Ohio State embracing competition that comes with deep running back room

COLUMBUS — Four different Ohio State running backs led the team in rushing at least one game last season. They’re all back.

And that doesn’t include a fifth scholarship Buckeyes running back, Evan Pryor, who missed all of 2022 with an ACL tear. Pryor is working his way back to the field to join a crowded stable that will feature TreVeyon Henderson, Miyan Williams, Dallan Hayden and Chip Trayanum this coming season.

The injury bug hitting the Ohio State backfield last year could turn out to be a blessing in disguise.

Because of those injuries, Hayden was thrust into the spotlight, particularly at Maryland when he erupted for 143 yards and three touchdowns on the ground in the second half alone. And, because of those injuries, Trayanum — who converted to linebacker upon transferring from Arizona State — switched back to running back and gave the Buckeyes a lift with 83 rushing yards on just 14 carries against Michigan.

What’s resulted is what Ohio State running backs coach Tony Alford calls “probably the deepest room” he’s had — when healthy, that is, he clarified.

“I don’t know if you’re ever at ease, truth be told,” Alford said Wednesday. “But I like the room we got when healthy.”

Alford constructs his position group with three-down players. So right now is about building depth rather than assigning specific roles to players.

Alford noted that “everybody can do everything” in the Ohio State running back room.

“Obviously, as you move through things, some guys are gonna be better than others at certain things,” he explained. “But right now it’s just really training guys to do everything that we do to the best of their abilities and enhance them wherever we can enhance them.

“We haven’t started putting packages together. Those haven’t been put together. But as we get into the summer and the fall, we’ll do those.”

What’s more, Alford said he hasn’t been having snap count discussions with specific players this spring. That’s for down the road, he pointed out. At the moment, the focus is on individual and holistic improvement.

Hayden echoed that sentiment Wednesday. When the sophomore was asked if he’s had talks with Alford about his role for 2023, Hayden mentioned that Alford has simply told him to keep getting better.

Hayden also shot down what he called a “rumor” about him potentially transferring away from Ohio State earlier this offseason.

“I’m not sure how that got out because it definitely didn’t come from anybody close to me or from me,” he said. “So that was just crazy. Yeah, that was definitely just a rumor.”

Hayden is dialed in. He and Trayanum were getting the bulk of reps during this past weekend’s Student Appreciation Day scrimmage, with Williams, Henderson and Pryor not available.

Both ran hard, and Trayanum flashed his speed at 5-foot-11, 233 pounds while ripping off a 70-yard touchdown run and outrunning second-year cornerback Jyaire Brown.

“We definitely have a lot of options bringing Chip in from the linebacker room for good,” said Henderson, now 100%, Wednesday. “I mean, I love it. I love competition, man. I’m glad I’m glad we got him along. He’s a great person. He’s a great player.”

Competition.

That’s the theme of the Buckeyes’ spring season, which is centered around winner-loser situations. And it doesn’t exclude the running back room — not even Henderson, who is expected to be the first option in the backfield again after his injury-riddled 2022 campaign.

“It don’t faze me at all,” Henderson said. “I tell Coach Alford, I don’t care who he brings in. I want him to bring in the best competition because that’s not going to do nothing but bring out the best in everyone else.”

And, besides, if the injuries stack like they did last year, the Buckeyes intend to be ready because of that depth and because of that competition.

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