SCOTTSDALE, Ariz. — Mike Weber saw the gifts his predecessor gave away. He wanted badly to do the same.
“I wish I had enough money to do that,” Ohio State’s running back joked Tuesday.
Former Buckeye and current Dallas Cowboys star Ezekiel Elliott made headlines last week when he bought his offensive linemen John Deere utility vehicles for Christmas. Just a redshirt freshman at Ohio State, Weber obviously doesn’t have that type of budget, but the Detroit native said he wants to do something to thank the Buckeyes’ five starters up front.
“I’m working on it,” Weber said. “I’m thinking about dinner, but I’m trying to think of something crazy.”
This matters because a running back taking care of his offensive line is important. Weber can’t succeed in Ohio State’s system without Jamarco Jones, Michael Jordan, Pat Elflein, Billy Price and Isaiah Prince in front of him the same way Elliott couldn’t without the five linemen he played with. There’s a certain element of chemistry needed, both on and off the field, for it to work.
For Weber, it didn’t always come easily. He sat behind Elliott last season, redshirted and fell into some bad habits. Many of his teammates said he had a lot of growing up to do if he was going to be a contributor in the immediate future.
But after Elliott left early for the NFL and it became clear Weber was going to be the bell cow running back for the Buckeyes in 2016, Elflein and Price took it upon themselves as the leaders of Ohio State’s offensive line to start building the trust required to make things work.
All throughout winter workouts and summer conditioning, Weber was paired with the two All-American offensive linemen — or quarterback J.T. Barrett — to make sure they were on the same page.
“Right after the Fiesta Bowl [against Notre Dame], we had conversations about him having to grow up,” Elflein recalled. “Like, ‘We need him to grow up right now. Quit being immature, take responsibility for his body, take accountability for his unit,’ because he was the next guy in.”
“He responded, he answered the call and he did that and he’s been playing good football because of it.”
Talent was never really an issue for Weber. Coming out of Cass Tech High School, a Detroit powerhouse, he was a four-star prospect and the No. 9-ranked running back in the country. Nearly every school in the Midwest wanted him, but in the end, it was between Ohio State and archrival Michigan. Urban Meyer and the Buckeyes ultimately won out for his services and just two years later he’s the starting running back on a College Football Playoff team.
But an injury in fall camp during Weber’s first year slowed his progress, and as a result, he fell into some bad habits throughout the course of that season. That had to change if Ohio State was going to be any good, and it was Barrett and the Buckeyes’ offensive line who spearheaded the effort.
“The kid worked hard, but he wasn’t always locked in and focused,” Elflein said. “He didn’t really get the importance of it as much as I did, I guess. Now, he realizes what it takes to be a good player.”
Throughout the process, Elflein and Co. gained trust in Weber and vice versa.
“Trust comes over time,” Weber said. “I feel like me being here for two years, they trust me now and I trust them.”
The results somewhat speak for themselves. Weber became just the third freshman in Ohio State history to run for over 1,000 yards in a season. Weber has 1,072 rushing yards and nine touchdowns this year and is averaging 6.1 yards per carry this year for the Buckeyes.
Those numbers wouldn’t have happened without a bond formed between a running back and his offensive line. It’s essential to the success of any offense.
“It’s always good to have a great relationship with your linemen,” Weber said. “They’re your money makers.”
With that potential future money, perhaps one day it will be Weber who is the one buying the UTVs.
