Key Recruiter Tony Alford Departs Ohio State for Bitter Rival Michigan

© Adam Cairns/Columbus Dispatch / USA TODAY SPORTS

Ohio State RB Coach Tony Alford is reportedly leaving the Buckeyes for the same role at rival Michigan. Michigan recently lost former RB Coach and alumni Mike Hart and reportedly sought permission to interview Tony Alford for the same position. The Buckeyes will be left searching for a replacement in the middle of spring ball. This is alarming news coming out of Columbus considering Alford returned running back and three-year starter Treveyon Henderson and landed Quinshon Judkins who was the top running back in the transfer portal.

Who is Tony Alford?

Tony Alford came to Columbus from Notre Dame in 2015 and has coached six 1,000-yard backs during his tenure with Ohio State. These include Ezekiel Elliiot, Mike Weber, JK Dobbins and most recently Treveyon Henderson. Alford has been a great recruiter and developer for the Buckeyes during his tenure with Ohio State landing Mike Weber, JK Dobbins, Treveyon Henderson, Dallan Hayden and highly sought freshman James Peoples out of Texas in this year's upcoming class. Alford has produced two NFL running backs in Elliot and Dobbins.

© Adam Cairns/Columbus/USA TODAY SPORTS

Alford is a former player at Colorado State where he was a 1,000-yard rusher and a Doak Walker Award finalist for the Rams. He has been rumored to take the Colorado State job in previous years if the job was to ever become open.

How Alford's Hire Impacts Michigan

For Wolverine fans, this is a great hire as Alford has wanted a bigger role in an offense and will team up well with head coach Sherrone Moore with his run game scheme. Former Wolverine running back Blake Corum is gone for the NFL, but his co-star Donovan Edwards remains. Top that with Kalel Mullings, Benjamin Hall, and other backups that will get good experience under a seasoned coach like Alford, and the Michigan backfield should once again be a force to be reckoned with, brimming with talent and now with a great mind to lead them. The future should also be bright for as long as Alford remains at Michigan, as his recruiting prowess should attract great talent to the Wolverines.

Switching Sides

Although it is not every day you see a coach leave a school for their rival opponent, Sherrone Moore continues to work his magic in Ann Arbor. Alford's defection to Michigan has left a sour taste in the mouths of Ohio State faithful, a fact that many Wolverine fans delight in. His hiring has added another bit of controversy and history to an already controversial, historical, and outright bitter rivalry between the two schools.