99 Warriors: No. 34, All-American and All-Big Ten Running Back Carlos Hyde

No. 34 Carlos Hyde

Born in Cincinnati, Carlos Hyde moved to Naples, Florida, to live with his grandmother in high school. As a junior, he led the Golden Eagles to a state championship. 

Though he was a four-star prospect in the Class of 2009, poor grades forced him into a post-graduate year at Fork Union Military Academy in Virginia. He enrolled at Ohio State ahead of the 2010 season. 

Hyde served as a backup to starter Daniel “Boom” Herron for much of his first two years on campus, but broke out during his junior season. He finished just shy of 1,000 yards, but scored 16 touchdowns to lead the Buckeyes to an undefeated record in head coach Urban Meyer’s first year at the helm. 

Hyde entered his senior campaign with high expectations, but was suspended for the first three games of the year after he was allegedly involved in a physical altercation with a woman at a bar. He was never charged, but Meyer upheld the suspension for “conduct not representative” of the program and university. 

When he returned, Hyde racked up 1,521 yards — which was at the time the 7th-most rushing yards in a single-season in school history — and 15 touchdowns to help Ohio State to the Big Ten Championship Game and an appearance in the Orange Bowl. He was named first-team All-Big Ten, the Ameche–Dayne Running Back of the Year and third-team All-American by the Associated Press.

Hyde was also the first running back to reach the 1,000-yard plateau in Meyer’s entire head coaching career, which dates back to 2001. Hyde was drafted by the San Francisco 49ers in the second round (57th overall pick) of the 2014 NFL Draft. He rushed for 2,731 yards and 21 touchdowns in four seasons in the Bay Area, then signed a three-year free agent deal with the Cleveland Browns back in March.