Ups and Downs Of Brandon Saine

It's hard to deny. The kid has has an interesting career so far at Ohio State. Despite his setbacks, he is now the second leading rusher (behind Pryor of course) with an average of 6.0 yards per carry on 49 carries.

But let's start at the beginning. When he came to Ohio State as highly recruited freshman who was compared to Reggie Bush. He set an Ohio division 1 record for the 100 meter dash with 10.38 seconds.

A quietly, promising freshman year is what he showed the Buckeye nation. He did all his work behind a very powerful Beanie Wells. He rushed for 267 yards on 60 carries and averaged 4.5 yards per carry.

Then it seemed he fell off the face of the earth his sophomore year. He only rushed for 60 yards on 25 carries. He was plagued by knee injuries and seemed to be invisible in this Ohio State offense that was being led by freshman Terrelle Pryor.

Junior year, he hasn't started the year as Ohio State's starter but he has been a dangerous aspect of the Ohio State offense.

So what's next for Brandon Saine. He has many running backs behind him that are ready to fill his role. Jordan Hall has been solid when he gets into the game late. Daniel "Boom" Herron is a year under him and has been starting.

And with the way Ohio State recruits running backs, it won't be long until Ohio State reels in a talented recruit like Jamaal Berry and 2010 recruit Roderick Smith, who is fifth among running backs in the recruiting class.

Brandon Saine has been solid player for the Buckeyes. That has been evident, but I always wondered what he could do if we gave him the same number of carries we gave Beanie.

The kid is good, but his career has had a role where he has been looked at as an "extra option". Never as "the option".