COLUMBUS, Ohio – Ohio State fans were able to watch Sunday's NFL game between the Cowboys (Ezekiel Elliott) and the 49ers (Carlos Hyde) to see the last several years of Ohio State running backs on the field, taking each other on. Elliott's Cowboys got the upper-hand on Sunday and pulled out the win but the tandem combined for more than 200 yards on the ground and each scored a touchdown.
A day earlier Ohio State fans were able to see the current state of the running game being held down by redshirt freshman running back Mike Weber and many fans can't help but think that Weber's future will take him to playing ball on Sunday as well, if the first four games of his career are any indication.
Weber has 68 carries for 495 yards and two touchdowns in his first four games of action. His 123.8 YPG is 20 yards better than the Big Ten's second leading rusher, Devine Redding out of Indiana and Weber's 7.3 YPC is third in the league only behind Ty Johnson (Maryland) and teammate Curtis Samuel.
Weber's first four games have been more prolific than either Zeke's or Carlos' first four games of action carrying the ball for the Buckeyes.
"I came really far from the Bowling Green game," Weber said. "I am feeling more comfortable each game and I learn something different after each game. I feel like all of the things that I am learning, I just take it all in and keep getting better each week and hopefully it gets way easier for me."
Of course the comparisons between Weber and his predecessors will undoubtedly come up. Head coach Urban Meyer coached both Hyde and Elliott and knows who Weber reminds him more of.
"More Carlos," Meyer said. "He's a banger. It's a thumper and a plus yardage guy most of the time. Zeke was too. Doesn't have the top end that Zeke has. We're working on that. And Carlos' is a great back. We have been fortunate. I think Mike falls right in that category."
Weber personally does not see himself like one back or the other and is just focused on being the best player that he can be and will leave the comparisons for other people to make.
"That is kind of a hard question," Weber said. "I just go out there and play my hardest. I want to be myself at the end of the day. They are great running backs, but I have got a lot of work to do."
As a Detroit Cass Tech product, many people would expect Weber to pattern his game after NFL-great running back Barry Sanders, but that is not the case with Weber saying he grew up watching tape of another all-time great back.
"I liked Walter Payton," Weber admitted with a smile. "(I liked Payton) really just running hard. I like running hard, I like being a punisher running the ball. It just feels good running over people. He did a good job with that."
The story gets more interesting with the fact that Weber knows Sanders and has actually golfed with the former Detroit Lions star. That is not the only time that Weber has gone against Sanders however.
"(Sanders) wanted me to keep No. 20, because I had No. 20," Weber said. "But I wanted No. 25, so I just changed anyway."
Weber and Sanders still talk, even with the pair of 'snubs' between the number and all-time favorite back. Weber admits that the two don't really tlak about football but rather about life and things beyond football.
For now, Weber's life is very much involved with football and he has proven to be a quick study after a rocky start in 2015. As a true freshman, Weber was vocal on social media with his disappointment for taking a redshirt season and not seeing the field, even in mop-up duty. Everything works out for a reason and Weber's time is now in 2016 as a second-year player.
It took Weber some time to buy into the program and culture at Ohio State and it is not a rare thing for a freshman to have a hard time making that adjustment to the college game and college life in general.
"They go away from home and it is not the same," Weber said. "Some guys, usually guys don't play and it is kind of hard on them. I think that is a part of growing up and taking on each task that comes your way."
Weber has taken his new role very seriously and while nobody expect him to be Ezekiel Elliott overnight, he is using the lessons he learned from Zeke now and is hoping to enjoy some of the on-field success that the former Ohio State running back enjoyed while with the Buckeyes.
Pass blocking is one thing that everyone will remember Zeke for and Weber has been a quick study.
"At Cass Tech, we do pass block but it was not as important as it is here," Weber said. "Coach put a big emphasis on that when I came in here and Zeke made sure that he helped me out with pass blocking and I got a lot better at it."
Quarterback J.T. Barrett has seen his young running back putting in the effort and has full faith that Weber has his back (or front).
"I think that is something that he has grown to start liking and start enjoying because he knows it is about the team," Barrett said. "I think that is something that is an unselfish thing as a running back. You are expected to just run the ball and that is how just some people see you but it is also part of the game too."
Weber admitted that he did not have a chance to watch the Cowboys/49ers game on Sunday but stays in close touch with both Ohio State running backs. He saw the picture of the two exchanging jerseys after the game and Weber one-day hopes to join them in the league when the time is right.
"If I keep working hard, one day hopefully it can be me," Weber said.
