Film Room: Chip Trayanum

For the second year in a row, Kentucky has gone into the transfer portal and landed a Power Five transfer at tailback. Chip Trayanum jumped on everyone’s radar late last week and ended his quick transfer recruitment on Tuesday.

The Akron (Ohio) Hoban product will play in his third power conference in 2024. The former Arizona State signee and Ohio State linebacker will be a Cat with two years of eligibility remaining.

Trayanum could give an inefficient Kentucky offense an uptick in efficiency that is sorely needed. KSR’s Film Room is taking a closer look at the transfer’s tape at Ohio State in 2023 to see what the redshirt senior will be bringing to Lexington.

The latest Ohio State transfer to join the Kentucky roster has good positional size, but his feel and burst are what make him an intriguing add for an offense searching for a true RB1 yet again.

Deceptive speed

Chip Trayanum will bring size (5-11, 233) to Kentucky. The Ohio State transfer will also bring proven Power Five production. Trayanum has rushed for 1,157 yards in his collegiate career on 5.1 yards per rush with 13 touchdowns. The redshirt senior has the frame of a power back, but does not necessarily play like that.

Similar to Ray Davis, Kentucky’s new tailback owns some deceptive speed. Chip Trayanum can bounce runs and get to the corner.

On both runs into the field, the Ohio State tailback beats contain defenders to the sideline. The result is a touchdown against Maryland and a first down in scoring territory against Michigan. Trayanum is not a total pile mover who will create movement out of nothing in between the tackles. The tailback has more burst than you would expect and is more effective pressing and bouncing when gaps are clogged.

Patience and feel

That deceptive burst can become more effective if a tailback knows how to set up a run. On multiple reps at Ohio State, Chip Trayanum does a good job of setting up blocks and not forcing the issue. The tailback shows a good feel on tape. Trayanum knows when to bounce runs outside or get north/south.

On the counter concept, Indiana’s front blows up Ohio State at the point knocking both pullers backwards. The Hoosiers have this look well defended but lose contain. Trayanum bounces the run with a jump cut and creates a first down.

On the inside zone rep, Ohio State’s blocks this concept very well to the play side and is able to clear out the backside off-ball linebacker creating a cutback lane. However, the weak side EDGE nearly destroys the play himself by bullying the tight end into the backfield. Trayanum feels that penetration and does a good job with his cut avoiding the run stuff and getting north/south with his shoulders square to take advantage of the offensive line execution.

The tailback flashes good patience and feel which allow him to create when nothing is there. Trayanum has shown an ability to take advantage of well blocked actions that might not be perfect.

Not just a power runner

For those expecting a total pile mover similar to Chris Rodriguez Jr., that will likely not be what Chip Trayanum will provide at Kentucky. The big tailback does a good job of getting his shoulders square and falling forward but he’s not a bulldozer in between the tacklers. Trayanum is also not necessarily a home run hitter once he breaks to daylight.

However, the Big Ten transfer is a good blend of both of those things.

Playing in Ryan Day‘s multiple run game scheme, Trayanum will bring both zone and gap experience to Kentucky. The tailback has shown that he can get some tough yards in the A and B gaps but also has the speed to bounce runs when nothing is there.

The Ohio State transfer will bring a high floor to Lexington and give Kentucky a balanced tailback who can keep the offense ahead of the chains.