The Hurry-Up: Four-star 2024 Texas RB James Peoples Puts Ohio State in His Top 6, Buckeyes Offer Five-star 2024 DL Kamarion Franklin and Two Others

By Garrick Hodge on February 9, 2023 at 5:30 pm
James Peoples
Twitter/@james_peoples17
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One of Ohio State’s top running back targets in the class of 2024 has narrowed down his recruitment.

Four-star Texas running back James Peoples released a top six list on Thursday, consisting of Ohio State, Alabama, Oklahoma, Texas, TCU and Oregon. 

“There’s a lot of great things about Ohio State, but they always have a great offensive line,” Peoples told Eleven Warriors regarding the most appealing thing about the Buckeyes. “To be able to run behind a crew like that and play with the best in the nation is one of the most important things about Ohio State. But my parents were both born in Ohio and something that’s big on my list is my family making it to my games, so that’s appealing about Ohio State too.”

With OSU about a month away from being able to host recruiting visitors for spring football practices, the Buckeyes’ pursuit of Peoples is ramping up. The tailback confirmed to Eleven Warriors Monday he plans on taking his second visit to Columbus as a recruit from March 30-April 1, his first dating back to June when he participated in a recruiting camp. 

“Ultimately, I'll be looking for how I feel with the coaching staff,” Peoples said regarding what he’s looking forward to regarding the visit. “Overall, not just Coach Alford, but in person with Coach Day and Coach Hartline and those coaches, you know. Is it a family kind of atmosphere, what type of things are they talking about, do these things align with what I'm feeling? I'll also be looking for like, environment, things around the campus, you know, the people in the campus, I will be asking in-depth questions while I'm there to be able to figure out where I fit in, in this picture. And you know, just get an outlook on the university.”

Peoples, whose parents are from Cleveland and Youngstown, respectively, said he’s already determined that of his six suitors, Ohio State, Alabama and Oklahoma will be receiving official visits.

“I will take the bulk of my officials this spring,” Peoples said. “After the spring visit to Ohio State, which will be an unofficial, not an official, I will be taking a few officials, some in the summer as well as some in the spring. I might save like maybe one or two for the season since I only get five.”

As for a commitment timeline, the 5-foot-10, 192-pound Peoples said ideally he’d like to make a decision before the start of his senior year, but will take the recruitment in season if he has to. Peoples has plenty of factors that will determine his commitment, but the faith-based running back said God is the “biggest part” of his recruitment. Other factors include the environment, family atmosphere, NIL opportunities, if his family can attend the games, playing time and how long the coaching staff figures to be in place throughout his collegiate career. 

OSU running backs coach Tony Alford and Peoples have built a strong rapport over the past year, dating back to the recruiting camp and later in October when running backs coach Tony Alford requested a phone conversation with Peoples and soon delivered news that he’d be receiving an offer from Ohio State.

“I didn’t even know I was going to be offered,” Peoples said recalling his OSU his offer. “When I heard those words, it was a great feeling. I love Ohio State and had family in Ohio and stuff like that. I was really grateful when I got that offer.” 

Per Peoples, he and Alford converse nearly every day, with topics ranging from football and the recruiting process to day-to-day life. 

“What he likes about my game is how I bring everything together really well,” Peoples said. “He talks about how I’m pretty much great in all areas, catching, running and blocking but there’s always room to improve. He said he likes my overall game and wants to help develop it to get me better.” 

Peoples helped lead Veterans Memorial High School (San Antonio) to a 9-4 record last year, breaking the 1,000-yard mark nearly midway through his junior season. 

“My best attribute of my game is my vision, probably,” Peoples said. “My agility and quick feet to move the way I move. But it’s hard because I’m a great receiver, I was a receiver before I was a running back and I’m great at catching the ball, great in open space and hitting tight holes. But overall my vision and ability to hit the hole quick is probably it.” 

Peoples attributes part of having a well-rounded game to coming up in youth football as a wide receiver before switching positions to running back in seventh grade. 

“It definitely helped with how I run my routes and catching the ball, it just comes naturally,” he said. 

As Peoples continues into his senior year and later to the next level, he said he’d like to see himself improve as a pass blocker. 

“The development of my pass blocking has definitely trended upward, I’ve gotten a lot better at it,” Peoples said. “It’s just about staying centered and keeping the center of gravity. But I’m going to keep working on it because out of everything in my game I think that’s what I need to improve on the most because a lot of schools want a back with an ability to block.” 

OSU offers five-star DL Kamarion Franklin

Ohio State has entered the race for one of the top-ranked defensive line prospects in the 2024 class. The Buckeyes offered five-star Mississippi prospect Kamarion Franklin on Wednesday. 

Per 247Sports’ composite rankings, Franklin is considered the 21st-ranked overall prospect and the fifth-best defensive lineman in the 2024 cycle. He boasts more than 30 Division I offers, including Alabama, Arkansas, Auburn, Colorado, Florida, Florida State, Georgia, Indiana, Iowa, Louisville, LSU, Memphis, Miami, Michigan, Michigan State, Mississippi State, Missouri, Oklahoma, Ole Miss, South Carolina, TCU, Tennessee, Texas and Texas A&M. 

In 10 games for Lake Cormorant High School (Lake Cormorant, Mississippi), the 6-foot-5, 260-pound Franklin recorded 73 tackles (22 for loss), 17 sacks, 41 quarterback hurries, a pass deflection, a fumble recovery and three blocked field goals. 

Amare Adams picks up Ohio State offer

Larry Johnson didn’t stop with Franklin this week, as he also extended an offer to highly-touted southern prospect and four-star 2025 defensive lineman Amare Adams Thursday. 

Adams does not yet hold a composite ranking, but is considered the 46th-best player and sixth-ranked defensive lineman in 2025 per 247Sports. The 6-foot-3, 275-pound standout holds seven Division I offers, including Alabama, Florida State, Georgia, South Carolina, Tennessee and Virginia Tech. 

Tony Cumberland offered by Buckeyes

Johnson also offered a rising defensive line prospect from the 2026 class, as Arizona prospect Tony Cumberland picked up an OSU offer Thursday. 

Cumberland has six Division I offers, including Wisconsin, Arizona State, Oregon, Arizona and Washington. In his freshman season at Desert Mountain (Scottsdale, Arizona), Cumberland recorded 38 tackles (16.5 for loss), six sacks, 16 quarterback hurries and one forced fumble.

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