Ohio State running backs coach Tony Alford has been poached by arch-rival Michigan.
ESPN’s Pete Thamel reported on Wednesday that Alford would be taking the same job at Michigan.
It has Jeremiah Smith, Ohio State’s top signee in the 2024 recruiting class, pretty stunned.
“Wow,” he tweeted.
Before taking this gig, Alford had been at Ohio State since 2015 when Urban Meyer was the head coach. Once Meyer left a few years later, Ryan Day decided to retain him.
He’s helped guide numerous running backs to the NFL, including Ezekiel Elliott and J.K. Dobbins. He also coached TreVeyon Henderson and Miyan Williams while he was in Columbus.
Before he was at Ohio State, he coached at Notre Dame from 2009-14 and Louisville from 2007-08. He’s also coached at Kent State, Iowa State, Washington, and various other schools.
Day will now have to figure out who to replace Alford with since the latter had quite a bit of experience when he was brought in.
Ohio State finished the 2023 season with an 11-2 record after winning its first 11 games. OSU lost its regular-season finale against Michigan before losing to Missouri in the Cotton Bowl.
The Buckeyes have dropped three straight games to the Wolverines, with today’s news adding insult to all of that recent injury.