(SportsNetwork.com) - Ezekiel Elliott has brought the crop top back to college football.
And the sophomore doesn't expose his midsection for fashion purposes, to show off his toned six-pack or to pay homage to Ohio State alum Eddie George.
Elliott rolls up the bottom half of his jersey because he doesn't want opposing defenders to grab onto him.
"I just don't like how loose jerseys are at the bottom," he said during the College Football Playoff National Championship media day on Saturday. "So I just tuck it up and roll it."
No one was doing much grabbing of him during Ohio State's last three games.
Elliott ran for over 200 yards in each, including a 246-yard, four-touchdown performance Monday night as Ohio State won its first national championship since 2002 with a 42-20 victory over Oregon in the CFP title game.
"We knew that our o-line was bigger and more physical than their d-line," Elliott said. "They paved the way for me."
The Buckeyes snuck into the final four of the CFP committee's final rankings on Dec. 7 after not being included in any of their previous unveilings.
Their vaulting into the No. 4 spot came a day after Elliott gained 220 yards and two scores in Ohio State's 59-0 shutout win over Wisconsin in the Big Ten title game.
The Buckeyes then went out and silenced their critics in the Sugar Bowl when Elliott ran for 230 yards and two more touchdowns in their 42-35 win over top- seeded Alabama.
Elliott put the final stamp on the stunning title run Monday night.
After the Ducks pulled within a point in the third quarter, Elliott ran for a trio of scores to lift Ohio State to its sixth national championship.
Elliott ran for 696 yards in all over the Buckeyes' final three tilts.
"He's one of the best post-contact yard guys I've ever been around," Ohio State coach Urban Meyer said of Elliott.
The emergence of Elliott also took the pressure off Cardale Jones, who was making his third career start. Jones, of course, took over at quarterback following the injuries to Braxton Miller and J.T. Barrett.
Elliott will be back to show off some more skin next season.
He hopes to lead the Buckeyes to another title to go along with a possible Heisman Trophy by year's end.
"It's something you dream about as a kid when you're playing NCAA Football and you create your little player and he wins the Heisman," Elliott said. "I'm going to do all I can to win it."
And who knows, maybe his teammates will join in on the jersey tuck.
As long as his linemen stay away from it.
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