Spring football is right around the corner for Ohio State. The Buckeyes will begin practice March 7 and conclude their 15 practices with the spring game April 15.

Yesterday we talked about the Buckeyes’ quarterback options. Today we’re breaking down a loaded group of running backs.

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The Buckeyes have five scholarship running backs, and four of them saw playing time last season. How does running backs coach Tony Alford figure out the rotation? Can the team get, and remain, healthy?

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There’s a variety of questions for the Buckeyes’ running backs. Let’s tackle them now.

A look at the roster

On paper, Ohio State has a deep running backs unit, but it didn’t feel like that last year. Instead, it seemed like we were counting the available scholarship players every week with injuries to Evan Pryor, TreVeyon Henderson and Miyan Williams.

Leading the position this year is the most experienced of the group, Williams.

Williams is just one part of the Buckeyes’ starting duo. Henderson, entering his third season at Ohio State, is hoping to get healthy this offseason after dealing with a lingering foot injury. When healthy, he’s one of the most explosive running backs in the country. Henderson averaged 6.82 yards per carry in 2021, which was the fourth-highest mark among running backs with more than 100 carries.

OSU scholarship RBs, 2023

Chip Trayanum, who began his career at Arizona State, is in his fourth season after spending last year split between linebacker and running back. He’ll remain at running back permanently now.

Pryor missed the entire 2022 season but is back for his third year in the program.

The youngest of the scholarship backs is second-year Tennessee native Dallan Hayden, who played well in 2022 when injuries forced him on the field earlier than expected.

Ohio State has a few walk-ons, including Cayden Saunders and TC Caffey. The Buckeyes also added Willtrell Hartson, a 2023 preferred walk-on, after not signing a running back in the 2023 class.

Who will miss the spring due to injury?

The focus for Ohio State this offseason will be getting, and staying, healthy.

With that said, the Buckeyes will be without Pryor, again, and Henderson as he recovers from surgery on his foot. That will leave Ohio State with three scholarship running backs for the spring.

Projected depth chart

With only three scholarship running backs available, the spring depth chart is pretty easy to work out.

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We’ll slot Williams in as the starter. He returns after running for a team-leading 825 yards and 14 touchdowns. He looked like Ohio State’s best running back last year and gives the Buckeyes a physical presence.

When healthy, Henderson will share starting snaps with Williams, but for the spring we’re going with Hayden as the No. 2. Hayden had a terrific true freshman season, tallying 553 yards and five touchdowns. The extra reps with Henderson out will only benefit Hayden.

Trayanum is the third back of the group. He started to get his footing at the end of last season, and Ohio State will need him again.

They said it

“It’s open conversations with guys and finding scenarios and situations where guys can perform. Where guys have their niche and things they can do. At the end of the day you’re trying to put your best 11 players on the field so we’re trying to get guys on the field who can win games. If that means you have certain packages and things you can do for us, then we will use that accordingly.” — Alford on how to manage a position full of talent

“He’s doing great. From all indications, he’s doing great.” — Alford on Henderson’s recovery

“He’s going to be an excellent football player for us. He’s never been through an offseason. He’s never been through a spring so this is all uncharted waters for him, but he’s walking around with a different demeanor than he did earlier in the season. He’s much more confident and comfortable with who he is and in his own skin. It’s been fun to watch his maturation.” — Alford on Hayden’s building off his freshman year

“He’s a guy who we felt would have a big part in our offense. Going into the season we thought that, especially coming off the spring he had. Hopefully, he is able to propel and move forward to do the things we think he can do.” — Alford on Pryor’s role in the offense once healthy

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What needs to happen this spring?

First and foremost, Ohio State has to come out of the spring healthy. On paper, the Buckeyes are extremely deep at running back and should have plenty of options, but health is the key to success.

Henderson’s returning to his 2021 form would give the Buckeyes an All-America-caliber option in the backfield. Last year, Henderson ran 571 yards and averaged 5.3 yards per carry while dealing with the foot injury.

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Alford can’t do much to control injuries, but he can decide on a rotation that works best. There’s little chance Ohio State goes into 2023 with one workhorse back — there’s just too much talent.

But he’ll need to figure out which rotation is best. The idea of Williams and Henderson’s taking all the snaps is unlikely, especially after Hayden’s success last season. Then you add Pryor, who will push for playing time if healthy.

Ohio State averaged 5.37 yards per carry last year, 11th best in the country. In 2021, Ohio State was third nationally in yards per carry (5.54). When healthy, the duo of Williams and Henderson can be one of the best in college football.

We probably won’t find out this spring, due to the injuries, but how Alford shares the load will be a talking point entering the 2023 season. Especially if there are yards left on the field early in the season.

What we will get a look at in the spring is how healthy Williams is, how much Trayanum has improved and how Hayden builds on his freshman season.

(Top photo of Miyan Williams: Brett Davis / USA Today)