Ohio State Overview: Mike Weber is an outstanding running back who ran for over 1,000 yards as a freshman, added another 600-plus yards during a sophomore season that was slow to start because of injury, and is now healthy and ready to be a big-time producer for the Buckeyes … he and sophomore J.K. Dobbins give the Buckeyes one of the best one-two punches at running back in the Big Ten and possibly nationally … Weber, a fourth-year junior, is a veteran of 25 games with 13 starts … he enters the 2018 campaign with 1,722 career rushing yards and a career average of 6.1 yards per carry … he also has 33 career receptions for an additional 185 yards, six 100-yard rushing games and 19 rushing touchdowns … he rushed for 626 yards in 2017 and scored 10 touchdowns, all while coming off the bench … he displayed breakaway speed, as well: he went 82-yards for a score against Michigan State and he has four rushes of over 40 yards … had a career-best 53-yard reception vs. Maryland … he rushed for a career-high 162 yards against Michigan State’s No. 3 rated rush defense … Weber had a terrific freshman campaign in 2016, being named a freshman All-American after rushing for 1,096 yards in his rookie season and catching 23 passes out of the backfield, for 91 yards … he was named the Big Ten’s freshman of the year … he was just the third Ohio State freshman, joining Robert Smith (1,126 yards in 1990) and Maurice Clarett (1,237 yards in 2002), to rush for over 1,000 yards in a season … Weber is majoring in sociology.
Honors and Awards
2016: Big Ten Thompson-Randle El Freshman of the Year; Freshman All-American (ESPN and Football Writers Association of America), Second-team All-Big Ten Conference (coaches and media)
More on Mike: Weber came to Ohio State a consensus 4-star prospect who rushed for 2,268 yards and 29 touchdowns as a senior in 2014 despite missing three games for coach Thomas Wilcher’s state semifinalist squad … he averaged 10.1 yards per carry and Wilcher called him the best back in the Detroit Public School League in the last 30 years … was considered a Top 100 player nationally, with high overall rankings of No. 69 by Scout, No. 71 by Rivals, No. 80 by 247Sports and with a 140 rank on the ESPN 300 … considered the No. 1 player in the state of Michigan (Scout) and considered a Top 10 running back nationally by Rivals (No. 8), Scout (No. 9) and 247Sports (No. 9) … a first-team Associated Press all-state honoree as a senior and was twice named the Proud Strong Learner of the Week in the DPSL … rushed for a state record 404 yards and five touchdowns in a regional championship win over Clinton Township Chippewa Valley … rushed for 890 yards and 13 touchdowns in Cass Tech’s four-game run through the state playoffs in 2014 … a finalist for the Michigan state player of the year award and a co-recipient of the Detroit player of the year award … a U.S. Army All-American … parents are Toni and Mike Weber Sr.