The plan to find Ohio State's next great fullback

The Buckeyes should roster a fullback. Their last real fullback agrees.

Zach Boren is Ohio State’s last real fullback. He’s in on the plan to find the Buckeyes’ next one. (Big Ten Network)

COLUMBUS — It’s fourth-and-1 at the Ohio State 38-yard line. Everyone in the stadium knows what’s coming. There’s no hesitation. No thought of a short punt or a long field goal. It’s Johnny Fullback time.

Johnny is from Ohio. Maybe he’s not. He probably is. Maybe he’s wearing a neck roll. Maybe not. He’s definitely sporting some of the most elaborate eye black you’ve ever seen as he jogs to the huddle. He’s got a screw loose. He’s here to block linebackers and chew thumbtacks, and they don’t allow thumbtacks on the football field.

Johnny puts his hand on the ground as the blocking back in the I-formation. A roar builds within the Ohio Stadium crowd. No frills. It’s power. A backside guard pulls, Johnny plants the playside defensive end with a kick-out block, first down. Johnny leaves the field, awaiting the next time that the short-yardage Bat-Signal will beckon his services.

Ohio State needs to find its next Johnny. Put another way, the Buckeyes should again start rostering a fullback.