Amid Preseason Hype, Ezekiel Elliott Concerned Only With Bringing Ohio State Another National Championship

By Eric Seger on July 17, 2015 at 8:35 am
Ezekiel Elliott
60 Comments

Sporting a skin tight black shirt, black shorts and black socks, Ezekiel Elliott shoved a scoop of his Bibibop bowl into his mouth, looking to further prolong the inevitable.

He and three of his teammates were preparing to jump in a van and head to the airport for a trip to Los Angeles and the 2015 ESPY Awards, but the media yearned for a chance to speak with the Ohio State running back and a preseason Heisman Trophy favorite Tuesday morning.

Reluctantly, the shy-by-nature Elliott entered the horde of reporters, messing with his hands as he sidestepped questions for a little more than seven minutes. Inquiries came about the upcoming trip to L.A., how his wrist was healing following a second surgery — "no pain in it anymore," he said — the Heisman Trophy and his expectations for this fall.

"I mean, honestly I don't really care. I'm just here. Heisman, that's going to come with whatever. My goal is another National Championship," Elliott said. "If the Heisman comes, it comes, but the National Championship is more important."

The Buckeyes are coming off an improbable run at the first ever College Football Playoff National Championship, dethroning top-ranked Alabama in the Sugar Bowl and then shoving aside Oregon and 2014 Heisman Trophy winner Marcus Mariota in the title game.

Elliott was magnificent in those affairs, as well as the dominant 59-0 pasting of Wisconsin in the Big Ten Championship Game. In all, he tallied 696 yards and eight touchdowns in the final three games of 2014, clearly the most commanding presence on Ohio State's offense — even with Cardale Jones' play in place of J.T. Barrett.

The St. Louis native's chemistry with the offensive line — or The Slobs, as they've come to be known — was supremely palpable by season's end. And with four of five starters up front returning, it makes sense to believe that if the Buckeyes are going to stay atop the college football mountain, Elliott must play a huge part.

"Just kind of thinking it being part of something you dream about as a kid. I've worked it, we've worked for it. My teammates are a big part of where I am right now," Elliott said of his rise. "The Slobs are definitely the biggest part. Just gotta thank those guys and keep working."

Elliott was left off Big Ten postseason award lists, but then exploded in January to take home MVP honors in both the Sugar Bowl and national title game. Early projections had him as a 6-1 favorite to win the Heisman, and even though he's dropped to 7-1 odds (behind TCU's Trevone Boykin's 6-1), Elliott's become the toast of the town in Columbus.

President Barack Obama made note of his signature crop top look at the White House in April. Due to his wrist surgery, he sat out spring drills, instead running around with a selfie stick and then winning the Fastest Student Competition at the Spring Game April 18. An episode of E:60 documenting his ascent to stardom is slated to air next month.

The city is swarming for answers from Urban Meyer on who between Barrett, Jones or Braxton Miller will play quarterback for the Buckeyes, yet talk of Elliott's dominance and the wealth of talent Ohio State possesses on offense still remains. It might be tough for the running back to win the Heisman Trophy in a now quarterback-dominated sport, but he doesn't seem to mind.

Elliott at Spring Game

"I think defenses are going to have to pick their poison. We have a lot of weapons on offense. I don't think they can just play the run," Elliott said. "I don't think they can just play the pass because we're such a balanced team."

Ohio State is a balanced unit on offense, but the expectations for Elliott alone are also present.

"You see them on Twitter and stuff but none of that means anything until the season comes around and you strap up, get on the field," he said, flashing a huge smile, like he knows exactly what's being said about him in the national media.

But Elliott's success on the ground in the late stages of 2014 make him a popular interview for anyone, even if he'd rather eat food from an Asian Grill and pawn off the attention to someone else.

"Hey Cardale!" Elliott exclaimed after seeing Ohio State's mountain of a quarterback walk outside towards the van, ignoring a question and effectively ending his interview session.

Jones took his turn with the media just like Elliott had to, but the latter's prowess on the football field is surely one that will be analyzed in earnest this fall — even if he doesn't want it or if opposing defenses do their best to not allow it.

"I think next year we're going to see a lot of different schemes, a lot of different fronts," Elliott said. "People are going to pull out everything they got with they play us. I think our coaches will prepare us well and we'll be ready for each game every week."

60 Comments
View 60 Comments