Treveyon Henderson, Evan Pryor 'elevate' Ohio State running backs

COLUMBUS — Unfortunately for Ohio State and its offense, there’s still only one football on the field at a time.

The Buckeyes are loaded at every position, but the running backs room put together by Tony Alford is an exceptional collection of talent and potential.

Five running backs, each guy fighting for carries, fighting to get better and hoping to carry the load for Ohio State.

This is iron sharpening iron, sharpening iron, sharpening iron.

Master Teague, the grizzled veteran and emotional pillar of the room, is embracing it. Miyan Williams, an under-the-radar player a year ago, says he’s being helped by it, too. Freshmen phenoms Treveyon Henderson and Evan Pryor are pushing it.

And Tony Alford, the guy in charge of controlling it for Ohio State? He’s just loving it.

“[Henderson and Pryor] have definitely pushed, they’ve elevated the room,” Alford said Wednesday. “They’ve got some new energy — some new juice if you will. They’re the young guys so they’re trying to impress and they go extremely, extremely hard.

“It’s definitely lifted the room up.”

Ohio State needs its running back position to lift up its offense this year. The quarterback, no matter who is it, will be brand new. The offensive line is stacked and the Buckeyes will lean heavily on their tailbacks, especially early in the year. So having “new juice” will only make sure that Teague, Williams and Marcus Crowley, get pressed.

“It keeps me on my toes, and that’s great,” Teague said. “Teammates making each other better, that’s all you can ask for, man. I appreciate the competition.”

Competition isn’t new at Ohio State. The level of talent pushing Teague is. There’s a higher expectation on the freshman than the veterans. Teague has battled injuries. Marcus Crowley hasn’t been healthy in more than a year, either. Miyan Williams — Porkchop — was considered by most to be an afterthought when he was signed with the Buckeyes in 2020.

But Treveyon Henderson? He was the country’s No. 1-ranked running back when he arrived early to Ohio State from Hopewell (Va.) High School. Just his presence elevates the profile of the room. That said, recruiting accolades don’t mean anything once the college eligibility gets started. He has to earn his stripes and so far he and Pryor — also a Top 5-ranked running back — have done that.

“Just by the way they carry themselves,” Miyan Williams said. “They’re coming along good, real good. I’m just trying to tell them to stay focused, to pay attention when you’re not in, take mental reps and all that.”

No one has higher expectations for Henderson than he does. He’s pushing himself to make sure he can push others.

“I’ve got a lot of expectations,” Henderson said. “I’ve got big expectations … but it’s all about competing. Getting better each and every day.

“Hopefully I get to make an immediate impact.”

Even before getting the ball in a regular season game for Ohio State, Treveyon Henderson and Evan Pryor have made an impact.

They’ve made the rest of the Buckeyes running backs better.