Tony Alford is gearing up for the 2023 season, and his running back room at Ohio State is arguably among the deepest in the country.

Miyan Williams and TreVeyon Henderson — the team’s top options a season ago — are back in the fold, but a lot of attention will also be on Evan Pryor. After expecting to receive an increased role in 2022, Pryor saw his season cut short with a devastating injury in camp.

During Saturday’s session with the media, Alford indicated Pryor is back to 100% physically to start training camp. However, Alford also explained the plan is to slowly ramp Pryor up in terms of his reps and workload.

“Been great coming back and just got to get him back, not completely throw him to the wolves if you will right away,” said Alford. “There’s gonna be a transitional period of building him back into it which he’s been good. He’s chomping the bit to continue and go get more reps and kind of peeling that back a little bit and kind of ‘Okay, you’re going to get yours. We’ve gotta build it, not all at once.'”

Evan Pryor’s outlook

As a true freshman in 2021, Pryor had just 21 carries but registered 98 yards and a touchdown on those carries. He was already teasing a more versatile role in 2022 before his injury sidelined him for the entire season.

Determining how the reps will be distributed this fall is hard to determine at this point with Pryor, Williams and Henderson returning in a backfield that also includes Chip Trayanum and Dallan Hayden. Three of those players rushed for at least 500 yards a season ago.

Even if the Buckeyes opt for a “by committee” approach in the backfield, Pryor should get a number of touches this fall. The depth in the RB room should also serve Ohio State well as the Buckeyes navigate the ups and downs of a B1G schedule.

Main photo via Kellyanne Stitts (@KellyanneStitts) video on Twitter.