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The Oklahoma game could determine who becomes Ohio State’s primary back in 2017

Garrett Kroeger

By Garrett Kroeger

Published:

Last year’s starting running back, Mike Weber, is finally healthy from an hamstring injury that hampered him throughout fall camp. But he won’t start this Saturday for the No. 2 Ohio State Buckeyes when they take on the No. 6 Oklahoma Sooners.

Last weekend against the Indiana Hoosiers, freshman back J.K. Dobbins was phenomenal.

The powerfully built back from La Grange, Texas tore up the Indiana defense for 181 yards on 29 carries. While he did not get into the end zone, several of his long runs set up Ohio State scores, helping the Buckeyes defeat the Hoosiers, 49-21.

Since Dobbins played so well in his first collegiate game, coach Urban Meyer made it public that Dobbins will be the lead back heading into the Oklahoma matchup.

“Mike Weber practiced again, he’s good to go,” Meyer said to Die Hards. “To say he’s going to have so many carries, I know I’m going to get asked that a lot, I have no idea. J.K. will start, and we’ll go from there. I saw what you saw, he’s a really good player.”

However, the decision going with Dobbins does raise a question: Who will be the Buckeyes’ lead back as the season progresses?

When Ohio State released its depth chart for the Oklahoma game, it listed Dobbins and Weber as co-starters. That is the most likely route the Buckeyes will go this year.

Both backs present complementary play styles. Weber, who ran for 1,000 yards as a redshirt freshman last season, is a bruiser who fits offensive coordinator Kevin Wilson’s scheme. Dobbins is a shiftier and more of a home-run threat; through one game, he’s flashed more of a complete skill set at running back.

While Wilson’s offense has thrived with a one-two punch when he was at Indiana, it runs smoother when it has a main workhorse.

Weber has proven that he is capable to handling the spotlight.

In 2016, Weber became Ohio State freshman to run for more than 1,000 yards. However, as the year progressed, Weber faded. He saw his carries lessen each week.

For Dobbins, his performance against the Hoosiers broke Ohio State’s record for a freshman in his debut, breaking the mark set by Maurice Clarett in 2002. Like Clarett, who eventually helped the Buckeyes to a national title, Dobbins figures to be a linchpin in Ohio State’s championship hopes this season.

The Buckeyes’ game against the Sooners will be helpful in determining how Meyer and company will rotate the two this season.

“They’ll both certainly play and I think they’re good complements to each other,” Meyer said on the Big Ten coaches teleconference Tuesday afternoon. “Kind of remains to be seen on how we use it. But they’ll both play.”

Regardless of how Ohio State rotates the two or whether they are on the field at the same time, Dobbins’ and Weber’s teammates believe their complimentary styles would be the best for the team.

Heading into the 2017 season, running back coach Tony Alford mentioned how the Buckeyes needed more production out of their backup backs. With Dobbins and a healthy Weber, that does not look like a problem.

A year ago in Ohio State’s 45-24 blowout win over Oklahoma, Weber accounted for 123 of the Buckeyes’ 291 yards on the ground. So, it seems likely that they will go with multiple backs. Ohio State rang up 443 total yards against Oklahoma. Since then, the Sooner have not loss.

Oklahoma was not tested in its home opener last Saturday against the Texas-El Paso, rolling to a 56-7 win at home. The Sooners’ defense gave up only 73 yards on the ground and 167 total yards against the Miners.

Saturday’s game has deep implications in the College Football Playoff chase. It may come down to Ohio State quarterback J.T. Barrett’s consistency in the passing game. However, it is not a stretch that Dobbins’ or Weber’s play will hold the key to a potential Buckeye win over the Sooners and potential national championship. But before Ohio State can sniff the title picture, it needs to figure out who will be the main back for the rest of the year.

Garrett Kroeger