clock menu more-arrow no yes mobile

Filed under:

Why is this news?: Inside Braxton Miller's switch from quarterback to H-back, Carlos Hyde FaceTimes with LeBron James

All the big Ohio State news, in one helpful place.

Braxton Miller has adjusted quickly to his new position
Braxton Miller has adjusted quickly to his new position
Greg Bartram-USA TODAY Sports

"It was hard times. J.T. was doing well, and people were saying they forgot about me. Then J.T. got hurt, and Cardale was doing good. Then they forgot about J.T."

Ohio State H-back Braxton Miller via Pete Thamel, Sports Illustrated

All offseason the biggest question with Ohio State was who was going to start at quarterback. Urban Meyer had three amazing talents to choose from, and nobody had any idea what the best way to choose one was. Then in late July Braxton Miller made Meyer's choice a little easier when the senior announced he was switching positions after two shoulder surgeries. Everybody knew Miller was a game-changer who could make an impact wherever he played in the offense, but many might have not expected Miller to be so effective in just his first game at his new position. The spin move against Virginia Tech will go down in Buckeye lore, but it took a lot of work from Miller in the offseason to make that happen.

The first time Miller approached Meyer against switching positions came back in May, with Miller facing uncertainty about his quarterback future following his shoulder surgeries. With August being the earliest Miller would be medically cleared to resume throwing, it made a lot of sense to try and find a way to utilize his incredible athletic talents at another position. After seeing what Meyer did with Percy Harvin while at Florida, the idea of using Miller in a similar role had to be very intriguing. Following some secret workouts with Cardale Jones to hone his receiver skills, Miller looks like he is going to be the X-factor in an already very dangerous Ohio State offense. It's scary to think of Miller's progression later in the year as he gets even more time to become acclimated to his new position.

One thing you can say about Ohio State's stars is they aren't lacking in confidence. After Cardale Jones made his admiration for Ronda Rousey well known over the summer, now running back Ezekiel Elliott is hoping to catch the attention of Taylor Swift. The singer is in Columbus tonight for a concert at Nationwide Arena, and the Heisman Trophy hopefully is doing his best to try and earn himself a date with the star. Elliott is pulling out all the stops, floating the idea of dinner at Hyde Park, one of the best restaurants in Columbus, to Swift.

"I heard from LeBron James. Me and LeBron have the same trainer, David Alexander, down in Miami. After the game I FaceTime'd LeBron and my trainer. They were super hyped."

49ers running back Carlos Hyde via Joe Fann, 49ers.com

While a current Ohio State running back is trying to get a date with Taylor Swift, a former Ohio State running back earned some congratulations from the best player in the NBA recently. Following his 168 rushing yards and two touchdowns in San Francisco's 20-3 win over Minnesota on Monday night, Carlos Hyde received some well wishes from LeBron James on FaceTime. It is no secret that LeBron James is a big Ohio State fan, and he was impressed with the way Hyde started his season now that he is the main running back in San Francisco.

After sitting behind Frank Gore in his rookie season, and only getting 83 carries during the year, Hyde toted the rock 26 times against the Vikings. Hyde might have picked up a spin move from Braxton Miller during his time at Ohio State, as his first touchdown on the night came when he spun out of traffic to find a clear path to the end zone. This week the 49ers hit the road, where Hyde will have a number of former Ohio State defenders trying to slow down his fast start to the season. Ryan Shazier, Cameron Heyward, and Doran Grant will all be on the opposite side of the field when Pittsburgh hosts San Francisco.

"I like making history. I want to be known as one of the greatest wrestlers to ever live, and that's what I plan on doing."

Ohio State sophomore wrestler Kyle Snyder via Alexa Mavrogianis, The Lantern

How do you top a season in which you finished second at the Big Ten and NCAA Championships? By becoming the youngest-ever world wrestling champion from the United States. At just 19 years old, Kyle Snyder won the gold medal in the 97-kilogram freestyle competition in Las Vegas at the 2015 World Championships. Prior to Snyder's accomplishment, the youngest American wrestler to win a World Championship was 20-year old Andre Metzger in 1979.

Ohio State fans will have to wait a little time to see Snyder back wrestling for the scarlet and gray though, since this year Snyder is redshirting to train for the 2016 Olympics in Rio de Janeiro. While Snyder is quickly making a name for himself on the mat, he credits the support he gets from his parents for the success he has found so far in his young career. Snyder is also getting training from Ohio State's coaches as he gets ready for the Olympics next year, and with the recent success of Ohio State's wrestling team, Snyder has some of the best coaching in the country. Who knows, maybe the Buckeye will have another gold medal to add to his collection next summer.

STICK TO SPORTS: