Forget Jekyll: Why Carlos Hyde Could Be the Next "BIG" Thing at Ohio State

Six feet, one inch, and 230 pounds of sheer man. The ability to bulldoze wimpy tacklers and plunge over the goal line for six. The deceptive speed and initial burst to break an 80-yard run, and the cutback ability and "hops" of Harlem ball player.

This Ohio State Buckeye has all the tools to be an excellent back.

Sound familiar? It's not Beanie Wells.

If you meet him on a good day, you will see the Dr. Jekyll side of him. If you see him on a bad day, or just witness his his muscular frame coming your way, well your in trouble.

Meet Mr. Carlos Hyde, a true beast that will be coming out of the backfield next season for the Buckeyes.

Hyde is the 31-ranked running back in the '09 class, and as aforementioned, his stature, tenacity, and focus is of former Buckeye back Beanie Wells.

While attending Naples High School and playing some of the top-tier of teams in the nation, Hyde racked up over 2500 yards at around eight yards a carry with 28 touchdowns in just two years. 

Hyde's best game without a doubt was on November 21 of last year when he ran for 277 yards on only 12 carries, and five scores to lead a 61-23 rout over Riverdale High School 

He also showed his versatility by catching a couple of touchdowns his senior year. While Hyde is not your normal 4.3 40-yard dash running back, once he his the whole and is moving down field, Hyde resembles a freight train and no one can derail him.

Hyde is predicted by many to transform into more of a fullback, or a back in the "I" formation who wears out defenses in the fourth quarter. 

Hyde was probably drawn to Ohio State by Head Coach Jim Tressel's Big Ten, run-it-up-the-gut style of offense.

Tressel will definitely use Hyde in goal-to-go situations and short yardage situations, and will bring a different style to the "new" Buckeye running game, which features dual-threat quarterback Terrelle Pryor, sophomore-to-be running back Dan "Boom" Herron, and top-Buckeye recruit Jaamal Berry.

Hyde will be the Ying to Herron and Co.'s Yang, the force to their finesses, the hurt to their hurdle.

But as we saw in the Ohio State-Illinois game this year, "BIG" men can jump over defenses too.

So don't try and step to his level and bring him down in the backfield, or the care-free freshman known as Carlos Hyde will run you over and leave you with turf in your helmet as he does a dance in the end zone.