JK Dobbins probably wasn't ready to start on Thursday night. It was Ohio State's opener of the college football season, taking on a conference foe in the Indiana Hoosiers. The team needed to get off on the right foot. Yet at running back, Dobbins took charge on this opening night. How did that end up happening, when Mike Weber is considered one of the best running backs in the conference?

Dobbins gets his shot

Over the summer, Weber battled through several injuries, including a tight hamstring. The injury was serious enough that it held the running back out of Thursday night's game, giving Dobbins, a freshman, a chance to shine.

This isn't a long-term arrangement; when Ohio State faces the Oklahoma Sooners next week, the team fully expects Weber to be back on the field. That's expected to be a much more challenging game than this week's opener, though.

Dobbins became a popular player during the team's summer camp. He received plenty of praise from the coaching staff, exhibiting a quick learning curve as he learned the team's playbook. He surpassed others on the Ohio State depth chart, such as Demario McCall and Antonio Williams. The offense will always run through quarterback J.T. Barrett, but the team felt confident enough in the rusher to give him the start in his first possible collegiate game.

How Dobbins fared

The coaching staff made the right decision in trusting the freshman.

The first Ohio State freshman to start a season opener at running back, Dobbins dominated in the first half. He carried the ball 15 yards for 107 yards, in addition to catching two passes for 24 yards. He showed a great amount of elusiveness in his runs, using juke moves to get past defenders for a few electrifying long gains.

While the Ohio State offense looked largely lethargic in the first half, Dobbins carried his weight. In the third quarter, the rest of the Buckeyes offense finally followed suit, scoring 22 points after scoring just 13 in the entire first half. After an early touchdown pass in the fourth quarter, the Buckeyes led 42-21, ensuring offensive coordinator Kevin Wilson would romp over his former team.

Mike Weber should get his starting job back next week. He had better watch out, though, because Ohio State may have one of the biggest freshman stars in the entire country in JK Dobbins if Thursday night's breakout performance was any indication.

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