Weber follows in Elliott’s footsteps,
Buckeyes’ back ignores Elliott comparisons
As hard as he’s training to develop the top-end speed needed to run away from the opposition, Ohio State tailback Mike Weber knows he’ll probably never distance himself from comparisons to his predecessor.
That will happen when you’re replacing Ezekiel Elliott, one of the greatest running backs in Ohio State history. It’s also what happens when you’re the star running back on a final four team and are being measured against what “Zeke” did during the Buckeyes’ 2014 national championship run.
“It kind of influenced me to come here, how well he was running the ball and how good that line was blocking,” Weber said of Elliott’s storybook postseason. “It kind of felt unreal just watching it and how the hole would open up for him and how he was just breaking so many tackles and scoring touchdowns. I kind of pictured myself doing that.”
Elliott rushed for 220 yards and two touchdowns in the 59-0 trouncing of Wisconsin that gave the Buckeyes the Big Ten championship and propelled them into the inaugural College Football Playoff. In the national semifinal, he rushed for 230 yards and two scores in a 42-35 victory against Alabama. Then he gobbled up 246 yards on 36 carries and scored four TDs in the title game, a 42-20 pasting of Oregon.
Is it fair to ask Weber to come reasonably close to that standard as the Buckeyes prepare to meet Clemson in the national semifinals Saturday at the Fiesta Bowl?
“It’s fair, and it’s not fair,” guard Billy Price said. “You have an expectation as being the running back at the Ohio State University. That’s a huge feat, and Zeke’s a freak. To be able to see what he’s doing now; he’s leading the NFL in rushing. ... To expect Mike to be able to do that, I mean, that was a whole other offensive line. There’s a lot of different dynamics and chemistry within that team itself. Is it possible? Yeah, absolutely.”
Price’s immediate goals for Weber are a bit more modest.
“Zero fumbles, first and foremost,” Price said. “That’s probably the biggest expectation, because turnovers are going to be key in this game or the next couple games. ... If he’s got to split (carries) with Curtis (Samuel), whatever the coaches decide, just hold on to the ball.”
Weber has been very good at taking care of the ball and avoiding tackles in the backfield. But what fans might remember most is Weber getting caught from behind on a 49-yard run against Rutgers and a 52-yard run at Michigan State, which set up his decisive TD in the 17-16 victory.
In both instances, you could hear fans sighing, “Zeke would have scored there.”
“I try not to really think about (the comparisons) and just go out there and play the best that I can and be the best Mike that I can be,” Weber said. “I do hear stuff like that, but, like I said, I do my best to tune that out.”
Against Michigan, the home state school where Weber originally committed, that meant throwing a key block to spring Samuel on his winning 15-yard touchdown run in the second overtime. Weber took out Heisman Trophy finalist Jabrill Peppers and Jourdan Lewis on the play.
“Most definitely one of the top three plays,” Weber said when asked where that block ranks among his career highlights. “That block, it felt good to open that up for (Samuel) and win the game.”
This season, Weber joined Robert Smith (1990) and Maurice Clarett (2002) as the only Ohio State freshmen to rush for more than 1,000 yards. His numbers in 12 games are similar to what Clemson counterpart Wayne Gallman compiled in 13. Weber has 1,072 yards and nine touchdowns, averaging 6.1 yards per carry. Gallman checks in with 1,002 yards, 15 TDs and a 5.1-yard average.
“I expected 2,000 yards and 20 touchdowns, but everything happens for a reason,” Weber said. “I’m just going to work my hardest and try to get it next year.
“There’s a lot of times where I missed a hole or I could have hit the hole differently or be a little bit more patient, but that comes with learning the game.”
Offensive coordinator Ed Warinner doesn’t think it’s necessary to show Weber video of Elliott’s 2014 postseason rampage for instructional purposes.
“It’s just certain things (Elliott) did that we kept on film like his blocking and some of his extraeffort runs and things he was really good at that made him an elite player,” Warriner said. “We want Mike to be an elite player. We see a lot of strengths in Mike, and we want him to develop some of those habits. And he has.”
Spencer writes for the Mansfield (Ohio) News Journal, part of the USA TODAY Network.