UC Performance a Confidence Booster for JK Dobbins, Buckeyes
One of junior running back J.K. Dobbins’ goals this season was to get back to his freshman form. Last season Dobbins averaged 4.6 yards per carry, which was well under his 7.2 yards per carry as a true freshman.
In the season opener last weekend, Dobbins averaged just 4.3 yards per rush and totaled 91 yards and a touchdown on 21 attempts. His performance was okay, but raised questions about just how close to his previous stellar form he could actually get.
On Saturday against Cincinnati, however, Dobbins seemingly answered any questions by rushing for 141 yards and two touchdowns on 17 attempts, averaging 8.3 yards per carry. And he didn’t even carry the ball in the second half.
Dobbins did come back into the game when his blocking was required, but it was junior Demario McCall and redshirt freshman Master Teague III who split the majority of the carries for the rest of the game.
His 141 first-half yards were the most for one half in his career as a Buckeye. His performance on Saturday also moved him up to 15th place in career rushing yards in Ohio State history.
“I was a little more focused on me than everything else and I think that helped a lot,” Dobbins said of his performance against Cincinnati.
Head coach Ryan Day credits the guys around Dobbins — including assistant coaches Kevin Wilson and Greg Studrawa — and the work they did throughout the week for his improvements on Saturday.
“I think J.K. was irritated all week,” Day said. “Just the same kind of thing — nothing fit right last week, just didn’t feel right. It was one of those strange opening games but we worked hard this week. Stud and the O line did a great job. And J.K., when he got to the second level he was rolling today and I thought it was great getting J.K. going and the O line did an unbelievable job. Tribute to Kevin Wilson and Stud and all the guys who worked on that this week.”
Entire article:
https://theozone.net/2019/09/uc-performance-confidence-booster-jk-dobbins-buckeyes/