It’s the holiday season; a moment to recognize all of the blessings in our lives while spending time with friends and family. Lucky for me, all of you readers here at 11W are friends so I feel this is the perfect forum to recognize one of our collective blessings: Carlos "El Guapo" Hyde.
No. 34 runs with light feet and an angry heart. The combination is devastating for anyone who has the marbles to get in his way. Take it from Coach Drayton
Hyde has had an unbelievable year despite missing the first three games of the season. The senior is averaging 7.7 yards a carry (not a typo) while amassing 1,408 yards and 14 TDs on the ground with another 2 TDs through the air. The trip to the Orange Bowl should be a special one for the Florida native who will get a chance to wear the Scarlet and Gray for the final time in his home-state.
But, before we say our final goodbyes to El Guapo let’s take a moment to reflect on his top five moments of the 2013 season.
No. 5: Hanging 63 On The Lions
While the Buckeyes were busy handing Penn State their worst loss in 114 years, Carlos Hyde decided to show off his speed, outrunning everyone for a 39 yard TD to put the Buckeyes up 35-7.
No. 4: Getting Loose Against Indiana
On the opening possession of their game against the Hoosiers, the Buckeyes promptly marched down the field powered by a 41 yard Braxton Miller run. Working from their own 16-yard line, the Hoosiers' D dialed up the right call, blitzing a linebacker right into Carlos. Here’s how that ended up:
No. 3: Five TDs in the Champaign Wind-Tunnel
On a day where nothing seemed to be working for Miller through the air, Hyde took over, rushing for 246 yards and 4 TDs on the ground with another TD off of a pass in the flat which he promptly housed.
His day was monstrous to say the least, as his 35 points helped the Buckeyes “escape” 60-35. Here is every TD from that game on repeat forever:
No. 2 Beast Mode Against Iowa
With the game knotted at 24 to start the fourth quarter, Hyde took the handoff at the Iowa 19 and found some running room on the right side. Slicing through two defenders with just one man left to beat, Carlos became the victim of a full-on grown-man lumber-laying. A mortal would have crumpled under the blow, but Carlos absorbed the hit, staggered back five yards, regained his balance then dove into the end-zone. #WeightRoom
No. 1 Everything at NOrthwestern
With 6 minutes left in the third quarter of the Northwestern game, the Buckeyes were officially in trouble. The Scarlet and Gray were struggling for answers with Braxton Miller looking shaky at best; turning the ball over an uncharacteristic three times in three quarters of play. Toss in a Buckeye failed fake punt and October 5th had all the makings of an upset in Evanston. That’s when Hyde decided enough was enough.
Down 23-13 Carlos took off his Clark Kent suit, scoring the Buckeyes next 21 points and helping to bleed out the clock in the process. The Wildcats simply did not have an answer for the bowling ball disguised as a man, and the Scarlet and Gray rode him to victory. Make no mistake, the Buckeyes were saved that night by Carlos. Here are all three of his heroic moments:
So raise your glass to No. 34. Cheers to an amazing 2013, and here’s hoping for a few more endzone flexes in Miami.
