Ad Disclosure
Ohio State reportedly loses RB for 2024 to offseason knee injury
By Paul Harvey
Published:
Ohio State has been gearing up for the 2024 season with the hopes of having the deepest running back room in America. Unfortunately, the depth at that position has reportedly taken a hit already.
Dave Biddle with 247 Sports reported on a Friday morning Bucknuts247 podcast that multiple sources have confirmed a significant knee injury to RB TC Caffey. The news has not yet been confirmed by Ohio State, but the belief is that the injury would keep Caffey out for the season.
Caffey began his Ohio State career as a walk-on in the summer of 2022. He saw action as a reserve as a true freshman, rushing for 66 yards and a touchdown on 10 carries.
Unfortunately, his season was cut short by a knee injury that also kept Caffey out of action for the entirety of the 2023 season. He returned to action in the spring before the latest setback that was reported Friday morning.
Impact for Ohio State
Caffey’s injury is not a major one on the surface. Ohio State landed former Ole Miss starter Quinshon Judkins via the transfer portal, and he is expected to spearhead an electrifying tandem with returner TreVeyon Henderson.
Those 2 players contribute to some significant Big Ten Championship odds and expectations for the Buckeyes. Fans can use Tradition’s Ohio sports betting apps to get into the action and track the latest odds and offers.
While Caffey was not expected to be a major contributor in the backfield, he was a key depth piece and the most experienced RB of the group outside of Henderson and Judkins. The reported injury, along with the transfer departures of Chip Trayanum and Dallan Hayden, make for an uncomfortable and familiar feeling among Buckeye fans.
The only other players listed at RB entering the season are a pair of freshmen in 4-star prospect James Peoples (No. 8 RB from the 2024 recruiting class) and 3-star Sam Williams-Dixon (No. 48 ATH from the 2024 recruiting class).
Without Caffey healthy, there will be increased pressure on Judkins and Henderson to remain healthy, something that Henderson has struggled to do in recent seasons. It could also pave the way to an intriguing emergency scenario head coach Ryan Day alluded to earlier in the summer.
According to Day, star safety and incoming transfer Caleb Downs is also working out at RB this offseason. That cross-training is likely related to improving Downs’ vision and reaction time on the defensive side of the ball, but the Buckeyes have used an “in case of emergency” backfield on more than one occasion in recent seasons.
Trayanum, at the time practicing as a linebacker, was used extensively in the 2022 version of The Game against Michigan. Meanwhile, Xavier Johnson went from key special teams player to slot receiver to receiving handoffs in the backfield when injuries cropped up at other parts of the year.
The good news is Judkins is used to be a workhorse back, and Henderson has shown he can be leaned on when he is on the field. However, one more injury would be a major cause for concern for the offense.
Paul is a lifelong fan and student of all things college football. He has been covering college football since 2017 and the B1G since 2018.