Bengals sixth-round draft pick in 2012 began season on practice squad, and was signed to active roster after Game 12 ... Instant success on special teams, he had a tipped punt in his Bengals debut (vs. Dallas) and a blocked punt the next week at Philadelphia ... An Ohio State team captain in 2011, he was named team MVP despite missing the first six games ... His 2869 career rushing yards rank 10th in OSU history, and he rushed for 32 TDs.
CAREER TRANSACTIONS: Selected by Cincinnati in sixth round of 2012 NFL Draft (191st overall) ... Signed with Bengals on 5-23-12 ... Waived by Bengals on 8-31-12 ... Signed to Bengals practice squad on 9-1-12 ... Signed to Bengals roster on 12-4-12.
2012 RECAP: Played in all four preseason games, rushing for 42 yards on 25 carries ... Opened regular season on Bengals practice squad, and after roster activation played in three games (Games 13-14 and 16), with a blocked punt, four special teams tackles and four rushes for five yards ... Inactive for Game 15 at Pittsburgh ... Made NFL debut Dec. 9 vs. Dallas and partially blocked a Cowboys punt in the second quarter, with the ball traveling just 39 yards ... On Dec. 13 at Philadelphia, he pushed Eagles upback Marvin McNutt into path of the punter, forcing a blocked punt that he recovered and returned three yards to Eagles 11, setting up a Bengals FG ... Also had three rushes for eight yards at Philadelphia, and logged two special teams tackles (tied for team lead) ... Two special teams tackles Dec. 30 vs. Baltimore ... Inactive for Wild Card playoff 1-5-13 at Houston.
COLLEGE: Played four seasons (2008-11) at Ohio State, with a redshirt year in 2007 ... Totaled 41 games with 22 starts, and rushed 592-for-2869 (average of 4.9 yards per carry) ... Also had 44 receptions for 309 yards (7.0) ... Scored 32 rushing TDs and one on a reception ... In seven games in 2011, rushed for 675 yards on 134 carries, averaging 96.4 yards per game played and 5.0 yards per carry ... Rushed 33-for-160 in upset win over Wisconsin ... Missed Games 1-6 as part of a group of OSU players who were suspended due to violations of NCAA rules on improper benefits to student-athletes ... Earned first-team All-Big Ten honors as a junior in 2010, rushing 216-for-1155 (5.4) with 16 TDs ... Career highs in receptions (19) and receiving yards (180) ... Helped Buckeyes finish with No. 5 national ranking after 12-1 season including Sugar Bowl victory over Arkansas ... His 22-for-175 rushing day in 37-7 rout of Michigan included 89-yard TD run, longest rush in OSU history.
PERSONAL: Hometown is Warren, Ohio ... Attended Warren G. Harding High School, where he earned first-team All-State honors as a senior, rushing for 1434 yards and 18 TDs ... Earned degree from Ohio State in African-American Studies ... Widely known by the nickname “Boom” ... Brother, David, was a LB at Michigan State and played in NFL over 2007-10.
