Jordan Hall building case in OSU backfield

COLUMBUS, Ohio — The first test wasn’t aced, but Jordan Hall certainly passed it with relative ease.

The fifth-year senior shook off the rust from his injury-plagued season a year ago and again looked comfortable, confident and healthy with the football in his hands. He also appeared to be more than just a stand-in with Ohio State’s projected starter at running back and the top backup on the shelf, turning in the finest rushing performance of his career. And if there was any doubt about his ability to handle a full-time load and work between the tackles, the durability he showed while playing a complete game in searing heat while dashing for a pair of long touchdowns up the middle of the field erased those fears.

Officially the grade from the coaching staff was 81 percent, and that number is a more legitimate evaluation of how the Buckeyes rated his production than the 159 yards or two scores he provided on 21 carries. And for now, it will keep him at the head of the class as the stakes go up and No. 3 Ohio State starts adding some missing pieces back to its rushing attack.

“I’ve got a lot to get better at,” Hall said. “There were a couple good runs, but I’ve still got a lot of work to do personally.

“This is what I’ve been doing is playing football, so it feels natural to me for me to be back there. But it was fun to be back out there with the team again.”

Rod Smith hasn’t been gone as long as Hall, but he’ll be the first of Ohio State’s two tailbacks to return to the fold and perhaps shake up the rotation as the game plan for Saturday’s home date with San Diego State is installed this week.

Smith missed the opener due to a suspension for a violation of team rules earlier this year, missing out on what could have been a prime opportunity to show he’s ready for an expanded role after playing infrequently in support of Carlos Hyde last season. Instead it was Hall shifting from his expected role as a hybrid weapon at the H-back position, shining in the backfield and giving Ohio State something else to think about as its options expand.

Hyde will have to sit two more weeks before he can rejoin the rotation as he serves his three-game suspension for an off-field incident in July. But as Smith might find out on the practice field this week, the Buckeyes don’t appear to be in a hurry to remove Hall from the equation given his strong debut against Buffalo.

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