Ohio State Football: What You Need to Know About the Buckeyes' RB Depth

Ohio State's new inside zone-read game will depend heavily not just on Braxton Miller, but also on the running backs the Buckeyes have to offer. This group is a diverse mix of smaller, quicker backs and bigger power backs that can help out in a large array of offensive situations.

OSU returns only three backs with experience: Jordan Hall, Carlos Hyde and Rod Smith. But those three do have the ability to make plays in the running game.

Hall is the best receiver of the three. He should be more heavily utilized in the passing game this year, rather than taking handoffs and running up the middle. He has some good quickness and the ability to make some players miss, even though he doesn't have breakaway speed.

Hyde has excellent speed for any back. To have it at 240 pounds is just a huge bonus. He has a little bit of Beanie Wells in him when it comes to the speed-size combination. However, Wells has many more moves in the open field than Hyde does, and he has the amazing stiff arm that he's used time and time again. Hyde is more like a bowling ball, which makes him a great weapon in goal-line situations.

Hall and Hyde bring a good one-two punch together, because they are two very different running backs.

We don't know much about whether or not Hyde can be any sort of a receiving threat beyond the just 7.3 yards per catch he had last year. His size and speed could make him very dangerous if they get him out in the screen game, which is something to keep an eye on.

Backups Rod Smith and Bri'onte Dunn may be able to get extra playing time this season, depending on injuries and whether or not Ohio State's offense puts up big numbers.

None of these backs are pure speed backs like Chris Rainey and Jeff Demps, who have thrived in Urban Meyer's spread offenses in the past. That doesn't mean that none of these backs will have success this year, though.

While the group lacks a proven star, it's a solid group that could flourish in a run system where the attention of the defense is divided between them and the QB, who is already an established threat on the ground.

Jalin Marshall and Ezekiel Elliott have already committed to Ohio State for the 2013 class. Both are speed backs who could be big-time weapons almost from the beginning.

But don't count out the current backs the Buckeyes have, especially since the top two, Hall and Hyde, who each had plenty of good moments last season. Both of them are good enough to help Ohio State have a solid running attack that can make plenty of big plays this season.

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