COLUMBUS, Ohio -- Ohio State running back Ezekiel Elliott and quarterback Cardale Jones made comments after Saturday's loss suggesting they would not return to Urban Meyer's Buckeyes team in 2016.
Elliott said Saturday during a post-game press conference that he played his last home game for the Buckeyes and strongly criticized the coaching staff after a 17-14 loss to No. 9 Michigan State.
The junior said after the second-ranked Buckeyes lost Saturday that there was "no chance" he'd be coming back in 2016, according to the Associated Press.
Elliott's comments came after he ran for only 33 yards against the Spartans, snapping his streak of 15 straight games with 100 yards or more.
Enjoyed my last buckeye walk. Gonna miss all the fans who had a couple too many trying to break my hand with the high fives 😅
— EzekielElliott#⃣1⃣5⃣ (@EzekielElliott) November 22, 2015
But Elliott only practiced with the team this week on Thursday due to an infection and cyst on his leg, according to reports from ElevenWarriors.com.
"Early this week, Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday, I didn't think I was going to play, honestly," he said during Saturday's press conference. "I was depressed in the hospital, crying like a baby. I didn't think I was going to play."
After the game, he was critical of his coaches and questioned his limited number of carries, saying the staff didn't put the Buckeyes in a position to win, Eleven Warriors reported.
"I think I do deserve more than 11 carries. I think I really do," Elliott said. "I mean, honestly, I can't speak for the play calling. I don't know what was going on. I don't know what they were seeing."
Quarterback Cardale Jones also suggested on Twitter that he would be leaving Ohio State and said, "Last time walking down them steps and into The Shoe, wish the results were different..."
Last time walking down them steps and into The Shoe, wish the results were different tho pic.twitter.com/BalXhHTOS7
— Cardale Jones (@CJ12_) November 22, 2015
Jones followed up by tweeting that the Buckeyes' season "is far from over."
Haven't seen the last of the Bucks, trust me😏
— Cardale Jones (@CJ12_) November 22, 2015
Both Jones and Elliott are eligible to forfeit their senior seasons and enter the NFL draft this spring. But transferring schools isn't out of the question, either.
Neither player has confirmed specific plans to enter the draft nor to transfer, although some news sources have already began speculating on Elliott and Jones' projections for the 2016 NFL draft.
🎙"As soon as I stepped on Ohio State's campus, I knew it was THE school. I couldn't be happier with my decision." pic.twitter.com/QAKvExVxdN
— Ohio State Buckeyes (@OhioStAthletics) November 20, 2015
No Nation Like #BuckeyeNation
— Cardale Jones (@CJ12_) May 1, 2015
On Saturday, Meyer did attempt to take sole responsibility for the surprising loss.
"I call a lot of plays anyways. So the finger will be pointed right here," Meyer said, Eleven Warriors reported. "And I have to do better."
