Ohio may have lost its leading rusher from a year ago, but offensive coordinator Tim Albin believes that those returning might be the most talented group of running backs the coaching staff has ever seen.
Though the team will miss Donte Harden, who rushed for 986 rushing yards last season — the most recorded by a Bobcat since Kalvin McRae ran for 1434 in 2007 — Ohio will return three of its four top rushers from a year ago, along with a pair of freshman.
Redshirt junior quarterback Tyler Tettleton rushed for 658 yards last season while returning running backs Beau Blankenship and Ryan Boykin each ran for more than 400 yards.
Together, the trio combined to rush for more than 1,500 yards and 15 touchdowns in 2011.
Also added to the mix are redshirt freshman Kyle Hammonds and true freshman Daz’mond Patterson.
“Beau and Ryan are two guys that did a great job for us last year and are doing a good job for us this spring,” Ohio coach Frank Solich said. “Kyle and (Daz’mond) are two guys that are basically freshman football players for us and they’re learning the system and getting better day by day.
“Coach Albin feels that this is the best group of running backs as a whole that we’ve had.”
Patterson was the only running back recruited by the Bobcats heading into this season and graduated high school early in order to enroll at Ohio in time for spring camp.
Both Patterson and Solich testified to the benefits of joining the team in the spring instead of the summer, as most incoming freshmen do.
“I’m here and I know the stuff,” Patterson said. “I’m getting used to playing with the guys, and by the time the other freshmen get here, I’ll be already in the system and already know what’s going on. I know what they expect of me.”
As a redshirt freshman, Hammonds also has a bit of an edge over the other young players.
Hammonds got his first taste of full-speed action for the first time since last summer during the spring’s first scrimmage Friday.
The young running back did not disappoint, as he broke off a run of more than 50 yards.
“The offensive line did a nice job opening up some holes but we’ve just got to get a little bit faster and more in sync,” Hammonds said. “I personally need to get in better shape.”
With four running backs fighting for position on the depth chart and no clear-cut No. 1 starter, Hammonds said the competition serves as motivation.
“It pushes each of us to work harder,” he said. “We all want to get a chance to get on the field and play this year. We help each other out a lot. Our offense is fairly new, even for the guys who have been here a long time.”
Solich stressed the need for the team as a whole to be in better physical condition than it was last week. Once that happens, the pecking order on the depth chart might become more clear.
“Personally, I feel like I’ve got a lot of things I need to work on before I get ready to go out on Saturdays,” Patterson said. “We’ve got to battle for it every day. That’s the only way we’re going to get better.”
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