Columbus: Comparisons to a rookie running back currently leading the NFL in rushing yards are as unfair an appraisal as there can be.
But that’s the onus Mike Weber faces as Ohio State’s starting running back.
It’s a small sample size, and no one is saying the redshirt freshman is a “freak like Zeke,” but he has calmed a lot of nerves around campus as the Buckeyes’ replacement for Ezekiel Elliott.
“[Coach Urban Meyer] compares everything I do to him,” Weber said. “I can’t stop him. I mean, I don’t want him to, but I just take what he tells me and try to make myself better.”
That motivational technique, if that’s what it is, has been pretty good so far. The Big Ten Freshman of the Week is coming off a monster game against Rutgers in which he had a career-high 144 yards on 14 carries with a touchdown.
Weber’s 495 yards rushing — 123.8 per game — leads the Big Ten and ranks 11th nationally. His 7.3 yards per carry rank 12th.
“I have faith in our coaches that whoever is out there on the field is the best player at their position,” Ohio State quarterback J.T. Barrett said.
While that statement is simple, it’s one with teeth as through four games the standout from Detroit Cass Tech is proving to be a viable asset on a Buckeyes team full of standouts.
Weber is his own man, but the comparisons are already being made to yet another former Ohio State great — current San Francisco 49er Carlos Hyde.
“He’s a banger,” Meyer said. “It’s a thumper and a plus-yardage guy most of the time. Zeke was, too.
“He 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 a team that rushed for 410 yards against Rutgers — the third time a Meyer-coached Buckeyes team did that — he’s been a welcome addition to an offensive line that takes pride in his prowess.
“[Weber is] a little bit of both,” Ohio State center Pat Elflein said of the comparisons. “Carlos used to run people over, and Mike’s been doing that. You also see Mike pulling away from guys. It’s a little mix.”
A product of the Little All-American Game and friend of Barry Sanders, Weber is also a Walter Payton fan.
At 5-foot-10 and 210 pounds, Weber fits right in with the size of both hall of fame running backs. No one is putting Weber in the same breath as the two greats, but he did indicate they had a big influence on how he runs.
“I like running hard,” Weber said. “I like being a punisher. It just feels good running over people.”
Notes
Denzel Ward (Nordonia), Gareon Conley (Massillon) and Parris Campbell were all named champions from the Rutgers game, but Meyer particularly pointed out Campbell’s performance in Monday’s news conference.
“Parris Campbell is also one of our most valuable players just because of his value in the special teams,” Meyer said. “I mean, he makes tackles on kickoff. He is one of the best gunners in the country. He is turning out to be very [good] — he only had a couple of kick return opportunities since we put him back there — but [we have] a lot of respect for Parris.”
Meyer indicated that former St. V-M linebacker Dante Booker (knee) is probable for Saturday. A starter in Week 1 against Bowling Green, Booker has two tackles this season.