The Ohio State Buckeyes have produced a lot of talented running backs over the years into the NFL. TreVeyon Henderson and Quinshon Judkins was the running back tandem for Ohio State last season and they both rushed for over 1,000 yards.
It will be a different looking backfield for the Buckeyes in the 2025 college football season. James Peoples is expected to be the starting running back and transfer C.J. Donaldson is expected to be the second running back on the depth chart. After that, freshman running back Bo Jackson could be called into game action at some point during the 2025 season. He is a four-star recruit and was ranked 136 on the ESPN 300 for the Class of 2025.
Ohio State Buckeyes Running Back Bo Jackson Could Make Major Impact During Freshman Season If Needed
Cameron Teague Robinson of The Athletic wrote about eight different Ohio State players on the roster who will not be starting in 2025, but they can be making an impact in the future. Robinson thinks that freshman running back Jackson could make an impact in the future for the Buckeyes and he may be a starter sooner rather than later. Robinson said,
“I expect James Peoples to be the starting running back, with West Virginia transfer C.J. Donaldson second in the rotation. Last year, Ohio State was fortunate not to have a major injury at the position, but we’ve seen in past years how valuable depth is here.
In 2022, the Buckeyes played four running backs plus one receiver, Xavier Johnson, in the backfield and even leaned on freshman Dallan Hayden in the College Football Playoff loss to Georgia at the Peach Bowl. In 2023, Ohio State had TreVeyon Henderson and Miyan Williams go down at separate points of the year.
At some point this season, Jackson, a four-star freshman from Cleveland, is going to be called upon to play a serious role. He needs to be ready.
Jackson had a stellar spring in which he showed his ability to make plays with the ball in his hands and in the passing game. With Henderson and Quinshon Judkins gone, there’s some uncertainty about who will step up when called upon, and Jackson should get opportunities, whether late in games with the second team or if there’s an injury above him on the depth chart.”
Ohio State has always had depth at the running back position, and it is true that Henderson and Judkins being healthy in 2024 was huge for them. They both rushed for over 1,000 yards during the 2024 season. It will be interesting to see if the Buckeyes will get the same production in the backfield in 2025. Peoples and Donaldson will have to replace a lot of production, and it will not be a surprised if Jackson gets his number called at some point during the 2025 college football season.
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