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Ohio State Football: 5 reasons J.K. Dobbins will win 2018 Heisman Trophy

By Phil Poling

INDIANAPOLIS, IN - DECEMBER 02: J.K. Dobbins #2 of the Ohio State Buckeyes runs with the ball against the Wisconsin Badgers in the Big Ten Championship at Lucas Oil Stadium on December 2, 2017 in Indianapolis, Indiana. Ohio State won 27-21. (Photo by Andy Lyons/Getty Images)
INDIANAPOLIS, IN - DECEMBER 02: J.K. Dobbins #2 of the Ohio State Buckeyes runs with the ball against the Wisconsin Badgers in the Big Ten Championship at Lucas Oil Stadium on December 2, 2017 in Indianapolis, Indiana. Ohio State won 27-21. (Photo by Andy Lyons/Getty Images) /
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ARLINGTON, TX – DECEMBER 29: The Ohio State Buckeyes celebrate with a team photo following the 82nd Goodyear Cotton Bowl Classic between USC and Ohio State at AT&T Stadium on December 29, 2017 in Arlington, Texas. Ohio State won 24-7. (Photo by Ron Jenkins/Getty Images)
ARLINGTON, TX – DECEMBER 29: The Ohio State Buckeyes celebrate with a team photo following the 82nd Goodyear Cotton Bowl Classic between USC and Ohio State at AT&T Stadium on December 29, 2017 in Arlington, Texas. Ohio State won 24-7. (Photo by Ron Jenkins/Getty Images) /

2. Surrounded by talent

When’s the last time an Urban Meyer-coached team wasn’t stacked with top-tier talent across the board? This year is no different for the Ohio State Buckeyes.

All this talk about Dobbins being a Heisman-hopeful, it’s not a sure thing he’ll be the Day 1 starter. Both he and Mike Weber will get a dozen or so touches each week, but will Meyer ride the hot-hand on Saturdays? What if they both sputter?

Aside from those two, the backfield is full of four-star recruits, three of which are freshmen — Jaelen Gill, Brian Snead and Master Teague. In April, would-be junior running back Antonio Williams announced his plan to transfer to North Carolina. He rushed for 290 yards and three scores last season.

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The Buckeyes are a veteran group at receiver too, returning their top-six players at the position. This doesn’t mean new talent won’t see the field, just that everything will be earned. Both Parris Campbell and K.J. Hill piled up over 500 receiving yards a season ago, while Johnnie Dixon, Binjimin Victor and Terry McLaurin all scored five or more touchdowns.

Quarterback is the biggest question mark for Ohio State heading into the season, thanks to the void left by J.T. Barrett. Three Buckeyes played quarterback in the spring game — redshirt sophomore Dwayne Haskins Jr., redshirt junior Joe Burrow and redshirt freshman Tate Martell. They each possess different strengths, which is evident when looking at their numbers from the spring.

  • Haskins — 9-of-19 for 120 yards, 2 touchdowns; 3 carries, -2 yards
  • Burrow — 15-of-22 for 238 yards, 2 touchdowns; 3 carries, 8 yards
  • Martell — 5-of-16 for 28 yards, 1 interception; 11 carries, 69 yards

Burrow’s numbers look the best, having completed over 50 percent of his passes for 200-plus yards, but Haskins saw game-action last season against Michigan and played excellent — Burrows also announced his intention to transfer. Don’t sleep on Meyer scheming Martell onto the field, either, though. Meyer’s always excelled at getting his best talents on the field.

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