Mike Weber Suggests He Will Return For 2018 Season

Ohio State running back Mike Weber will apparently return to play the 2018 season for the Buckeyes.

Weber seemingly announced his decision on Twitter on Saturday night, writing simply, “One more year.”

Weber will be a redshirt junior this fall.

His 2017 season was marred by a serious hamstring injury suffered at the start of fall camp. Weber played sparingly for the first month of the season as he recuperated, and his up-and-down year continued through the fall.

His first extended action came in the Buckeyes’ blowout win at Rutgers when he scored three touchdowns.

Weber, a native of Michigan, had two of his most memorable games of the season against his home state schools. He exploded for 162 yards and two touchdowns on just nine carries against Michigan State. Weber also scored the game-winning touchdown in the Buckeyes’ victory in Ann Arbor.

After that, his season took another turn. He fumbled during the Big Ten Championship game, and saw limited action after that. He had only 9 carries for 24 yards combined in that win over Wisconsin and the Cotton Bowl.

Following the Cotton Bowl, Weber appeared to be emotional during the singing of “Carmen Ohio” and told reporters he was uncertain whether he would return for another year or turn pro.

Weber was a sensation in 2016, rushing for more than 1,000 yards as a redshirt freshman, but the combination of injury and the emergence of true freshman J.K. Dobbins cost him the chance to match that total last fall. Weber figures to split carries with Dobbins again in 2018.

By returning, Weber has the chance to prove to NFL teams that he can remain healthy. He missed the entire 2015 season with an injury, and then had to sit out parts of 2016 and 2017 as well.

Weber’s return means the Buckeyes will be loaded at running back this fall. He and Dobbins will be joined by junior Antonio Williams, and freshmen Brian Snead and Master Teague. Sophomore Demario McCall and freshman Jaelin Gill could also see action there.