Ezekiel Elliott’s NFL career has come full circle.
The former Ohio State running back was selected fourth overall by the Dallas Cowboys in the 2016 NFL draft. He spent seven years there before joining the New England Patriots for a season and returned to Dallas in April as a free agent.
Over that time, he’s recorded 9,002 rushing yards and 72 touchdowns on 2,095 carries. He has an additional 2,685 yards and 14 touchdowns receiving.
Former Ohio State running back Ezekiel Elliott was picked No. 4 overall by the Dallas Cowboys in the 2016 NFL draft.
His numbers in 2024 entering a Week 6 game against the defending NFC North champion Detroit Lions are down from his peak. OSU’s 2014 national championship season taught him, however, not to be overly concerned about statistics.
Ironically, that’s true even though Elliott’s 2014 campaign stands as the third-best by an Ohio State rusher (1,878 yards). It’s just not what he remembers.
HISTORY LESSON: The 2014 College Football Playoff Championship 10th anniversary
“When I go back and look at that year, I was honorable mention Big Ten running back,” he said. “I mean, there were a lot of good, good backs playing that year. You have (Wisconsin’s) Melvin Gordon – I think that’s the year he ran for 2,600 – (Nebraska’s) Ameer Abdullah, Jeremy Lankford from Michigan State, (David) Cobb from Minnesota. So there were a lot of good backs in the Big Ten.
“And the regular part of the season, I wasn’t really getting a crazy amount of touches. I probably had 20 carries two or three games.”
Dallas Cowboys running back Ezekiel Elliott has recorded 9,002 rushing yards and 72 touchdowns on 2,095 carries in the NFL.
It was actually four, but Elliott’s larger point stands. His production picked up markedly in the postseason after quarterback J.T. Barrett broke an ankle in the regular-season finale…
Source link : https://sports.yahoo.com/ohio-state-football-history-where-100137720.html
Author : The Columbus Dispatch
Publish date : 2024-10-10 10:01:37
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