/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_image/image/62706793/QoD8fUcQ.0.jpg)
There are some names out there that make you go, “whoa.” Four-star running back Steele Chambers has that name, and better yet, he’s going to be a member of the Ohio State Buckeyes as he signed his National Letter of Intent.
It's a bird... it's a plane...
— Ohio State Football (@OhioStateFB) December 19, 2018
No, it's our newest member of #ToteNation @steelechambers #GoBucks #Dynasty19 #NSD19 pic.twitter.com/ewZZz3sFPl
A native of Roswell, Georgia, Chambers picked up nearly 30 offers along with a multitude of accolades. He’s been selected for the U.S. Army All-American Bowl and the Polynesian Bowl, so it’s no wonder that the top schools have come calling.
Ohio State fended off SEC powers for the 6-foot-2 RB’s signature. Alabama, Auburn, Georgia and LSU had offers in for Chambers. But in the end, it was the work of running backs coach Tony Alford who helped seal the deal.
So, how will Chambers fit into the Buckeye offense? Let’s take a peek at the Land-Grant Holy Land scouting report from when he committed to OSU back in April.
[Scouting Report] If you couldn’t tell already, Ohio State is changing up their offensive recruiting strategies under Kevin Wilson and Ryan Day. Pro-style passers, massive power backs, and long receivers are the trend right now for the Buckeyes, a far cry from the dual-threat quarterbacks and speedy scat-backs we saw under Tom Herman and eventually Tim Beck.
Steele Chambers, much like 2018 signed Master Teague, is a true power, one-cut back, cut from the same cloth as running backs like Bo Scarborough at Alabama, Nick Chubb at Georgia, or numerous other SEC backs. He’s an explosive, violent downhill runner, that doesn’t just take contact: he seeks it out.
The Beanie Wells/Ezekiel Elliott comparisons are pretty easy, but Chambers isn’t all that similar to either of those two Buckeye legends. No, Steele reminds me quite a bit more of former Big Ten defensive coordinator’s worst nightmare and Groveport Madison alumni Le’Veon Bell.
Both players run very patiently, and while Bell is obviously quite a bit more refined as a runner now, after years of playing, Chambers’ high school film is extremely similar to Bell’s, and honestly, it’s probably better. Chambers is a better athlete than Bell was coming out of high school, and with Tony Alford coaching him up, it’s not hard to imagine Chambers taking Columbus and eventually the NFL by storm.
Like a lot of young backs, Chambers isn’t a great blocker or receiver, which will keep him off the field as a freshman, but he certainly has the hands and strength to develop into an all-around dominant player.
Want to see Chambers break away from defenders? You’re in luck. Here’s one of his highlight tapes that was posted to Hudl.