Elliott’s ascension boosts Buckeyes’ potent attack
Standout sophomore has rushed for 450 yards, four TDs against Wisconsin, Alabama.
— Ezekiel Elliott wore a grin COLUMBUS as long as his 85-yard run Tuesday as he talked to reporters at Ohio State’s Woody Hayes Athletic Center. He looked like a guy on top of the world — or at least one victory from the summit.
The sophomore running back from St. Louis, one of many first-year starters for a team on the brink of its first national championship since 2002, became the first player in school history to rush for 200 or more yards in back-to-back games. He gained 220 yards on 20 carries against Wisconsin in the Big Ten title game Dec. 6 and 230 yards on 20 carries against Alabama in the Sugar Bowl on Thursday.
Elliott set records in both games. All of a sudden, even as quarterback Cardale Jones gets a lot of the attention, Elliott looks like the offensive MVP. He gets one more chance to show how far he’s come
this season when No. 4 Ohio State (13-1) plays No. 2 Oregon (13-1) in the national championship game at 8:30 p.m. Monday at AT&T Stadium in Arlington, Texas.
“I’m just going to have to go,” Elliott said. “Run, Forrest, Run.”
Elliott has gotten better and better as the season has progressed. He ran for 640 yards on 117 carries with five touchdowns in the first seven games, averaging 5.5 yards per carry. In the past seven games, he has gained 992 yards on 120 carries, an average of 7.7 yards per carry, with nine touchdowns. In the past two games, he has averaged 11.3 yards per carry and scored four touchdowns.
“I just think the line has really come on,” Elliott said. “They’re definitely opening up some great holes for me to run through. God has given me the talent once I get to the open spaces. I knew that as the season went on, the line would get better and better. That’s how it was last season for Carlos (Hyde). You just have to be patient and go through the evolution.”
Elliott replaced a second-round NFL draft pick in Hyde, who ran for 1,521 yards and 15 touchdowns last season. Elliott has rushed for 1,632 yards, which ranks fourth in school history. He trails three Ohio State legends: Eddie George (1,927 in 1995), Keith Byars (1,764 in 1984); and Archie Griffin (1,695 in 1974).
“There’s a mentality you have to have,” Elliott said. “You won’t be brought down. You’re going to get those tough yards.”
The numbers don’t tell the whole story about Elliott. He has played with a brace on his hand ever since he broke his left wrist in preseason practices Aug. 8. He had surgery a day later and returned to practice the following week, but ever since he can’t carry the ball in that hand.
Still Elliott runs and blocks with the best of them.
“Some of his best plays you could say are plays he makes without the ball,” said offensive lineman Taylor Decker. “He kind of has an offensive lineman’s mindset, but he plays running back. He likes to go cut-block people. He likes to take people out. He doesn’t back down from blocking a defensive tackle. He just does what he’s told to do, and he does it a million miles per hour.
“It’s fun to block for a guy you know will do anything for the team.”