Ohio's running game poised to break out despite limited attention

Jul 26, 2023 Updated Jul 26, 2023
ATHENS — Nobody in the Mid American Conference is getting more preseason hype than Ohio’s offensive unit. Returning the 2022 MAC Player of the Year, the leader in touchdowns for a wide receiver and one more pass catcher with blazing speed who amassed over 750 yards receiving, the Bobcats passing attack is loaded for the 2023 season.
Pro Football Focus recently became one of the countless media organizations drooling over the prospect of what the ‘Cats passing attack can become this season. Announcing its 2023 Preseason All-MAC Teams, PFF placed QB Kurtis Rourke and wide receivers Sam Wiglusz and Jacoby Jones on the First Team to nobody’s surprise.
Also not exactly surprising, but not discussed all that much when talking about Ohio this season, is the star running back who sits as a Second Team selection according to PFF.
Sieh Bangura, a Second Team runningback selection who’s recovering from offseason shoulder surgery after a breakout 2022 campaign, is expected to be the workhorse back once again for the Bobcats. In 12 games last season, Bangura ran for 1,078 yards on 222 carries, recording 15 total touchdowns including a four-score game against Akron. The Maryland native would score a touchdown in all but three games last season, including scoring at least one in eight of the last nine games.
“Even when the end of the year started, it was just me getting ready for my surgery, mainly with my surgery back in January. Just being out, it was a little painful to see my teammates work and I’m not working but it was good to sit back and look as the young guys got their reps and all though,” Bangura said about his progression through the offseason after the first day of practice. “Now, just working out through the summer and getting my shoulder back right felt good. Where I am right now feels really good, with the team, and where I’m at.”
Bangura was, and is expected to be, another weapon out of the backfield in the passing game as well. The 2022 MAC Freshman of the Year winner caught 27 balls for 226 yards and a pair of touchdowns.
Despite being thrown into an even more crowded runningback room this time around with the returning O’Shaan Allison, the normally composed star back had a new exuberance around him when talking to the media after the first day of practice on Wednesday.
“There’s so much different talent, let me think about it,” Bangura said with a grin when asked about the talent of a crowded position room. “Everybody different so that makes everybody want to do their own thing in their special way. That pushes everybody, even me.”
Bangura was having some fun, joking around when discussing how ready the team is for the upcoming challenge this season. It will soon become no laughing matter though as Bangura needs to find a way to improve off a breakout season. Despite having limited time this offseason to prepare, he already knew what he needed to work on.
“Speed. Mainly my speed and my agility, being able to make people miss,” Bangura bluntly said when asked about what he needed to work on in the offseason. “Just being able to outrun people in the open space.”
Bangura showed off some speed last season with a handful of 40+ yard runs, but if he can get to the level of breakaway speed, it’s another homerun dimension of the Ohio offense that opposing defense will have to stress about.
With already such a dominant passing attack ready to run amok through the league once again, forcing opponents to stress the run game will be crucial in opening up lanes throughout the air.
Bangura acknowledged that the two phases of offensive work symbiotically, but he doesn’t really care all that much about taking focus away from the passing attack. He’s got an attack mindset where it doesn’t matter who or how many the other team puts in front of him, he’s going to run right through them.
“When I’m out there, I really don’t feel any pressure because I feel like I really do this. In practice I’m always giving it my 100% so I don’t ever feel pressure when I’m in the backfield,” Bangura said when asked about the pressure and responsibility of the running game setting up the passing attack. “I just play my game. It’s fine to have that in the pass game because the running backs, we just ball, it’s what we do. We do everything.”
Based on all expectations, it should be another historic season in Athens this Fall. Despite most attention going to Rourke and the air-raid, a ground-and-pound focus is also going to be needed in order to achieve the lofty dreams this program has for the season.