An Ohio State backfield once expected to be anchored by senior CJ Donaldson and sophomore James Peoples now appears to be in the hands of two freshman running backs.
It’s been a gradual transition from backups to starters, but freshman running backs Bo Jackson and Isaiah West have taken over the Buckeyes’ backfield as of recent, showcasing their potential as the future of Ohio State’s offense.
Despite competing for touches, West said their chemistry has grown both on and off the field, allowing the duo to be even more effective as they continue to share the Buckeyes workload in the backfield.
“Bo Jackson is like that,” West said. “I love watching Bo Jackson. I feel like me and Bo, we get closer every day. I feel like it’s interesting to just watch and play, just because we’re two different types of backs, and it’s nice to see us kind of complement each other.”
Jackson, a four-star prospect and the No. 11 running back recruit in the class of 2025, had an earlier start to his breakout campaign than West. The Cleveland native rushed for 108 and 109 yards in his first two contests against Grambling State and Ohio, despite no touches in Ohio State’s win over Texas in Week 1.
Since his back-to-back 100-yard performances Jackson has been Ohio State’s lead back, hopping both Donaldson and Peoples in the depth chart as the 6-0, 217-pound back has started in each of the Buckeyes last six contests.
Jackson said Wednesday that the transition into a starting role has been exciting, but also a learning experience as he continues to adjust to the college game.
“It’s been really fun, just being able to get adjusted and playing as much as I have been able to play as a freshman,” Jackson said. “I feel like everything in my game I have to work on.”
In eight games of action for Ohio State, Jackson leads the Buckeyes with 95 carries for 613 rushing yards and two touchdowns, while adding 12 catches for 124 yards and a score through the air.
Following Ohio State’s 34-10 win over Purdue Saturday — a one touchdown, 85 all-purpose yard day for Jackson — Buckeyes head coach Ryan Day compared the freshman to former Ohio State star running back Quinshon Judkins, adding that the Jackson’s physical running style and ability to finish through contact reminded him of Judkins’ performances from the last season.
“I think the short yardage, where there was a free guy in the hole and (Bo Jackson) brought his own blocker, that kind of reminded me of Quinshon Judkins last year,” Day said. “That was a good step in the right direction for him and I thought we got better today because I thought we had more opportunities to run.”
West, on the other hand, has come on late for the Buckeyes. West joined Ohio State as a three-star recruit out of St. Joseph’s Prep in Philadelphia, and was ranked as the No. 27 overall running back in the class of 2025.
After earning just 12 carries in Ohio State’s first four games — eight of which came in the 70-0 trouncing of Grambling State in Week 2 — West has surged for the Buckeyes in the past three games.
West’s breakout came after a nine-carry, 55-yard outing in Ohio State’s 34-0 win over where the freshman led the Buckeyes in yards.
In his press conference Wednesday, West emphasized the importance of perseverance, noting that his recent success is a result of staying ready and trusting the process.
“It has been a long journey,” West said. “I’ve definitely had my ups and downs, but they’ve only made me better and I just continue to improve every day, and they’ve shaped me into the player I am now.”
West has earned nine carries in two of Ohio State’s last three games, averaging over 50 yards and six yards per carry in both of those contests. In total, the freshman back has rushed for 177 yards and one touchdown this season.
When asked Wednesday to describe his fellow freshman running back and their relationship, Jackson said West is “super smooth, super quick and super explosive,” adding that the pair are “super close” and “spend a lot of time together watching film.”
Though the pair still has plenty of development ahead and two more seasons remaining at Ohio State as Jackson and West have ample opportunity to continue growing within a strong Buckeyes program.
After the Buckeyes win over Purdue, Day expressed full confidence in his freshman running backs’ ability to develop and contribute moving forward,
“These are young backs that we have to continue to give the opportunity to grow,” Day said. “I think we will see it on the film and get better from this game.”
