Why the Buckeyes running backs should feast in the Chip Kelly-led offense

How much of a difference will Chip Kelly make for the Ohio State rushing attack this fall? #GoBucks

Chip Kelly started his coaching career in Columbia in 1990 and then consistently bounced around from Columbia to New Hampshire to Johns Hopkins, trying to find his rhythm after serving as a coach for multiple different positions.

He found his footing as the offensive coordinator and then head coach for the Oregon Ducks, who are ironically now in the Big Ten. Kelly made his name by featuring a spread offense and running it at 100 miles per hour, which worked perfectly for the players he was able to put on the turf.

Having been a running backs coach earlier in his career, Kelly’s presence should bring career years for TreVeyon Henderson and Quinshon Judkins, just as it did decades ago.

How is Kelly planning to feed two high-profile mouths at the same time? Well, one just has to look at his Oregon offensive numbers to see what success could look like.

In 2008, the Ducks’ lead back, Jeremiah Johnson, went for 1,201 yards on 168 carries. LeGarrette Blount, on the same team, totaled 137 carries and 1,002. The team ended 10th in the AP Poll and finished with the 7th-most points per game in the nation at 41.9.

As a head coach in 2010, Kelly’s team finished 1st of 120 FBS programs, notching 47 rushes per game. Kelly knows how to utilize the players to be success, and he’s going to have a gold mine of talent for 2024.

The Buckeyes secured a surprise transfer in Quinshon Judkins, who is coming from Ole Miss. Now a junior, Judkins rushed for 1,100-plus yards in each of his last two seasons.

There’s also the incumbent Henderson, who notched 1,248 yards as a rookie but then had that dwindle to 926 last season. Henderson has been listed as the starter on most depth charts, but it is going to be a committee.

Looking at Kelly’s past, he’s found ways to utilize his players, and that should be the same in 2024. It wouldn’t be a stretch to think both could hit career-best numbers this coming year.