After Mike Weber did drills off to the side with injured players on the first day of training camp Thursday, Ohio State didn’t provide an answer for why he wasn’t practicing with the other running backs.

Coach Urban Meyer cleared that up on Monday and said that Weber did some jogging at practice.

“He has a little tight hamstring, so we’re just being cautious this early out,” Meyer said. “He practiced a little bit today. He is on the mend.”

Weber was the Big Ten freshman of the year in 2016. He ran for 1,096 yards (6.0 per carry) and nine touchdowns as he had the difficult task of succeeding Ezekiel Elliott. But he struggled in Ohio State’s final two games, against Michigan and Clemson, gaining only 26 and 24 yards, respectively.

Asked last week in Chicago about Weber’s 2016 season, Meyer said, “I think it was good. I’d grade him a good, solid B. He was the third (Ohio State) freshman to run for 1,000 yards.”

But Weber was challenged to take a leap in the offseason, and Meyer said he has. Ohio State grades its players’ offseason performance based on blue, red and gold, with gold being the best.

“I would grade his offseason as bordering on gold,” Meyer said. “He was blue for a long time. He has really made strides in his work ethic. You don’t survive very long around here if you’re hanging around blue.”

Unlike last year, Weber has legitimate competition at tailback if he slips. Meyer said that freshman J.K. Dobbins already is assured of seeing playing time this year. Sophomore Demario McCall showed flashes last year, and Antonio Williams also is in the mix if he can get past the nagging injuries that have limited him in the past.

Meyer likes work ethic from receivers



With only three practices completed, Meyer said it was still too early to single out any players who had opened eyes. But he was happy with the development of the oft-maligned receivers unit.

“It’s one of the best groups we've ever had, culturally,” Meyer said. “They believe in the 4-to-6 (second), A-to-B, plus-two mentality that we have here, and there are zero issues.

“It’s just show up and go to work, be at your body weight and give your very best. They are unproven, but those kind of players usually turn out to have very good careers.”

brabinowitz@dispatch.com

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