A.J. Ouellette is a Featured Back for Ohio. A.J.'s 2018 season ranks in the 70th percentile nationally by opponent-adjusted EPA per play across 216 plays — a average rate for the RB.
The centerpiece of the run game — high carry volume, used in early downs and goal-line, true workhorse role.
Players from 2014–2024 matched on EPA efficiency, play volume, and adjusted value tier — not just one metric.
| Player | Team | Yr | Plays | WEPA/play | Line val | Total EPA |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Travis Etienne | Clemson | 2019 | 213 | 0.470 | 4.7 | 100.1 |
| Saquon Barkley | Penn State | 2017 | 240 | 0.410 | 5.2 | 98.4 |
| Clyde Edwards-Helaire | LSU | 2019 | 216 | 0.490 | 5.0 | 105.8 |
| Nick Wilson | Arizona | 2014 | 250 | 0.410 | 5.2 | 102.5 |
| James Flanders | Tulsa | 2016 | 266 | 0.390 | 4.9 | 103.7 |
Comps are statistical — efficiency, volume, and value tier all factor in. Style and conference context differ.
| Wk | Opponent | Result | Opp SP+ | Car | Rush Yds | Avg | Rush TD | Rec | Rec Yds | Rec TD | EPA/play |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | vsHoward | W38-32 | — | 17 | 59 | 3.5 | 0 | 3 | 26 | 0 | -0.04 |
| 3 | @Virginia | L31-45 | 7.1 | 14 | 34 | 2.4 |
Usage = share of team plays (CFBD has no true snap counts).
Chart shows per-game EPA (bars) and rolling 5-game average (line). Season breaks marked with dashed lines. Line value = est. points over replacement per game.
Car 29 · Rush Yds 164 · Avg 5.7 · Rush TD 0
| 0 |
| 2 |
| 9 |
| 0 |
| -0.16 |
| 4 | @Cincinnati | L30-34 | 5.4 | 21 | 71 | 3.4 | 1 | 1 | 6 | 0 | 0.06 |
| 5 | vsMassachusetts | W58-42 | -16.1 | 12 | 70 | 5.8 | 1 | 1 | 14 | 1 | 0.23 |
| 6 | @Kent State | W27-26 | -20.4 | 18 | 72 | 4.0 | 2 | 3 | 32 | 0 | 0.18 |
| 7 | @Northern Illinois | L21-24 | -2.7 | 11 | 16 | 1.5 | 1 | — | — | — | -0.48 |
| 8 | vsBowling Green | W49-14 | -22.0 | 14 | 81 | 5.8 | 0 | 1 | 12 | 0 | 0.32 |
| 9 | vsBall State | W52-14 | -18.9 | 13 | 135 | 10.4 | 2 | 2 | 18 | 0 | 0.92 |
| 10 | @Western Michigan | W59-14 | -10.7 | 8 | 71 | 8.9 | 1 | — | — | — | 0.45 |
| 11 | @Miami (OH) | L28-30 | -0.7 | 15 | 168 | 11.2 | 0 | 3 | 29 | 0 | 0.48 |
| 12 | vsBuffalo | W52-17 | -1.1 | 26 | 196 | 7.5 | 2 | 2 | 16 | 1 | 0.61 |
| 13 | vsAkron | W49-28 | -19.3 | 15 | 169 | 11.3 | 2 | 1 | 17 | 0 | 0.77 |
| 1 | vsSan Diego State | W27-0 | 6.0 | 29 | 164 | 5.7 | 0 | 2 | 33 | 0 | 0.33 |
