Chip Trayanum stood out, running backs took on committee approach versus Hoosiers

COLUMBUS — Chip Trayanum was Ohio State’s leading rusher at Indiana this past weekend. He was also the Buckeyes’ primary fullback. Plus, it was Trayanum who was on the receiving end of a quick-thinking, 3rd-and-8 pass from quarterback Kyle McCord that set the stage for Ohio State’s final scoring drive.

And if it wasn’t for Trayanum tripping on 4th-and-2 in the second quarter, he might have had a touchdown reception. Instead, McCord threw back across his body and was picked off.

Still, that blunder didn’t take away from Trayanum’s standout performance during Ohio State’s 23-3 win over the Hoosiers this past Saturday.

Trayanum forced five missed tackles, three more than he forced last season, and averaged 5.63 yards after contact per rush, according to Pro Football Focus. To put that in perspective, per PFF, no other Buckeyes running back accounted for more than two missed tackles forced or a yards after contact average higher than 2.57 in Bloomington.

Trayanum finished the day with 57 yards on eight carries to the tune of 7.1 yards per carry. The rest of the Ohio State backfield, behind a new-look offensive line working through growing pains, recorded a yards per carry average below 4.0.

“Chip ended up with about seven yards a carry,” Ohio State head coach Ryan Day said postgame. “The other guys were just south of four yards of carry. We’d like to see all that north of five or six yards a carry. Then we’re really cooking.”

Day maintained that TreVeyon Henderson — who finished 47 yards on 12 carries — is still the lead back. Then comes Miyan Williams and Trayanum in no particular order.

All three of them carried the ball seven or more times at Indiana, helping Ohio State reach 143 yards on the ground, the sixth-most of any Big Ten team in Week 1.

Ohio State and running backs coach Tony Alford ended up adopting a committee approach at the position, partly because of the heat — on-field temperatures at sunny Memorial Stadium were higher than 90 degrees — and partly because the game flow.

“Tre’s the starter, and Miyan’s right there and you can see what Chip can do,” Day said.” It’s good to have multiple backs. It was hot today, especially in the first half and so you know Tony rotated them and that was good. There was a couple of drives there that we moved the ball down the field. I forget how many [plays] they were, and it was about time to go to a new back because of how long those drives were.

“It’s it’s gonna be a long season, they’re all gonna carry it. But Tre is the starter, Miyan’s right there and Chip’s right there as well. I don’t think Dallan [Hayden] got a bunch of work today, either. He’s gonna have to play. We only had one football, but all those guys are deserving.”

Speaking of Dallan Hayden, the sophomore didn’t get a single carry at Indiana. He did catch one pass but for negative yardage. Hayden made his first career start in last year’s Peach Bowl College Football Playoff semifinal and played hero at Maryland in Week 12 when he rushed for 143 yards and three touchdowns in the second half.

Hayden, though, hardly got any run the next week against Michigan. Likewise, he wasn’t much of a factor in this year’s season opener.

Williams cleaned things up in the red zone for Ohio State. Twice.

First, he bulldozed his way to the paint for a seven-yard score in the first quarter. Then he collected the Buckeyes’ second and final touchdown of the day with a three-yard plunge in the third quarter. Williams rounded out the afternoon with 25 yards and those two scores on seven totes.

“I think the running backs, I think that’s one of our deepest rooms with — really, in my opinion — five guys that can go,” starting quarterback Kyle McCord said postgame. “I think they all did a really good job. And that’s the thing. The moment Tre gets too tired, you put in Miyan. When Miyan gets too tired, you put in Chip.

“Whatever it is, that way we always have some fresh legs back there. Those guys were running hard today. They did a really good job I think in all three phases: running the ball, catching the ball and pass protection.”

Notice how McCord said “five guys that can go.” The fifth is Evan Pryor, who didn’t play a snap against the Hoosiers but is back this season after missing last year with a torn patellar tendon.

Pryor is just another weapon in a Buckeyes backfield that’s ready to burst.

The thing is, in order for Ohio State to maximize its running back potential, it needs to get things sorted out up front.

Far too often, Indiana linebackers shot through gaps unaccounted for, wrapping up Buckeyes ball carriers at or behind the line of scrimmage. That’s a big reason why the Hoosiers logged five tackles for loss over the weekend.

But Henderson is confident that Ohio State will get right on the ground.

“Definitely some mistakes were made, just as an offense collectively,” Henderson said. “I feel like once we get it together, as long as we just keep working, keep practicing, keep practicing hard and stacking days, I feel like it’ll all come together.

“First game, man. We knew it wasn’t going to be perfect. We knew we were going to make mistakes. But it’s the first game, man. We’re definitely going to clean it up, though.”

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