BuckIQ: Where will signee Steele Chambers fit best for Ohio State?
COLUMBUS — Steele Chambers has multiple options, and that’s the best way to find a path to playing time at Ohio State.
There’s no question that the four-star signee is a gifted, powerful running back, and he’s got piles of yardage and touchdowns to show for it after a decorated high school career down in Georgia. And most players with that sort of ability are going to want to keep the football in their hands at the next level.
But Chambers is equally adept at shutting down the rush as an aggressive, physical tackler at linebacker. And while it seems likely that the Buckeyes would want to start him on the offensive side of the football just based on the depth charts at both positions, there’s no certainty that he would have to stay there depending on how he develops once he really gets to work with the program.
“From a high school standpoint, he’s a complete player, he makes us better on both sides of the football,” Blessed Trinity coach Tim McFarlin said. “This is my 37th year of coaching and this is just the second guy I’ve ever seen who could play either way in college.
Ohio State signee Steele Chambers could play either running back or linebacker. (Steele Chambers/Twitter)
“[Chambers] is a true 50-50 player.”
Will the Ohio State offense or defense win that coin flip? An answer might take awhile, and that’s fine since there isn’t a pressing need at either position right now for the Buckeyes with J.K. Dobbins and Master Teague returning at tailback and a loaded two-deep at linebacker.
But eventually Steele Chambers and the Buckeyes are going to have to pick a side and stick with it to allow him to maximize that undeniable athleticism. Former Ohio State running back Beanie Wells was back in the Lettermen Row film lab to pop in the high-school highlights and try to get a feel for which position might best suit the standout prospect ahead of his freshman season in his latest episode of BuckIQ.
Roll the tape!
Lettermen Row senior writer Austin Ward contributed the editorial content for this post.
