When you think about the scarlet and gray, you probably think about the Horseshoe, the dotting of the 'i', and a never-ending line of elite athletes carrying the football. Honestly, the Ohio State running backs room is basically a factory. It doesn’t matter if it's 1974 or 2026; the Buckeyes somehow always find a guy who can ruin a linebacker's Saturday.
But things look a little different lately. We just watched a season where two superstars, Quinshon Judkins and TreVeyon Henderson, both eclipsed 1,000 yards in the same year. That’s rare. Like, "only happened three times in school history" rare.
Now, we’re staring at a total youth movement. If you haven't been keeping up with the transfer portal or the latest recruiting cycles, you've probably missed that the backfield has been completely handed over to a new generation.
The Bo Jackson Era has officially arrived
No, not that Bo Jackson. But yeah, the name definitely carries some weight.
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True freshman breakout star Bo Jackson basically took the keys to the offense in 2025. He didn't even see the field in the season opener against Texas, which is wild to think about now. By the time the Michigan game rolled around, he was the dude. He finished his freshman campaign with 1,090 yards and averaged over 6 yards a carry.
People were panicking a few weeks ago because rumors started flying that he might jump in the transfer portal. Thankfully for Buckeye fans, he shut that down on January 9, 2026, confirming he’s staying in Columbus for his sophomore year.
Who is backing him up?
With CJ Donaldson graduating and James Peoples heading over to Penn State (which hurts, let’s be real), the depth chart is thin but talented.
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- Isaiah West: A hard-nosed runner from Philly. He got some decent burn as a freshman and looks like the clear No. 2.
- Anthony "Turbo" Rogers: The name says it all. He’s the lightning to Bo's thunder.
- Ja’Kobi Jackson: This was a weird one. Ohio State just pulled him out of the portal from Florida. He’s a seventh-year senior. Seven years! He’s basically the "old man" of the room, brought in to make sure the room doesn't collapse if a couple of sophomores get dinged up.
What most people get wrong about Buckeye RBs
There’s this weird narrative that Ohio State is only a "wide receiver school" now because of Brian Hartline. While the receivers are definitely flashy, the run game is still the heart of the machine.
Look at the numbers from the 2024 championship run. Judkins and Henderson combined for over 2,000 yards. They didn't just win games; they bullied people. Carlos Locklyn, the running backs coach, has brought this "edge" that Ryan Day keeps talking about. It's less about finesse and more about running through someone's face.
Locklyn’s story is actually kinda cool. He wasn't a "born-into-it" coach. He worked his way up through the high school ranks in Memphis and eventually landed at Oregon before coming to Columbus. You can see that chip on the shoulder in the way the current Ohio State running backs play.
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The Historic Standard
You can't talk about this position without mentioning the ghosts of the Horseshoe.
- Archie Griffin: The only two-time Heisman winner. 5,177 career yards. He’s the North Star for every kid who puts on that jersey.
- Ezekiel Elliott: If you want to talk about "clutch," go re-watch the 2014 playoff run. 230 yards against Alabama? 246 against Oregon? Pure insanity.
- Eddie George: 1,927 yards in his Heisman season. He was a 6'3" freight train that no one wanted to tackle in the fourth quarter.
The 2026 Outlook and Recruiting Wins
If you thought the talent was drying up, think again. The Buckeyes are currently the heavy favorites to land David Gabriel Georges, a five-star prospect for the 2027 class who is drawing comparisons to some of the greats.
For the upcoming 2026 season, expect a heavy dose of Bo Jackson. The offense is shifting slightly under the new coaching staff—Chip Kelly is gone to the Raiders, and Brian Hartline is now the head coach at USF—so the scheme might look a bit different. But at the end of the day, if you have a back who can go for 100 yards on 20 carries, you're going to use him.
Actionable Insights for Fans
- Keep an eye on the Spring Game: This will be the first time we see how Ja'Kobi Jackson fits into the rotation.
- Watch Bo Jackson’s pass protection: If he wants to be a top-10 NFL pick, that’s where he needs to show growth this year.
- Follow David Gabriel Georges’ commitment: If the Buckeyes land him, they've basically secured the backfield through 2030.
The transition from the Judkins-Henderson era to the Bo Jackson era happened fast. It was a "blink and you missed it" moment. But the standard hasn't dropped. Ohio State is still a place where if you're the starting tailback, you're expected to be the best player on the field. Basically, the more things change, the more they stay the same.