At this time last year, Ohio State's Mike Weber was given the unenviable task of filling in the shoes of Ezekiel Elliott, perhaps one of the best players in school history.
His numbers didn't quite match Elliott's, but all things considered, Weber did all right for himself. He became just the third freshman running back in school history to rush for 1,000 or more yards in a season (Robert Smith, Maurice Clarett), finishing with 1,096 yards and nine scores.
Entering his redshirt-sophomore season, Weber has matured on and off the field according to running backs coach Tony Alford, and that maturity should help improve his production in his second year as Ohio State's starting running back.
"He understands the big picture now. He has gotten faster. Just his maturity level, how he handles his business in the meeting rooms and helping J.K. (Dobbins) out and even helping Antonio (Williams) who has not really played," Alford said Aug. 18. "In the meeting room he is great. He asks a lot of questions, but he also knows the answer. He is trying to get other guys to understand. Mike has grown up a bunch and he has been great."
In addition to his maturity, Weber says he has developed more of a relationship with his offensive linemen, which is creating positive results on the practice field.
"I feel like we are a lot closer team than we were last year. Like the running backs go inside the lineman meetings and laugh around and joke around with them," Weber said Aug. 18. "The holes have been wide open this year in fall camp. That’s been pretty much what (we're) excited to see, and hopefully we’ll get it this year."
While Weber continues to battle back from a hamstring injury, the Ohio State offense is trying to revive its running game after struggling to move the ball at the tail end of the 2016 season.
Running Backs In 2016
While he was Ohio State's undisputed starter at running back, Weber had to split carries with both quarterback J.T. Barrett and H-back Curtis Samuel in 2016.
Barrett, in fact, led the team with 205 carries, while Weber carried the ball 182 times. During an All-American season, Samuel carried the ball 97 times for 771 yards and eight scores on the ground while also leading the Buckeyes in receiving.
Through his first four games as Ohio State's starting running back, Weber accumulated three 100-yard games and looked to be on pace for a possible record-setting year.
Unfortunately for Weber, he would add just one more 100-yard performance in the final nine games of the season. He often became Ohio State's third option when it came to running the ball, as it appeared that the Buckeyes coaching staff was unsure at times of how to utilize him.
Weber nearly reached the 100-yard mark against Maryland, accumulating 93 yards on 12 carries.
His season-high for carries was 21 in the Buckeyes' 24-21 loss to Penn State, in which he managed just 71 yards. He would not get more than 14 carries in a game the rest of the season.
The low point for Weber came in Ohio State's 31-0 loss to Clemson in the Fiesta Bowl, in which he earned just five carries, fumbling on two of them. In his final two games of the season against the Tigers and Michigan, Weber carried the ball a combined 16 times for just 50 yards and one score.
Weber admitted that his limited role was on him, as he did not play up to the standard he set for himself despite winning Big Ten Freshman of the Year honors.
"I think I started off pretty well," he said. "Kind of got less carries towards the end of the year and stuff like that, I didn’t play my best at the end of the year but now my focus is on just making sure that I finish strong this year."
Outside of Weber, Barrett and Samuel, carries in Ohio State's offense were tough to come by.
Demario McCall earned playing time as a true freshman, tallying 49 carries for 270 yards and three scores, with the majority of those stats coming in mop-up duty. Williams, also a true freshman, touched the ball in just one game, carrying six times for 28 yards against Rutgers.
2017 Outlook
Weber battled a hamstring issue for most of fall camp but expects to play in the season opener against Indiana.
Dobbins has burst onto the scene as a freshman and could spell Weber early in the season should the Detroit Cass Tech product not be at 100 percent come Aug. 31.
Head coach Urban Meyer hinted throughout the offseason that Dobbins had the ability to play significant reps as a rookie. He reiterated Monday that the La Grange, Texas native will see time with the Ohio State offense in 2017.
"He'll play. He's earned that right," Meyer said, "We're going to call his family this week and tell them to get ready to watch some football because he's going to play."
Antonio Williams entered spring practice as Ohio State's No. 2 running back, but was passed by J.K. Dobbins.
To earn the right to play, Dobbins had to beat out Williams and McCall on the depth chart. Dobbins passed Williams during spring ball and McCall has since moved to H-back, leaving Dobbins as the Buckeyes' No. 2 option at running back.
Even though Williams was demoted, Alford said he still has faith that Williams could play if needed.
"If you don't like the lot that you are in, change. Get better, and he has. If you don't like your situation, I can help you improve, study," Alford said. "He is a guy that I feel comfortable – hey, let's go play. He is a good football player and he is showing that. I am excited for him."
Final Word
There is no denying this is Weber's job and he is the unquestioned leader of the unit. However, Dobbins could take some carries away from the veteran early on if Weber is not 100 percent.
Regardless of who is carrying the ball, the running backs appear to be more confident in the running game this year with new offensive coordinator Kevin Wilson running the show.
"He’s more into us as far as getting to know his players and he calls really good plays, him and (quarterbacks coach Ryan) Day," Weber said. "He added a few things and mixed a few things around and the play calling’s been on point."
Alford said he has seen his position players respond in a positive way toward the new coaches and that it has been reflected in their play.
"I think that when your leader speaks with confidence and has a little bit of swagger, it is easier to have confidence in what is going on," Alford said. "Then all you have to ask is, 'Do your job.' Here is the plan, here is how it is going to go, here is how it is going to work, here is why it is going to work. Then we can show proof that if you do your job, it works."
