Urban Meyer publicly identified one candidate for Jordan Hall's role in the spread offense.

The Ohio State coach also isn't ruling out the possibility that Hall himself could still be the guy after the senior had surgery last week for a cut tendon in his foot.

But if Hall can't get back early in the season and needs more than the 10 weeks of rehabilitation projected by the Buckeyes, Meyer's next option to replace the post-spring starter at running back appears to be coming from a different position entirely.

"It's one of our dilemmas right now," Meyer said Thursday during a teleconference ahead of his appearance in a celebrity golf event at Lake Tahoe. "Who's going to take his place? I don't know. We're not loaded at that spot. I'm hoping maybe [Corey] 'Philly' Brown continues to improve."

The versatile position made famous by Percy Harvin at Florida doesn't necessarily require a running back or wide receiver as much as a player with the ability to play either spot, which opens up the pool of candidates to more than just the other tailbacks on the roster.

Brown didn't carry the ball at all last season while tying for the team lead with 14 receptions, but the junior's speed and elusiveness could make him a legitimate weapon in the hybrid position. After leaving spring practice with a starting job in the slot, the Buckeyes figured to be trying to get Brown the ball in space this season either way.

But the absence of Hall, likely for two games at a minimum if everything goes according to plan, could at least give Brown an audition for a more prominent role when the season begins.

"That was a tough injury [for Hall]," Meyer said. "... He's on my leadership committee. He's come so far. The guy's tremendous. We're not exactly loaded at that position right now, the offensive skill, but some guys have to step up and play.

"I was so excited because he had an excellent spring practice, had a lot of skills we look for in that hybrid position."

Meyer knows of another guy who might fit the bill. A chance for Brown to prove he can handle it could be on the way.