With two of the top running backs in the country, a seasoned offensive line, and solid run-game principles, the Buckeye attack should receive a boost this year.
It will be interesting to watch how Ohio State’s 2024 offense is shaped by Ryan Day and Chip Kelly. Under Day, the Buckeyes have attempted to run a balanced offense, but because of Ohio State’s experience and willingness to air it out, the team has appeared to be more of a passing attack in recent years.
Kelly may change that.
While it took Kelly a few seasons to turn around UCLA’s run game, his attacks over the last four years have ranked in the top 17 nationally in terms of running yards per game. With an average of six yards per rush attempt in 2021, his Bruins led the nation in this category.
Kelly will take over an accomplished offensive line and more skilled ball carriers at Ohio State than he had in Los Angeles. Kelly’s job could be easier in 2024 if Quinshon Judkins and TreVeyon Henderson team up. Each player may argue for the title of “best returning running back in the country.”
When it comes to running plays, Kelly frequently uses both inside and wide zone schemes. These seem to fit the skill sets of Henderson and Judkins, respectively. However, Kelly has the option to employ Henderson mostly outside and Judkins inside in the Buckeyes’ easier games to develop patterns that he can exploit at crucial junctures in more competitive games, which might lead to explosive runs in the run game. Both players are versatile enough to run both.
Ohio State’s passing offense will benefit from a more effective run game. When a defense continues to commit more penalties, Kelly is known to run play action and roll out his quarterback in bootleg action off of fake handoffs, which can lead to explosive pass plays down the field when a defense starts to commit more numbers in the box or cheat its safeties toward the line of scrimmage.
In recent seasons, Ohio State has shown some success with jet sweeps, as both Marvin Harrison Jr. and Emeka Egbuka have received some carries. In 2024, I anticipate seeing more of such plays, both to set up big plays when passing and as an offensive move in the run game.
To put it briefly, Egbuka, Carnell Tate, Brandon Inniss, Jeremiah Smith, and other players can make big plays over the top with a regular diet of Judkins and Henderson along with a couple of jet sweeps thrown in for good measure.
If Kelly’s plan isn’t significantly changed, the OSU offensive might have great success by increasing the run game and creating looks that will lead to success in the passing game.