Master Teague was set to take the reins of the Ohio State rushing attack as the No. 1 running back, but the third-year sophomore suffered an undisclosed injury in the first practice March 2, and sources confirm to Buckeye Sports Bulletin that he will be unavailable for the spring.
Although the injury has been undisclosed by the program, sources have indicated what will sideline Teague is a lower-leg injury.
With former standout tailback J.K. Dobbins departing early for the 2020 NFL Draft, Teague was presumed to be the next starter in a long line of talented Buckeye backs after a solid redshirt freshman season.
Teague, a 5-foot-11, 225-pound tailback, rushed for 789 yards on 135 carries (5.8 yards per carry) and four touchdowns, while adding four receptions for 60 yards in 2019.
Ironically, Ohio State head coach Ryan Day mentioned how costly an injury to one of his tailbacks would be following the Buckeyes’ first practice, since sophomore Marcus Crowley is out and freshman Miyan Williams will not enroll until June.
“We’re one injury away from a little bit of a crisis right now,” Day said March 2. “But in the end when it comes to September, we’re going to be OK.
“We’re going to get Marcus [Crowley] back before the season starts. And then we have Miyan [Williams] coming in. Once we get to the summer, we’ll be whole.”
Teague and Crowley were set to engage in a position battle with redshirt freshman Steele Chambers, but with the latter two backs out, Chambers is the only healthy scholarship running back on Ohio State’s roster.
Last season, Crowley rushed for 237 yards on 25 carries (9.5 ypc) and one touchdown with one catch for seven yards and a score, while Chambers rushed for 135 yards on 19 carries (7.1 ypc) and one touchdown.
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