George calls Hyde "potential monster" in NFL

Published Dec. 11, 2013 11:24 a.m. ET

foxsports

Carlos Hyde can count one of Ohio State's all-time greats among those bullish on his prospects at the next level.

Eddie George told the Chicago Tribune (via an NFL.com link because the original story is behind a paywall) the Buckeyes' senior running back "can be a monster, a superstar" in the NFL thanks to his combination of size and speed.

The 6-0, 235-pound Hyde makes for an easy comparison to George, a college football analyst for FOX Sports who won the 1995 Heisman Trophy after rushing for an Ohio State single-season record 1,927 yards.

Hyde has 1,408 yards this season, and with 118 yards rushing in the Big Ten Championship Game became one of eight Ohio State players with 3,000 career rushing yards.

Earlier this month, NFL.com's Bucky Brooks expressed his own positive outlook for Hyde when it comes to next spring's draft.

"The 6-foot, 235-pound senior is an old school tailback with the size, strength and power that NFL scouts covet in feature backs," Brooks wrote after watching George punish Michigan's defense for 226 yards on 27 carries.

Brooks wants to wait to see what type of speed Hyde displays at the NFL Scouting Combine in February before making a final judgement but added he believes Hyde could go as high as the second round if he runs well in Indianapolis.

"I believe he could be a strong Day Two consideration for teams eyeing a rough and rugged workhorse to handle a heavy workload as a feature back."

After no running backs went in the first round of the 2013 draft, Giovani Bernard was the first of five to go in the second round when the Bengals chose the North Carolina product, so "day two" might be as high a grade as any running back gets given shifting viewpoints in the value of drafting that position high.

Brooks' story from his observations of the prospects in the OSU-Michigan game also includes notes about Ohio State junior defensive players Bradley Roby and Ryan Shazier and senior Michigan receiver Jeremy Gallon.

Twitter: @marcushartman