The No. 1 player on this list set an Ohio State freshman rushing record last season and spent the offseason working to improve upon his outstanding rookie year.
No. 1 — J.K. Dobbins, So. Running Back
There was plenty said of J.K. Dobbins last year at this time. He was making waves and teammates and coaches were talking.
His performance — combined with Mike Weber’s hamstring injury — led Dobbins to get the opening night start at Indiana one year ago.
In that game, he carried the ball 29 times for 181 yards. In his first carry of the second quarter, he introduced everyone to his now-patented jump cut that sends the Buckeye fans swooning.
That would be his only 20-carry game of the season, however. In fact, only three more times that season would he even reach 15 carries.
To put it another way, that was about as efficient a 1,400-yard season as you’ll ever see. Dobbins averaged 7.2 yards per carry on his 194 carries, and while a whole heckuva lot of it had to do with his teammates and the system, he is also talented enough to find yards on his own.
Last season, Dobbins became the first Ohio State true freshman to rush for 100 yards against Michigan (101 yards) since Braxton Miller in 2011, and the first Buckeye rookie running back to do it since Maurice Clarett in 2002.
Statistical History
What He Does Well
This could be a very long list, but we will try to tighten up because we’re all busy here.
J.K. Dobbins has tremendous balance, which allows him to bounce off of tacklers and stay upright and find big hits on an average running play. He has the burst to get into the secondary and the vision to make life difficult all along the way.
Last season, Dobbins had more rushes of at least 20 yards (16) than Penn State’s Saquon Barkley (14), who had 23 more carries. Dobbins’ 16 such carries tied for the lead in the B1G with Wisconsin’s Jonathan Taylor, who had 105 more attempts.
The difference between the three of them, however, came when that 20-yard carry turned into 30 and then 40 and then 50 yards or more. Seven of Taylor’s 16 20-yard runs turned into 40 yards or more, and six of Barkley’s 14 went for 40 yards or more. Only four of Dobbins’ 16 20-yard carries went for 40 yards, and that is something he has worked hard to fix over the offseason.
J.K. Dobbins in 2018
Everything that you saw last year from J.K. Dobbins, you should see again this year, but faster, stronger, and better.
Will the offensive line pose an issue? Possibly, but not probably.
With Dobbins and Mike Weber splitting carries, both players will remain fresh throughout the game. That means Dobbins will have the necessary wind to turn those 20-yarders into 40-yarders and into 60-yarders.
There are no speed concerns with Dobbins. Running backs coach Tony Alford emphasized that this spring, but there are definitely things they can work on to enhance his big-play ability.
J.K. Dobbins averaged 7.2 yards per carry last season and had more 30-yard rushes (10) than any running back in Urban Meyer’s Ohio State tenure. Those are big shoes that Dobbins is running around in, and they don’t appear to be shrinking any time soon.
And they certainly aren’t going to slow him down in 2018.
What They Are Saying
“He improved some in his pass pro – not where we want him yet. I would probably say his knowledge of the game.” — Tony Alford this spring on where Dobbins has improved.
“I think that’s a lot of just strength and speed training with our strength and conditioning coach, Coach Mick. The kid can run. I think some of it had to do with him getting worn out at the end of the year because there were a lot of reps in training camp and throughout the season, but that’s not an excuse. He’s got to build up some more stamina as we progress through the year.” — Tony Alford on Dobbins getting caught from behind last year.
“Absolutely. Absolutely. And you recruit that way. That’s how you want it to be because if they didn’t want the ball, and they didn’t want to play, and they didn’t want to compete, then why the hell would I want them? I don’t want to be around just a person, let alone coach a player. If you’re not a guy that wants it and is hungry to succeed and compete, then why would I want you? That’s just how I think. I’m not saying I’m right, but that’s how I think.” — Tony Alford on wanting running backs who want the football.