Former Ohio State football star and Los Angeles Charger running back J.K. Dobbins is ready to bounce back in a big way this NFL season.

Dobbins, 25, has missed 49 of 73 NFL games due to injury since being drafted by the Baltimore Ravens in the second round of the 2020 NFL Draft.

Most recently, Dobbins suffered a season-ending Achilles rupture in week one of the 2023 NFL season. Prior to that, he missed the first two weeks of the 2022 NFL season while he was recovering from a torn ACL, LCL, meniscus and hamstring – all of which he suffered during a 2021 preseason game and prematurely ended that season for him.

Then, after returning to the Ravens for four consecutive games early in the 2022 NFL season, Dobbins underwent arthroscopic surgery that forced him to miss the next six games. He returned in week 13 and played in five more games to finish the season, including the Ravens’ playoff loss to the Cincinnati Bengals. In those five games to end the 2022 season, Dobbins averaged 91.8 rushing yards per game on 6.5 yards per carry.

After four seasons in Baltimore, Dobbins in April signed a one-year contract with the Chargers to play under new head coach and former University of Michigan head coach Jim Harbaugh. His signing with the Chargers also reunited him with offensive coordinator Greg Roman, a John Carroll University graduate who served as the Ravens’ OC from 2019 to 2022.

Now, less than one year removed from his Achilles rupture last September, the 5-foot-10, 215-pound running back made clear he’s excited about his fresh start.

“This injury? I feel nothing. I actually feel faster,” said Dobbins, who has been a full participant in Chargers’ training camp.

“I feel like I’m in college out there right now. And I do think that the storm is over. Now I’m on a new journey, a healthy journey this year. You guys will see — it’ll be special,” he added.

While Dobbins’ career has been interrupted by injuries, he’s proven to be effective when healthy: He holds a career average of 5.8 yards per carry, the highest of any running back with at least 200 attempts since 2020, according to ESPN

“I do think if I get the volume, I’ll be one of the best in the league,” Dobbins said. “I’ve shown that.

“Y’all know how much yards I averaged per carry? I don’t know how many backs got that.”

Dobbins and the Chargers play their first preseason game on Aug. 10 against the Seattle Seahawks at home at SoFi Stadium in Los Angeles.