Ohio State Football Recruiting: Profile on 4-Star Running Back Ezekiel Elliott

St. Louis has the Mississippi River, but Ohio State will have a mighty running back who can ebb and flow just as well next season.

Ezekiel Elliott is a senior running back at John Burroughs School in St. Louis, Mo. The Class of 2013 4-star recruit is off and running at a wicked pace this campaign.

His Bombers (Division-3A) stand 3-0, averaging 45.6 points per game. The 6'0", 198-pounder has gashed defenses for over 300 yards rushing and 11 total touchdowns.

Elliott is a flat-out playmaker. The 4.42 speedster boasts touchdown runs of 64 and 63 yards, an 89-yard touchdown reception and a 62-yard punt return for a score.

Last year, "Zeke" gained over 2,200 yards of total offense and recorded 42 total touchdowns. He rushed for 1,802 yards and 34 touchdowns and caught 23 passes for 401 yards and six touchdowns. He averaged 25.6 yards on punt returns.

In film study, Elliott shows great acceleration. He quickly finds the crease inside and can pop it to the edge. He is also a serious threat at receiver with soft hands and excellent vision.

This three-sport stud athlete is an offensive weapon the Buckeyes desperately need. He will be able to share the load with quarterback Braxton Miller, as well as set up nicely for screen passes—something OSU hasn't shown much of this season.

Elliott received 19 offers, including Nebraska, Missouri, Georgia and Arkansas, before committing to Ohio State on April 1, 2012.

Just a side note, the head coach at Burroughs is Gus Frerotte, a former quarterback with seven NFL teams in 15 seasons. He was a 1996 Pro Bowl selection with the Washington Redskins and retired after the 2008 season with the Minnesota Vikings.