J.K. Dobbins started at running back against Indiana on Thursday night, becoming the first Ohio State true freshman to start the first game of the season since Maurice Clarett in 2002.
Ohio State's offense looked sluggish in the first half. The Buckeyes only compiled 13 points on 223 yards. But Dobbins accounted for over half of them.
The four-star freshman from La Grange, Texas, compiled 107 yards on 15 carries and added two receptions for 24 yards.
Another look at the two jump-cuts Dobbins turned in on that 35-yard run. The true freshman has 61 yards on 10 carries. pic.twitter.com/6uaZuriQFz
— Eleven Warriors (@11W) September 1, 2017
His debut, along with his career, is still a work in progress, but that first half alone puts him in elite company with other great Ohio State running backs.
| Player | Year | Opponent | 1st Half | Full Game |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| ARCHIE GRIFFIN | 1972 | NORTH CAROLINA | 111 YARDS on 16 CARRIES | 239 YARDS on 27 CARRIES |
| ROBERT SMITH | 1990 | TEXAS TECH | 0 YARDS | 91 YARDS on 11 CARRIES |
| MAURICE CLARETT | 2002 | TEXAS TECH | 100 YARDS on 12 CARRIES | 175 YARDS on 21 CARRIES |
| BEANIE WELLS | 2006 | NORTHERN ILLINOIS | 15 YARDS on 3 CARRIES | 50 YARDS on 10 CARRIES |
| MIKE WEBER | 2016 | BOWLING GREEN | 94 YARDS on 11 CARRIES | 136 YARDS on 19 CARRIES |
| J.K. DOBBINS | 2017 | INDIANA | 106 TOTAL YARDS on 17 CARRIES | 181 YARDS on 29 CARRIES |
