Frank Solich jokingly asked media members Monday afternoon if they knew Vinny's last name. The majority raised their hands.
Joking aside, it was a semi-serious question.
He's not in the 2016 Ohio Media Guide. During the season opener against Texas State, he stood on the sidelines but did not dress for the game.
But during the the second quarter last Saturday at No. 15 Tennessee, he lined up in the backfield alongside Greg Windham.
Vinny Emanuele is a freshman walk-on running back that, due to injury concerns, has climbed the depth chart and will be a feature back Saturday afternoon against Gardner-Webb.
“It’s just injuries,” Emanuele said of his newfound role in the offense. “(Now) it’s working hard doing what I have to do every day and trying not to mess up.”
Entering the season, the running back spot was supposed to have the most talent and depth of any position in the program.
A.J. Ouellette was healthy, Papi White was more elusive than in 2015 and both Maleek Irons and Dorian Brown were going to increase their influence in play selection.
Ohio had options, then lost all of them.
With Saturday approaching, that scenario is much different. Solich confirmed after the Tennessee game that Ouellette was having surgery and his season was finished. As for Brown, a hamstring injury will likely sideline him with an unconfirmed return.
Irons is active, but not healthy. Thus, by process of elimination, Emanuele has jumped to the forefront.
“We thought coming in that we had really good depth at running back,” Solich said. “That has held true, but we are getting to the bottom end of the depth with the running backs.”
Prior to the Tennessee game, Emanuele started taking first-team reps during practice. Against the Volunteers, he mustered seven yards on five carries — an unremarkable start to his college career. But it also came against one of the nation’s top teams.
This Saturday will be different.
Gardner-Webb is an FCS opponent, a stark contrast in talent from last game. And with Mid-American Conference play beginning in October, Saturday’s game will double as a chance for Emanuele to impress while the other running backs recover.
At 5-foot-8 and 180 pounds, Emanuele is undersized. He also doesn’t have explosive speed to power to the edge for long gains along the sideline.
What he provides is a balance and consistency. And with Ohio’s running back woes piling up, some stability should be a nice welcome for the Bobcats.
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From not being on the preseason roster to playing one of the most utilized positions for Ohio this Saturday, Emanuele said he’s not had time to feel too nervous, but his predicament also isn’t too nerve-wracking.
“In my head since I knew I was coming here, I kinda pictured all this happening,” he said. “As narcissistic as that sounds, I just always tried to keep my brain ready.”
