Ohio State junior running back J.K. Dobbins (2) waves at fans as he exits the field following following the Fiesta Bowl against Clemson on Dec. 28. Ohio State lost 29-23. Credit: Casey Cascaldo | Managing Editor for Multimedia
If Ohio State gets another crack at the College Football Playoff next season, it’ll have to be without its star running back.
J.K. Dobbins announced he will forego his senior year of eligibility in Columbus and declare for the 2020 NFL Draft Monday on social media.
Dobbins leaves behind a record-setting legacy at Ohio State, having set the new high-mark for rushing yards in a season with 2,003 –– the first Buckeye rusher to hit 2,000. The previous record-holder was Eddie George, who rushed for 1,927 in 1995.
The La Grange, Texas, native also surpassed George, as well as Ezekiel Elliott and a host of others, in all-time rushing yards. Dobbins finished with 4,459 for his career, trailing only two-time Heisman Trophy award-winner Archie Griffin for the most in Ohio State history.
His 38 rushing touchdowns are No. 6 in Buckeye history, and 21 of them came this season alone.
Dobbins set his career high in rushing yards with 211 in a win against Michigan on the road this season, and closed the year with four straight games of 150 or more yards on the ground.
In his final game as a Buckeye Saturday, Dobbins rushed for 174 yards on 18 carries, including a 68-yard touchdown in the first half.
Dobbins went down with a twisted ankle in the second quarter against Clemson, and went down again on his first play of the second half, but came back out to finish the game for the Buckeyes.
“J.K. is a Buckeye legend for everything that he’s done for this program and the heart and soul he poured into it,” redshirt sophomore center Josh Myers said after the game. “That was one of the more gutsy performances I’ve ever seen from a guy.”
