Ohio State to feature deep RB rotation for first game against Akron

Ohio State is just days away from its first game of the season, a 2:30 p.m. CT home kickoff against Akron.

It’s supposed to be hot on Saturday — 80 degrees and humid, according to AccuWeather — but the Buckeyes have strong depth and are clearly the better team. At least at running back, they’re planning on using a deep rotation of players.

Whether or not TreVeyon Henderson or Quinshon Judkins gets the first run of the game, they’re both expected to sub in and out of the contest, per head coach Ryan Day. Freshman James Peoples is expected to get some playing time too, though the rotation is all up to running backs coach Carlos Locklyn.

“I don’t think Lock [Locklyn] has decided that yet but they’re both rolling in practice,” Day told the media of Henderson and Judkins on Tuesday (h/t On3’s Sam Gillenwater). “We’re going to get our money’s worth this week with the heat, you know. So we’re going to be rolling these guys pretty good. James (Peoples) is going to get in there as well.”

It’s going to be interesting to see how it all shakes out against Akron. Henderson is Ohio State’s returning star after rushing for 926 yards and 11 touchdowns last season. Judkins transferred from Ole Miss after rushing for 1,158 yards and 15 touchdowns for the Rebels, and he certainly has the star power to be an every-down back as well.

“It’ll be interesting to see, you know, as we go, how he goes as the game goes and the type of back that he is as the game wears on,” Day said of Judkins.

Either way, expect a deep rotation for OSU’s running backs against Akron. This isn’t the time or place to wear any member of this likely championship-worthy squad out.

“Those guys are rolling and they’re both going to get a bunch of reps on Saturday,” said Day.