]

It seems only yesterday that Rod Smith was called the back with the most upside, and compared to Eddie. Now Elliott is the new flame. Let the contest play out next year, and we'll see.

Agreed. I don't think any of us can note for sure any order the RBs will be playing next year. Rod was supposed to be a 1-2 punch with hyde this year and hall was going to be involved in the passing game more, and elliott was only going to get garbage minutes... my how things have changed since the off season.
Rod, EzE, warren, brionte, dontre and we got parris campbell and curtis Samuel coming in as well. Just think about how sick that is! And a large percentage of the guys can be effective in the passing game as well.