Ohio State football 2020 spring preview: Master Teague leads a crucial running back quest

Ohio State buckeyes versus University of Maryland football

Ohio State RB Master Teague III (33) looks for some running room during the second half of Saturday's game, November 9, 2019, against Maryland in Columbus. OSU won 73-14.David Petkiewicz, cleveland.com

COLUMBUS, Ohio -- Ohio State football faces no bigger question this spring than what emerges from the running back room.

Master Teague ran so often and so well late in games behind J.K. Dobbins that he earned third team All-Big Ten honors from the conference media. Yet did that performance prove the hard-running sophomore is ready to assume the No. 1 spot in 2020?

Could the Buckeyes instead opt to assemble a running back from the complementary talents in that position group?

Ohio State expects to put up a ton of points in 2020 anyway thanks to quarterback Justin Fields, multiple All-American candidates on the offensive line and a talented receiver collection. All of those areas, however, will be enhanced if opponents must again fear — or at least respect — the Buckeyes’ running game.

NAMEYR2019 statistcs
Demario McCallSr.18-122 rushing, 6.8 avg., 2 TDs; 4-28 receiving
Marcus CrowleySoph.25-237 rushing, 9.5 avg., 1 TD; 1-7 receiving
Master TeagueSoph.135-789 rushing, 5.8 avg., 4 TDs; 4-60 receiving
Steele ChambersR-Fr.19-135 rushing, 7.1 avg., 1 TD; 4-28 receiving

Master and commander: All eyes are on Teague this spring as fans — either eagerly or anxiously — wait to see if he can take the lead role. Holding him to the standard Dobbins set last season would clearly be unfair. Not only are they different kinds of athletes, Teague still has not faced nearly as many first-string defense as Dobbins had at the same stage of their careers.

Whether Teague feels the pressure or not remains to be seen. He does have several other factors in his favor, especially the top-notch offensive line and a quarterback whose running ability eases the burden a bit. He does not need to look like an all-pro this spring, but he needs to look confident and capable.

Last call: While he came to Ohio State as one of the top-ranked all-purpose backs in the 2016 recruiting class, McCall has always filled more of a niche. By the end of last season he was practicing with the H-backs, which may ultimately be the best fit for his skill set.

McCall may work with the running backs more again in his final spring simply because numbers at that position are so limited. What would make the most sense is if a combination of his production and OSU’s creativity found him some specialized-yet-utilized role.

Young guns: Mickey Marotti was non-committal a few weeks ago about whether or not Crowley will be ready for the spring. If he can practice at all it’s safe to assume he would be somewhat limited following a leg injury that ended his freshman season.

He and Chambers both looked impressive at times in short bursts against third-string defenses, for what that’s worth. The bottom line is Ohio State does not have a Dobbins in this backfield — an elite prospect who showed up Day 1 ready to not only start, but star. (Miyan Williams, the freshman who will arrive in the summer, also should be considered a developmental prospect.)

This spring is not really about turning one of these young talents into a stud. It’s about keeping their development on track so one or both can contribute in the fall.

SPRING PREVIEWS

• Quarterback: Justin Fields leads a group balancing production with promise

• Linebackers: In deep, veteran corps, who makes the next move?

• Tight ends: Providing stability, with the promise of more

• Defensive ends: Who leads the chase for the Buckeyes pass rush?

• Offensive line: Which former reserves step up on potentially elite unit?

• Defensive tackles: Who emerges from the shadows?

• Receivers: Can the Buckeyes keep reloading?

• Defensive backs: Shaun Wade anchors turnover in secondary


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