Chip Trayanum settling into expanded role in Buckeyes backfield
COLUMBUS — Call him a fullback, running back, whatever. Chip Trayanum is making his presence felt for the Ohio State offense early this season.
The former Arizona State tailback turned Ohio State linebacker who was converted back into a running back for the Buckeyes is finding his way onto the field, and he’s certainly looking impressive through the first regular season game.
He was the lead blocker into the end zone for Miyan Williams on the Buckeyes first touchdown of the season. He caught a third-and-long pass from out of the backfield. Oh, and he carried the ball eight times for 57 yards, to boot. Chip Trayanum is quickly showing that he can do anything the Buckeyes ask him to do on offense.
“Whatever the team needs,” Trayanum said Wednesday night inside the Woody Hayes Athletic Center following Buckeyes practice. “I mean, as long as we get the win, that’s all that matters at the end of the day.”
The Buckeyes did get the win Saturday, albeit in a slog of an offensive performance that ended with a disappointing 23-3 final. Trayanum helped Ohio State move down the field, earning carries on both of their touchdown drives.
But as good as he was from the tailback spot, he may have been even better as the lead-blocking fullback.
He’s doing a good job of juggling all of his early-season responsibilities for Ohio State.
“For me, I say over the most part it’s fine,” he said. “Just because of my love for the game and just my love to compete, you know, I just like being on the field. And I’m a competitor. So whatever role I can compete and maximize on the field, that’s what I’m going to do.”
The idea of Trayanum playing running back is nothing new. He broke out by carrying the ball at Arizona State. And when the Buckeyes needed an emergency tailback in their top-three matchup against Michigan and in the Peach Bowl semifinal at the College Football Playoff against Georgia, Trayanum stepped in.
He used that experience last year to catapult him into the offseason, and he springboarded from that into a major role in the Ohio State offense so far this year.
“When you train all year for that game, and we do everything we do for that game, and when you get a role to be the guy in that game at that position, then you take that with a chip on your shoulder,” Trayanum said. “And that’s what I tried to do last year, and I’m just carrying it with me into this season.”
So far, he’s carrying it well into this season, averaging 7.1 yards per tote. He is the Buckeyes leading rusher through the first game of the year and has found a role as a reliable back — and a lead blocker.
Expect to see more of Chip Trayanum on the field for Ohio State as the offense progresses. Who knows where he could line up next.
Of course, Lettermen Row’s Spencer Holbrook, Andy Backstrom and Tim May were back inside the Woody Hayes Athletic Center as Lettermen Row heard from select Ohio State players on Wednesday following the first game of the season last weekend. The crew breaks down what it heard Wednesday evening — just one week into the young campaign. Watch here or on the Lettermen Row Youtube channel, and make sure to subscribe to that channel for more Buckeyes breakdown videos.
