Cowboys Draft Target: Ohio State RB Mike Weber

NAME: Mike Weber

POSITION: Running Back

SCHOOL: Ohio State

CONFERENCE: Big Ten

CLASS: RS Junior

JERSEY: No. 25

RECRUITMENT RATING: 4-star

HT: 5’10”

WT: 211

D.O.B.: 8/25/1997

| | | | | | Rushing | Rushing | Rushing | Rushing | Receiving | Receiving | Receiving | Receiving | Scrimmage | Scrimmage | Scrimmage | Scrimmage
Year | School | Conf | Class | Pos | G | Att | Yds | Avg | TD | Rec | Yds | Avg | TD | Plays | Yds | Avg | TD
*2015 | Ohio State | Big Ten | FR | RB | | | | | | | | | | 0 | 0 | | 0
*2016 | Ohio State | Big Ten | FR | RB | 13 | 182 | 1096 | 6.0 | 9 | 23 | 91 | 4.0 | 0 | 205 | 1187 | 5.8 | 9
*2017 | Ohio State | Big Ten | SO | RB | 12 | 101 | 626 | 6.2 | 10 | 10 | 94 | 9.4 | 0 | 111 | 720 | 6.5 | 10
*2018 | Ohio State | Big Ten | JR | RB | 13 | 172 | 954 | 5.5 | 5 | 21 | 112 | 5.3 | 1 | 193 | 1066 | 5.5 | 6
Career | Ohio State | | | | | 455 | 2676 | 5.9 | 24 | 54 | 297 | 5.5 | 1 | 509 | 2973 | 5.8 | 25

Highlights:

Pros:

Mike Weber was a productive member in the Buckeyes backfield during his three years at Ohio State. He took over for Ezekiel Elliott in 2016 as a redshirt freshman and rushed for over 1,000 yards and nine touchdowns, averaging 6 yards per carry. He was part of a timeshare with J. K. Dobbins in 2017 and 2018, but still rushed for over 1,500 yards and 15 touchdowns in his final two years at OU. He has a high motor player with good football IQ.

As a runner, Weber does a good job of pressing the line of scrimmage before using his vision to pick his running lane. Is a smooth athlete with good contact balance. Not a lot of wasted movement when he has the ball in his hands. A little more slippery as a runner than expected. Stocky build helps him in short yardage situations. Shows good leg drive and does well to spin or contort his body at contact to fall forward.

Weber can be a weapon in the passing game. He shows soft natural hands when catching the ball out of the backfield and can be a threat after the catch. Shows good body control when balls are thrown outside his frame. Has shown he can be an effective route runner and has the ability to stretch the field vertically. Willingness as a pass protector, but could stand to clean up his technique.

Cons:

Mike Weber has the skill set to become a complete three-down running back in the NFL, but there are areas of his game that may keep him from being nothing more than a rotational player and spot starter. Most notably is his lack of breakaway speed and the durability issues he had in 2017 that allowed J. K. Dobbins to take over as the Buckeyes lead back.

Weber unfortunately doesn’t possess the kind of top end speed that would allow him to run away from defenders in the NFL. He shows only moderate burst when hitting the hole. Doesn’t hit top speed immediately. More of a build up runner. Struggles when he has to change directions, especially when moving laterally. Will get what’s blocked for him, but doesn’t show the ability to create on his own.

Weber may struggle as a receiving back in the NFL. Mostly caught just swing passes and check downs at Ohio State and needs to prove he can run a more diverse route tree to deserve more targets. Lack of lateral mobility and change of direction will hurt his ability to separate. Shows the willingness as a press protector, but needs to clean up his technique.

Cowboys Fit:

If drafted by the Dallas Cowboys, Mike Weber would be the third running back from Ohio State to play for America’s Team in last few years. He would join former teammate Ezekiel Elliott and replace Rod Smith, both of who are former Buckeyes. Weber didn’t officially play with either, but he did watch Zeke from the sidelines during his freshman year at OU, which just so happened to be a redshirt year for him.

Weber would immediately become Zeke’s backup as a rookie and could form a really good one-two punch in the Cowboys backfield. He has the versatility to be a threat in any offensive scheme, but probably fits best in a zone blocking scheme. He can be a weapon as both a runner and receiver out of the backfield, but may not be anything more than a rotational back in the NFL or an emergency fill-in. He is projected to be a mid-round pick, which is where the Cowboys could look to draft him.