COLUMBUS, Ohio — Wearing a St. Louis Cardinals cap to represent his hometown, Ezekiel Elliott tried to fit in as he attended last month’s Arnold Sports Festival in downtown Columbus. He stared in amazement at the musclebound models, checked out the newest lines of nutrition supplements and even took in a couple of professional wrestling matches.
But even more so than the models—and perhaps only second to the host of the event, Arnold Schwarzenegger—it was Elliott who caused the most heads to turn as he wandered around the annual celebration of sports and fitness. Everywhere the Ohio State running back went, people took notice, chatting him up or asking for the occasional picture for their Instagram accounts.
This is the new normal for Elliott, whose epic run in the Big Ten title game and College Football Playoff have turned him into one of Columbus’ biggest celebrities at 19 years old. While Cardale Jones, Braxton Miller, J.T. Barrett and even Joey Bosa may garner the headlines from the national media, it’s been Elliott who’s been the most beloved Buckeye after he totaled 696 yards and eight touchdowns in Ohio State’s three postseason games.
“Buckeye Nation just has the strongest fanbase in the world,” Elliott said on Thursday. “Wherever I go, I’m going to be noticed, and that’s something that I enjoy. I enjoy being out there and giving back to the fans and having a good time with them.”
It’s not just Elliott’s MVP performances that have won over…
Continue Reading: Forget the QBs, Ezekiel Elliott Is Ohio State’s Biggest Celebrity
