With Miyan Williams out for year, Dallan Hayden moves into 'much more impactful role'

COLUMBUS — Ohio State has had its starting running back from last year’s Peach Bowl College Football Playoff semifinal in its back pocket all season. That’s Dallan Hayden, a sophomore who rushed for more than 500 yards in 2022 and has made a habit of stepping up when called upon in his young Buckeyes career, including in Week 7 at Purdue when he jolted a defunct rushing attack.

As was the case last year at Maryland, Hayden was a spark plug against the Boilermakers last month, rushing for 76 yards and a touchdown on just 11 carries.

Day said in October that the plan has been to redshirt Hayden this season. That way, the Buckeyes wouldn’t use up a year of the Memphis native’s eligibility while they had three other backs seemingly in front of him on the depth chart (TreVeyon Henderson, Chip Trayanum and Miyan Williams).

Since the Purdue game, however, Day has said that he and his staff are continuing to reevaluate that plan. While Hayden hasn’t played in the last two games, he could get back on the field soon, maybe even this Saturday at Rutgers.

For one, Hayden has two more games to spare before his redshirt status is at stake. After all, a player can participate in four games in a season without burning his redshirt.

But, more importantly, Hayden now appears to be RB3 for the Buckeyes after Day announced earlier this week that Williams — Ohio State’s leading rusher in 2022 — had a season-ending procedure and has been shut down with an undisclosed injury.

“He moves up, certainly,” Day said of Hayden Wednesday. “And we do have some games here. But yeah, certainly moves him up into a much more impactful role.”

Hayden was sprung into action at Purdue because the Buckeyes were without Henderson, Williams and, by late first quarter, Trayanum.

Trayanum returned to action the following week against Penn State. Henderson made his long-awaited return last week at Wisconsin after a month absence from a “cheap shot” he said he took at Notre Dame.

Against the Badgers, Henderson popped off for 162 yards on 24 carries, the last of which featured a game-sealing, 33-yard touchdown. He also recorded four catches for 45 receiving yards.

Ohio State running backs coach Tony Alford was asked about Hayden during an appearance on 97.1 The Fan Thursday, and specifically about the challenge the sophomore has in staying ready but being patient.

“I think that is hard. But that just goes back to being a team guy,” Alford said. “And understanding, OK, well my rep counts may not be as high as maybe I want them to be and, in some regards, you might say, ‘You know, I feel like I might even deserve to have some of those reps.’ But he’s been fantastic.”

Alford continued: “His family’s been great with understanding what we’re trying to do and how we’re trying to mix and match with the pieces and whatnot. So he’s been phenomenal as far as that goes and just continues to get better. There’s some things he’s got to continue to work on with his skill set as well, as we all do, but he’s been great.”

One area of emphasis, in particular, for Hayden right now is pass protection. For instance, in 12 pass blocking snaps at Purdue, he allowed two pressures, including one quarterback hit, according to Pro Football Focus.

“We want to make sure they’re every down players, [that] their ‘complete players’ is the word we use,” Alford said on 97.1 The Fan. “Opportunities do exist. Injuries are part of this game, as we all know. And, with that being said, you have to be ready.

“So you have to be prepared, and you have to prepare yourself in order to be ready, because your number can be called anytime.”

Hayden knows that better than anyone.