How good are the Ohio State football units compared to other national teams? Here we get back to the offensive side and dig a little deeper to uncover info on running backs (RB).
The Top 5 rushing (RB) units are considered to be, in reverse alphabetical order: Wisconsin, Stanford, Ohio State, Georgia and Alabama.
Wisconsin has a running back who is rated as one of the best 12 of players at any position (Top 12) and who is projected to be a first team All American (AA1). His name? Jonathan Taylor. Last year he set a new freshman rushing record at 1,977 yards. And again this year, Taylor will be running behind one of the Top 5 OLs in the country.
Stanford is also returning a top RB. Last year he rushed for 2,118 yards and was second in the Heisman trophy voting. His name? Bryce Love. Like Wisconsin's Taylor, Love is one of the Top 12 players and is projected to be a AA1. And like Taylor he will again be running behind a Top 5 OL, one that allowed him to average over 8 yards per carry last year.
Ohio State has by far the best tandem of running backs in the country in JK Dobbins (Top 25, AA3) and Mike Weber. They combined for 240 yards per game last year, the best in the Big Ten. Dobbins rushed for 1,403 yards in 2017, and after coming back from a hamstring injury, Weber rushed for 626 yards, and is an excellent pass catcher. Under-rated Weber had 1,096 yards when he was the starter in 2016. Unlike Taylor and Love above, these two will not be running behind a Top 5 proven and experienced OL.
The SEC hype continues– after losing both its 1,000-yard rushers (Nick Chubb and Sony Michel) Georgia is still considered to have one of the best 5 running attacks. Returning will be D'Andre Swift (Top 50, AA2, 618 yards in 2017), Elijah Holyfield (293 yards) and Brian Herrien (263 yards). Backing them up will be two top RB freshman recruits, Zamir White (5-star) and Dalvin Cook's younger brother James (4-star).
After the departure of RB Bo Scarbrough, Alabama will feature RB Damien Harris (Top 25, AA2) who rushed for 1,000 yards in 2017. They are expected to get high production from a deep stable of highly regarded but unproven RBs, including Najee Harris, Brian Robinson and Josh Jacobs. Like Taylor of Wisconsin and Love of Stanford, the ‘Bama RBs will be running behind a Top 5 OL.
Based on college football preseason evaluations, Ohio State may have the best running backs in the country, but that will not be apparent until their inexperienced offensive line comes together.
