FootballScoop is proud to announce that Tim Albin is the 2018 FootballScoop Running Backs Coach of the Year presented by AstroTurf as selected by prior winners.
Ohio posted a successful 2018 season, winning nine games and a bowl game, and the Bobcats' success was powered on the ground.
Ohio ranked 10th nationally with 258.31 yards per game, carrying 557 times for 3,358 yards -- the second most in school history -- on a school record 6.03 yards per carry, the sixth-most in college football.
As evidenced by that yards per carry number, Ohio boasted one of the most explosive rushing attacks in the nation. Their 118 carries of 10-plus yards -- more than one in every five carries -- tied for the national lead.
Senior running back AJ Ouellette led the attack, carrying 213 times for 1,306 yards and 12 touchdowns, placing 12th in total yards. His 6.13 yards per carry average was bested by only two players with an equal or greater number of carries.
Fellow senior Maleek Irons complemented Ouellette, toting the ball 126 times for 831 yards and eight scores.
Ohio was one of just 11 teams to have one 1,000-yard rusher plus another 800-yard rusher.
When adding in quarterback Nathan Rourke's 860 yards and 15 scores, Ohio is one of just six teams to rush for at least 40 touchdowns this season. Thanks to their prolific running game, the Bobcats placed in the top 10 nationally on third down, converting 76 of 156 tries, while scoring touchdowns on 52 of their 72 red zone trips, a 72.22 percent success rate that is 17th in FBS.
Albin also serves as Ohio's associate head coach, offensive coordinator in addition to coaching the club's running backs. As a unit, Ohio's offense ranked 18th nationally in total offense (466.8 yards per game), ninth in yards per play (7.0) and 12th in scoring (40.1 points per game).
A Northwestern Oklahoma State graduate, Albin is a national champion head coach at his alma mater, leading the Rangers to a 13-0 NAIA title in 1999. From there, Albin joined Frank Solich's staff at Nebraska, where he remained through 2003. He aided in North Dakota State's transition from Division II to FCS in 2004, helping the Bison throw up an 8-3 record as the offensive coordinator. He joined Solich's Ohio staff after the 2004 campaign and has remained in Athens ever since, helping the Bobcats win 106 games and reach 10 bowl games in the 14 seasons since.
The FootballScoop Coaches of the Year awards presented by AstroTurf are the only set of awards that recognize the most outstanding position coaches in college football. The finalists (Jay Boulware [Oklahoma], Tashard Choice [North Texas], Tony Elliott [Clemson], Eddie Gran [Kentucky], DeAndre Smith [Utah State] and Albin) were selected based off of nominations by coaches, athletic directors, and athletic department personnel. The prior winners selected this year's winner.
Albin will receive his award and be recognized at an event at the AFCA Convention in January.
Previous winners of the Running Backs Coach of the Year award are Burton Burns (Alabama, 2008), Willie Taggart (Stanford, 2009), Jim Mastro (Nevada, 2010), Frank Wilson (LSU, 2011), Calvin Magee (Arizona, 2012), Jeff Lebby (Baylor, 2013), Bryan McClendon (Georgia, 2014), Lance Taylor (Stanford, 2015), Jeff Horton (San Diego State, 2016) and Tony Elliott (Clemson, 2017).
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