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Despite Ohio State returning last season’s leading rusher in red-shirt sophomore Mike Weber, true-freshman J.K. Dobbins will reportedly get the start at running back due to Weber’s lingering hamstring injury.
By making the start, Dobbins will join Maurice Clarett as the only true freshman to start at running back in Ohio State football history.
Dobbins missed his senior season season at La Grange High School in Texas due to an injury of his own, so this will be his first game action since 2015.
ICYMI: According to ESPN's Kirk Herbstreit, Ohio State RB JK Dobbins will be getting the start tonight.
— Lori Schmidt (@LoriSchmidt) August 31, 2017
Weber went for 1,096 yards as a freshman in 2016, and the intention is for him to get even more carries this season, but with the No. 7 Oklahoma Sooner waiting for the Buckeyes in Week Two, it might be prudent for the OSU coaching staff to preserve their No. 1 back as much as possible for next week’s battle of highly-ranked teams.
The No. 2 Ohio State Buckeyes will take on the Hoosiers on the ESPN family of networks with their Megacast treatment.