One of the defining features of Urban Meyer’s offenses at Ohio State was the presence of an H-back – short for hybrid back – who could be a top playmaker for the Buckeyes as both a receiver and runner.
It was a role that came to prominence when Percy Harvin played for Meyer at Florida. Ohio State’s offenses over the last seven years featured several players at that position who were utilized both as pass-catchers and on running plays, including Curtis Samuel, Jalin Marshall, Dontre Wilson, Parris Campbell and for one year, even Braxton Miller.
Through the first half of Ryan Day’s first season as Ohio State’s head coach, however, that style of H-back has mostly disappeared from the Buckeyes’ offense.