Elliott Gold!
Super soph mashes Ducks
ARLINGTON, Texas — Move over, Eddie George. Step aside, Archie Griffin.
Ohio State has a new favorite running back: Ezekiel Elliott, the bulldozing and deceptively fast sophomore who carried the Buckeyes to their first national championship since the 2002 season Monday night.
Elliott continued his lateseason surge, running for career-highs of 246 yards — the most rushing yards in a national championship game — and four touchdowns on 36 carries in Ohio State’s 42-20 victory over Oregon in the College Football Playoff ’s inaugural championship game at AT&T Stadium.
“All the g reat running backs that h ave come through Ohio State — Archie Griff in, Eddie George, Beanie Wells — just being able to accomplish something that all of them weren’t able to accomplish, it means the world to me,” he said.
The 6-foot, 225-pound back’s big night, netting him Offensive Most Ou ing gav 1,878 on the season, second all-time in a single season in Ohio State history to George, who ran for 1,927 in 1995. And Elliott did so despite a slow start to the season, gaining just 141 yards in the first three games.
“He’s a monster, he’s a monster,” Ohio State coach Urban Meyer said. “He’s the most underrated back in America. He’s one of the best post-contact guys I’ve ever been around.”
It even impressed Ohio native LeBron James, who was at the game. “Feed the Beast!!!! #Zeke,” he tweeted during the game and gave Elliott a big hug on the field after it.
When quarterback J.T. Barrett went down with a fractured right ankle Nov. 29, all the focus shifted to quarterback Cardale Jones and how the one-time thirdstringer would handle the starting role.
While Jones performed far better than anyone expected, it was the emergence of Elliott that paved the way for Ohio State’s unlikely crown. In three straight games, he surpassed 200 yards, doing ity defenses Alabama and e Elliott, no ck had ever 00 yards in ve games. mbination of er, speed and ion, Elliott egan the year nursing
a surgically repaired wrist — the same wrist that will be operated on after the season — limiting his touches. It was no coincidence that without Elliott producing, the Buckeyes got off to a slow start, losing to Virginia Tech and struggling against Navy.
Elliott came on as the season progressed, and was at his best once Barrett went down. He took over Monday night when Ohio State appeared to be losing its grip on the game, Oregon having cut a 21-7 lead to 21-20. On a nine-play, 76-yard drive, Elliott rushed six times for 44 yards. His 9-yard touchdown run to close the third quarter illustrated his versatility. Elliott used his speed to get around the corner, and then ran through defensive backs Chris Seisay and Tyree Robinson, knocking the two defenders to the turf.
“He was not going to be denied,” left tackle Taylor Decker said. “I think he wanted to come out here and prove a point, that’s he’s one of the best backs in the country. When you have a back that runs like that, it’s easy to block for him.”
Elliott will be on a short list of Heisman Trophy candidates when next year begins and Ohio State will surely be ranked in the top five, if not No. 1. He smiled broadly at the possibilities for next season.
“I’m not going to change,” he promised. “I’m going to keep grinding.”