Tom Dienhart, BTN.com Senior Writer, July 30, 2013

Carlos Hyde

News that Ohio State running back Carlos Hyde wouldn?t be charged in an assault case is a positive development for the Buckeyes. But on Tuesday night, Urban Meyer announced that Hyde still will face consequences.

?Carlos Hyde will be suspended for at least the first three games of the 2013 season for conduct not representative of this football program or this university,? Meyer said in a statement. ?He will be required to fulfill additional obligations before he is allowed to play in a game.?

[ AP: Police: Ohio State back's case officially closed ]

Hyde isn?t Archie Griffin. But he?s the Buckeyes? top back, a bruising runner who is capable of notching a 1,000-yard season. Hyde came within 30 yards of becoming the first running back under Urban Meyer ever to rush for 1,000 yards in a season, finishing 2012 with 970 yards rushing.

Still, the Buckeyes should be OK without Hyde, as the first three games are at home vs. Buffalo and San Diego State before a trip to rebuilding Cal. With Hyde on the sidelines, Ohio State will turn to Rod Smith, Bri?onte Dunn and Warren Ball, who should be more than capable. And incoming freshman Ezekiel Elliott arrives in Columbus with a fat scrapbook.

View Hyde's career rushing numbers:

Year Team G Rush Yds Yd/Rush TDs Rec Yds Yd/Rec TDs
2010 OhioSt 7 24 141 5.9 0 0 0 – 0
2011 OhioSt 13 106 566 5.3 6 10 73 7.3 0
2012 OhioSt 10 185 970 5.2 16 8 51 6.4 1
Career 30 315 1677 5.3 22 18 124 6.9 1

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About Tom Dienhart BTN.com senior writer Tom Dienhart is a veteran sports journalist who covers Big Ten football and men's basketball for BTN.com and BTN TV. Find him on Twitter and Facebook, read all of his work at btn.com/tomdienhart, and subscribe to his posts via RSS. Also, send questions to his weekly mailbag using the form below and read all of his previous answers in his reader mailbag section.

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