Peoples Poised To Lead Young, Rebuilt Buckeye Running Back Room 

After losing two 1,000-yard rushers to the draft, Ohio State’s running back room faced major changes entering this offseason.

The Buckeyes were tasked with overhauling its rushing attack, while adding multiple backs to account for lost depth. 

Sophomore running back James Peoples, despite minimal in-game experience, is set to front Ohio State’s newest running back unit and step into a leadership role. 

In 2024-25 while sitting behind starters Quinshon Judkins and TreVeyon Henderson, Peoples rushed 49 times for 197 yards and two scores, most of that production coming in nonconference blowouts early in the year.

This season, Peoples hopes to not only replicate the success of his former teammates, but lead by example for his new team. 

“When you’re running behind those guys for a whole year, you really get familiar with the scheme,” Peoples said on Friday. “Then mentally, I’ve gotten stronger. Coach (Ryan) Day, (running backs coach Carlos) Locklyn, they’ve been challenging my mental because it’s a long season and you got to be strong up here, it’s not just physically. (They’re) just developing us as people, so all around, just getting stronger.”

Much of that mentality in the Buckeye running backs room is instilled by Locklyn. 

Locklyn said he noticed the improvements in Peoples’ game and leadership from his freshman to sophomore season, adding that it’s his job as a coach to create that change and avoid a “lukewarm” passion for the game.

“He’s more knowledgeable of the game, but that comes with coaching,” Locklyn said. “He still knows things he still has to work on.” 

With Peoples — a sophomore — as the most experienced returning running back, he knew it was his time to step up.

Peoples said he made it a point to embrace a new leadership role with his teammates and fellow running backs throughout the spring and early fall camp.

“That’s what I’ve been doing, moving to a leadership position on this team and in a running back room,” Peoples said. “Yes, that’s something I hold upon my shoulders to constantly uphold the standard that those guys before me did.” 

Along with Peoples, Ohio State also returned redshirt freshman Sam Dixon and brought in three more running backs with a chance of producing — two highly touted freshmen and an experienced transfer.

The latter, West Virginia transfer CJ Donaldson is expected to make an immediate impact during his first year in Columbus. 

In 28 games with the Mountaineers, the 6-1, 232-pound, Donaldson rushed for 1,690 total yards and scored 23 rushing touchdowns. 

“He has a unique skill set. Big guy, great forward body lean, good feet, good short-area burst he knows the things he had to continue to work on,” Locklyn said. “I like his skill set. He is a bigger back, and then he’s a very intelligent football player, he’s smart, so having conversation with him talking ball, that (impresses) me about him.” 

The Miami, Fla., native also hauled in 25 catches for 170 yards and a score through the air, showcasing the pass-catching ability that caught Locklyn’s attention during scouting.

Donaldson said he hopes to keep improving as a receiver, noting that he wants to refine his overall game as a running back as much as possible.

“Being a three-phase back, that’s something I’m definitely striving to be,” Donaldson said. “Be better at catching the ball and be better at passing sections. Just any way I can help the team.”

Peoples said he’s excited for Donaldson to be incorporated into the offense, dubbing the pair “Sonic and Knuckles” in reference to their complementary skill sets of power and finesse.

“He’s been looking better since spring,” Peoples said. “Burst, running strong, getting under his pads and stuff like that. He’s been growing, just like the rest of the guys.” 

Ohio State also added a duo of highly touted freshmen in Bo Jackson and Anthony Rogers this offseason. 

Donaldson said the freshman running backs remind him of his younger self with their desire to learn, adding that he believes each of Ohio State’s young backs has a bright future.

“I kind of see my younger self in them, they are just so happy to get out on the field,” Donaldson said. “Those guys, they’re eager to learn. They just try to soak up as much of the game as possible. Those guys definitely have a high ceiling. I’m talking about a high, high ceiling.”

Freshman Isaiah West and sophomore Stanley Jackson Jr. round out the running back room for the Buckeyes. 

With the starting running back spot wide open and five or six candidates vying for the role, Locklyn has stressed the importance of teamwork despite the competition.

“The one thing he really stresses is that we play as one in the running back room,” Peoples said. “You have to put yourself aside, you have to trust he’s a great coach. He’s done this for a long time, he’s been in rooms with two great running backs, or even great running back rooms in total.” 

Although Peoples experienced national championship glory last season with Ohio State, he said this year’s squad has the desire to make its own mark. 

“That team last year is a whole another team,” Peoples said. “Now those guys that have moved on, a lot of them into the NFL careers further, this team is hungry.”