On Sunday afternoon, Ohio State’s last two running back starters, Carlos Hyde and Ezekiel Elliott, opposed one another in an NFL game.
OSU redshirt freshman Michael Weber, four games into his career as the heir apparent to Elliott, was asked if he saw that moment.
“I saw it,” Weber said. “If I keep working hard, maybe one day that can be.”
Through four games, Weber’s OSU playing career is off to a fast start. He was named the Big Ten freshman of the week after rushing for 144 yards and a touchdown on 14 carries in OSU’s 58-0 romp over Rutgers.
For the year, Weber has 68 carries for 495 yards (7.3 average) and two touchdowns. He leads the Big Ten at 123.8 yards per game.
On Monday, OSU coach Urban Meyer was asked if the 5-10, 212-pound Weber reminds him more of Hyde or Elliott.
“More Carlos,” Meyer said. “He's a banger. It's a thumper and a plus yardage guy most of the time. Zeke was too. Doesn't have the top end that Zeke has. We're working on that. And Carlos' is a great back. We have been fortunate. I think Mike falls right in that category.”
On Saturday, Weber got loose for a 46-yard touchdown run. He was also tracked down on a 49-yard run. Meyer was asked what Weber can do to improve his speed.
“Yeah, just keep working,” Meyer said. “Zeke was a national level high hurdler in the 110s and Mike is not. But Mike has great feet, great power, and that's why I compare him a little bit closer to Carlos Hyde.”
Weber was asked who he would compare his game to.
“That’s kind of a hard question,” he said. “I just go out there and play my hardest. I want to be myself at the end of the day.
“Those two are great running backs. But I still have a lot of work to do.”
Weber was then asked what running backs he followed growing up. He went old school when he brought up Sweetness, former Chicago Bears star Walter Payton.
“I liked Walter Payton,” Weber said. “My dad played running back, too, and he showed me (Payton’s) highlights and Barry Sanders’. I was more into those kind of running backs than today’s backs.”
Asked what he applies from Payton’s game, Weber said, “Really, just running hard. I like running hard and being a punisher running the ball. It just feels good running over people. He did a good job with that.”
As a Detroit native, Weber was asked how he could favor Payton over Sanders. Weber revealed he is actually acquainted with Sanders and sees him as a mentor of sorts.
“Actually, I’m really cool with Barry Sanders,” Weber said. “I played golf with him a couple of times. When I was little, I played in a little All-American game and he spoke to us and I met him. I know people who know him. I talk to him often. I never really talked about football with him, just regular stuff.
“He wanted me to keep No. 20, but I wanted No. 25.”
One of the things that has endeared Weber to his coaches and teammates has been his willingness as a pass blocker. He has also been used as a lead blocker for Curtis Samuel in some split-back sets.
“At Cass Tech, we do pass block,” Weber said. “But it’s not as big as what we do here. Zeke helped me out with it and I got better at it. It’s actually fun.
“Coach Alford showed us video of Zeke pass blocking and lead blocking. They made sure that’s how they want our running backs to play in the future. I was willing to do that.”
Meyer agreed that Weber has received high marks internally for the way he blocks for his teammates.
“There is such an emphasis here about the selfless player,” Meyer said. “Zeke had a reputation of being arguably the best tailback in couple decades as far as blocking and things without the ball, so we actually want him to be a lot like Zeke, and use it as an example quite often.
“He's doing really well. His protection is outstanding. His effort is great. We are really pleased what he's turned into.”
Quarterback J.T. Barrett said he is appreciative of the way Weber has protected him.
“That was something he was not accustomed to when he got here,” Barrett said. “We all saw the kind of job Zeke did as a pass blocker. That was something he saw through Zeke and he knew how much pride he took in blocking for me.
“And that was whether I was in the pocket or at there running. That’s something he started doing because he knows it’s about the team. That’s an unselfish thing for a running back who just wants the ball.”
Flashing back to his signing with Ohio State in February 2015, there was some immediate controversy when then-OSU running backs coach Stan Drayton left for the NFL’s Chicago Bears. Weber, who picked OSU over Michigan, expressed some displeasure with how that was handled. Tony Alford was hired to replace Drayton and, over time, the rifts were healed.
“I chose Ohio State because it is a really great program,” Weber said. “Coach Meyer and his staff do a really great job of putting guys into the NFL. They develop guys for after football. I felt at home even though I’m not from Ohio.
“It’s working out now. It was all a part of growing up.”
Meyer said he and the staff worked quickly to smooth over any hard feelings with Weber and his Cass Tech High School coach Thomas Wilcher, who played at Michigan with current UM coach Jim Harbaugh.
“I was shocked when it all took place,” Meyer said. “I called their high school coach and we had a very honest conversation. This is how it occurred. We have some pretty good built up bank with high school coaches that this is the way we operate. We don't do things that are going to disrupt young people.
“I mean, it was over. I think it carried on for a little bit maybe here, but not -- Mike was great. He came into spring, and within a day or two everything was done. That had zero impact once he started showing up here and getting ready to go.”
Weber redshirted as Elliott enjoyed an 1,800-yard season in 2015. Once Elliott left for the NFL in January, Weber became the next back in the pipeline. Meyer and strength coach Mickey Marotti assigned Weber to work out with offensive line stalwarts Pat Elflein and Billy Price as a way of speeding his development – both physically and mentally.
On Saturday when Weber scored his touchdown, Elflein was seen speeding toward him. For reasons unclear, Weber tried to hoist the 300-pound Elflein. It did not go well with Weber joking on Twitter he nearly slipped a disc in his back.
“He came to me one day and said, ‘Because we are always the guys picking up the running backs, how about you pick me up?’ ” Weber said.
“I said, ‘If that’s what you want … but you’ve got to at least jump and help me.’ I guess he forgot. After I scored the touchdown, he didn’t jump at all. It was kind of hard to pick him up.”
Weber may be working his way toward what Elliott was – an honorary member of The Slobs fraternity with the offensive line.
“They gave me a wristband,” Weber said. “I work out with my linemen as well. I’m really close with Billy and Pat. I worked out with them and J.T. all off-season. I built a good relationship with them.”
On Saturday, Weber was the lead contributor in a 410-yard rushing onslaught against Rutgers. Demario McCall (10 carries, 85 yards, one TD), Curtis Samuel (nine carries, 68 yards) and first-time playing freshman Antonio Williams (six carries, 28 yards) also got opportunities. Receivers Johnnie Dixon and Parris Campbell each had 5-yard touchdown runs. They were among eight different Buckeyes who scored.
“We have a lot of depth and a lot of talent,” Weber said. “For example, with Antonio Williams and Demario McCall, all of us are really good. We got out there and showed what we could do. Every day in practice, we see how much talent we have.
“For me, I was just following my blocks. They were opening holes. There was one play where it was so wide open I ran through and didn’t have to do anything.”
Asked what he saw on his touchdown, Weber said, “My eyes got big. I saw the end zone and I just took off.”
Weber reached the 100-yard mark for the third time in four games.
“I am a lot more comfortable now,” he said. “With my first start (against Bowling Green), my heart was pounding. Now I have a demeanor when I go out there to play football – the game I love and the game I have played my whole life.”
Barrett was asked if he had any trepidation about Weber stepping in for Elliott at running back.
“No, not really,” Barrett said. “I have faith in our coaches that whoever is out there on the field is the best player at their position.
“I wasn’t worried about that. When Coach Meyer looked at me and said, ‘Mike Weber is the real deal,’ I believed him.”
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