Trust your landmark and run through the smoke. It's going to open up eventually.
Ezekiel Elliott
I'm not going to change; I'm going to keep grinding. I'm going to do all I can to win.
The NCAA has its rules. It's our job to abide by them.
You definitely have to think of the perception of things before you actually do certain things. It may not seem like it's a big deal to you yourself, but there's a bigger picture.
That's just how I live my life. That's how I was raised: to demand excellence out of myself.
I think I do deserve more than 11 carries. I think I really do.
I'm just trying to go out each week and get better. I just have to be patient, and it's going to happen.
I want to go play behind that great offensive line they have down in Dallas.
Honestly, the type of runner I am, I'm a physical guy, and I try to set the tone early in the game, so you're going to see it a lot in the first and second quarter.
With every rep, you're going to get better.
Witten was my guy. I stayed in Wit's hip pocket and did everything I could to learn from him, learn how to be a pro.
I'm a great inside and outside runner.
I feel blessed. All the great running backs that have come through Ohio State - Archie Griffin, Eddie George, Beanie Wells - I'm happy that I was able to carry on that lineage this season.
I'm focused on going out and winning ballgames. Focused on getting better with the team every week.
To me, a good running back is a good defense. A good running back helps you keep your defense off the field.
I have a lot of great players around me. I have the best O-line in football. It's what's expected.
When we go out there, we have fun, but we get to work, and I think we're at our best when we're having fun. Having fun is key.
During the game, there has to be a moment where you have to set the tone. You have to let them know that you're a physical player.
I'm a great pass catcher. I'm excellent in pass protection, which is the most important thing. You can't play, you can't get on the field if you don't protect that franchise quarterback.
It would be special, just to know I had the best rookie season a running back has had in this league, especially a record that's been however old it is.
You can't win every game, so I've just got to get back to work and get better next week.
The criticism is what I expect, honestly, because I'm criticizing myself every day when I come in here and watch that film. I'm trying to get better.
I'm a guy who expects a lot from himself.
I think I probably have one of the easiest jobs in America. I get to run behind the best O-line in America.
Whoever wins MVP, whoever wins whatever those awards are, that's not my decision.
I'm a guy that can play three downs. You don't have to take me off the field. I value blocking.
I think I have great hands out of the backfield.
I think at Ohio State, we're professional athletes in Columbus.
I am tired of hearing about Coach Harbaugh; I think he needs to get in check with reality because, at the end of the day, you can't talk smack about a rivalry when you haven't won a rivalry game. You got to win ballgames to be able to talk behind it.
I've given it all from my combine to my pro day to my meetings with teams.
We want to play a physical game and impose our will on people.
I think I'm a guy who's going to work and work hard from Day 1, and I think I'm a guy who brings a lot of versatility to the position.
I've worked on my game, and I don't think it has any holes, no weaknesses. I say that with humility because you can always work to get better. But I run inside, I run outside, and I'm just not a guy you have to take off the field for certain packages.
In playoff football, you've got to be physical. You've got to run the ball.
Winning the Super Bowl would be way more special than the rookie rushing record.
Notre Dame was my dream school growing up. But in recruiting, they had some other plans, what position they wanted me to play.
I wasn't going to play on defense in college.
What's a priority is going out there and winning ballgames every week.
I'm a guy who can play all three downs, and I excel in all areas of the game.
I wouldn't say I'm a victim of high expectations. The expectations are going to be there.
It's always great to get more reps.
The more you see, the more you're going to learn. Just got to take advantage of the opportunity and get ready to play ball.
I just like the ball in my hands whether I'm running it or catching it.
You can't really sit around when you're sore. You've got to get up and work all that lactic acid out.
That's something I kind of started Week 1, so when it got to where I'm getting a little beat up, I have a routine already for getting my body back together. Just getting in the cold tank, making sure you're getting massages.
I'm a versatile guy. I'm a third-down back.
I obviously love to run the ball.
I think I'm a guy who is going to come in and work hard from Day One.
There's only one professional team in Columbus, the Blue Jackets, but Ohio State is a football state.
I think I've been doing a good job of just making sure that I'm taking care of my body.
