COLUMBUS, Ohio — The running back duo of the Detroit Lions has earned itself a nickname.
They’re Jahmyr Gibbs and David Montgomery on paper, but to many, they’re Sonic and Knuckles – a nod to the popular Sega characters.
The label is fitting for a dynamic pairing which complements itself.
Gibbs is the open-field threat while Montgomery is more powerful between the tackles, though both are productive in either role.
Had the Lions not snagged it first, perhaps the title could’ve belonged to Ohio State football’s TreVeyon Henderson and Quinshon Judkins.
The duo ran for more than 1,000 yards each in 2024, fueling the Buckeyes toward the ninth national title in program history. In doing so, they didn’t establish a new concept but reaffirmed its importance in the new college football landscape.
Workhorse running backs such as Ashton Jeanty are thrilling. A backfield with multiple options, though, can hold a key to prolonged success over a 16 or 17 game season.
Ohio State is at the forefront of what could be a shift in how the position is viewed.
“I don’t think it’s smart to have one lead guy — not if your expectation is to play deep into the playoffs,” said Carlos Locklyn, OSU’s second-year running backs coach. “My job is to make sure that coach (Ryan) Day is successful and that’s putting the best backs on the field.
“If you want to run one guy, run him into the ground and that works for you, that’s good for you. That’s not what I’m doing.”
How running backs view sharing a backfield
Notre Dame’s Jeremiyah Love carried the ball 10.19 times per game last season while Jadarian Price averaged 7.5 carries to go along with 11.5 carries from quarterback Riley Leonard.
The Fighting Irish made it to the season’s final game.
Former Georgia running back Trevor Etienne averaged 12.2 carries per game during the 2024 campaign while freshman teammate Nate Frazier had 10.23 rushes per game.
The Bulldogs won the SEC.
To some, a diminished workload could lead to less-flattering stats — potentially affecting draft stock.
Etienne thinks it could have the opposite effect.
“I feel like as a running back, you want someone that can complement your game,” Etienne said. “You don’t want to be that back that’s in there taking 80% of the carries because as a running back, we’re already at a disadvantage in our career.
“You want to try to make your career as long as possible. I feel like just not putting that wear and tear on your body and having someone that can help you out, it’d be huge.”
Georgia running back Trevor Etienne had 4.99 rushing yards per attempt during the 2024 season.(AP Photo/Randy J. Williams)
Former Southern California running back Woody Marks, who played at Mississippi State prior to transferring for the 2024 season, has worked in both roles.
He shared a backfield with Dillon Johnson early in his MSU career.
In 2023, his final season with the Bulldogs, he battled injuries while running 13.44 times per game. That average jumped to 16.5 last year at USC.
In a sport filled with complexity, his view on sharing a backfield is based on a simple concept: Football is physical.
“Running backs should share the backfield with somebody because you’re taking a hit every play,” Marks said. “Running back is the most tackled guy, person getting hit every single play.”
Ohio State is embracing deep running back rooms
Quinshon Judkins had 1,060 rushing yards in his lone season with Ohio State football.AP Photo/Jay LaPrete
Ohio State had a backfield featuring two potential first-round picks, making it difficult to replicate. But the Buckeyes are viewing the room in a similar light to other positions on the roster.
Day’s team played slower during the 2024 regular season, lowering snap counts and emphasizing rotation to keep players relatively fresh for a new 12-team College Football Playoff.
That approach isn’t limited to two options in the backfield, either.
Judkins and Henderson combined for 338 carries last season. Ohio State can divide that between two options, likely James Peoples and C.J. Donaldson, in 2025.
Or, Peoples can take a load similar to Judkins’ 194 attempts while others — Donaldson, sophomore Sam Williams-Dixon and freshman Bo Jackson among the options — take the remaining reps, plus any drop-off that may exist moving from a mobile quarterback such as Will Howard to Julian Sayin.
Those specifics are far from being determined as OSU overhauls its roster.
However, it’s evident Locklyn, Day and offensive coordinator Brian Hartline intend on keeping bodies fresh in anticipation of an NFL-like season.
“Having multiple guys in that room do multiple things is always important,” Hartline said. “That’s just good football.”
This post was originally published on this site be sure to check out more of their content.
