Freshman walk-on running back A.J. Ouellette received a surprise scholarship following summer camp, but finds himself atop the Bobcats running backs one month later.
Ohio is lucky to have landed freshman running back A.J. Ouellette.
At least that’s what his high school coach said.
Dave Miller, a coach at Division VII Covington High School, couldn’t be prouder of his former star. He’s “not even a little bit” surprised about Oullette’s immediate impact for Ohio.
“Everything he’s doing now, I have no doubt in my mind he’d be doing it. He’s just the kind of kid that won’t rest until he’s the best,” Miller said. “He was rare in that sense, and that’s the same thing you’re seeing now.”
Coming out of a low-level football program in Western Ohio where he broke nine school records while playing running back, kicker, defensive back and kick and punt returner, Ouellette wasn’t offered any Division I scholarships. Although several lower-level schools in Ohio offered him scholarships, he picked Ohio because of the Bobcats’ coaches and how they approach gameday preparation.
Ohio offensive coordinator Tim Albin admits that the coaching staff thought another Mid-American Conference team would offer Ouellette a scholarship. Needless to say, he’s glad none did.
“We’re very grateful that he chose Ohio over scholarship offers,” Albin said. “He thought ‘I’m good enough to play Division I football,’ and he rolled the dice and it’s worked out for him.”
Ouellette’s goal was to become a walk-on, but after impressing coaches in fall camp he was awarded a scholarship before the season began.
He said he never thought he would be getting the opportunities that he has so far, as he leads all Bobcats rushers with 201 yards on 38 attempts.
“I came here planning on getting (a scholarship) early sophomore year and it came earlier than I thought,” said Ouellette, who gained 28 yards on six rushes during the Bobcats’ game-winning drive in his first collegiate game against Kent State University on Aug. 30.
A large group of his high school teammates journeyed to Athens for the Bobcats’ home opener this past Saturday, when Ouellette finished with a game-high 132 yards and two touchdowns.
Following the game, he was able to share a moment with his former coach over the phone.
“(He was) kind of emotional because he’s gone through a lot to get to where he is, to finally get an opportunity to do that I think he was pretty excited,” Miller said. “To say he was on cloud nine is an understatement.”
Despite his early-season success, Ouellette said he is determined to approach every day with something to prove.
“You’ve got to go out there every day with a chip on your shoulder,” he said. “To show everybody that you have what it takes and it wasn’t just one lucky drive, one lucky game or anything like that.”
Ohio’s other running backs have lost five fumbles in four games, creating more opportunities for Ouellette to relieve his teammates.
The most recent example occurred when junior running back Daz Patterson was stripped on Ohio’s second play from scrimmage against Idaho. Patterson didn’t get another carry for the remainder of the game.
“When they told me to go in there and I got the job done, after that game I was told by a couple other people to just keep working and my opportunities will come,” Ouellette said.
Ohio coach Frank Solich has said repeatedly over the past several months that the Bobcats’ running back corps is the best he’s had during his tenure in Athens, and Ouellette has quickly moved into a prominent role despite his youth.
That’s why Ohio’s coaches haven’t been afraid to throw a freshman into the thick of things on gameday.
“I feel anyone in the backfield can come on and make an impact,” Patterson said. “On the field he’s a hard worker, he’s an attention to details kind of guy.”
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