Tony Alford needed to deliver on the recruiting trail.
After one of Ohio State's top options at running back, four-star Ohio prospect Jordan Marshall, committed to Michigan, the pressure was on Alford to land a premier running back in the 2024 class.
I Wanted to thank my Family, Coaches, and Friends for supporting me through this entire process. I wanted to also thank all the Universities who have recruited me With that being said I will be Committing to the University OF HIO STATE @OhioStateFB @Bucknuts247 @Birm pic.twitter.com/LvRrNcWoOP
— James (@James_peoples17) April 3, 2023
Alford did just that on Sunday when four-star Texas recruit James Peoples committed to Ohio State, one day after he visited Columbus. He chose OSU over his other five finalists, Oklahoma, Alabama, Texas, TCU and Oregon.
The Peoples File
- Class: 2024
- Size: 5-10/192
- Pos: RB
- School: Veterans Memorial (San Antonio, Texas)
- Composite Rating: ★★★★
- Composite Rank: #69 (#5 RB)
Per 247Sports' composite rankings, Peoples is considered the 69th-best player and the fifth-ranked running back in the 2024 class. He made his first visit to Ohio State in the summer of 2022 for a recruiting camp, then was offered several months later by Alford in October.
“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.”
Peoples already planned on taking an official visit to Ohio State before he scheduled the spring visit that he took from Thursday through Saturday. As it turns out, he'll be taking his official visit as a commitment rather than a target, a feather in the cap of OSU as Peoples can now be used as a peer recruiter for that weekend.
| Pos | Name | Rating | Rank | Size | School |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| WR | JEREMIAH SMITH | ★★★★★ | #2 NATL | #1 WR | 6-3 | 198 | Chaminade-Madonna Prep (Opa Locka, Florida) |
| RB | JAMES PEOPLES | ★★★★ | #69 NATL | #5 RB | 5-10 | 192 | Veterans Memorial (San Antonio, Texas) |
| OT | IAN MOORE | ★★★★ | #88 NATL | #4 IOL | 6-5 | 295 | New Palestine (New Palestine, Indiana) |
| LB | GARRETT STOVER | ★★★★ | #139 NATL | #12 LB | 6-0 | 195 | Big Walnut (Sunbury, OH) |
| OT | DEONTAE ARMSTRONG | ★★★★ | #313 NATL | #25 OT | 6-6 | 280 | St. Edward (Lakewood, OH) |
| OL | DEVONTAE ARMSTRONG | ★★★★ | #354 NATL | #23 IOL | 6-4 | 265 | St. Edward (Lakewood, OH) |
| OL | MARC NAVE | ★★★★ | #549 NATL | #31 IOL | 6-5 | 315 | Central Catholic (Toledo, OH) |
| Prospect Rating Data: 247Sports | |||||
While Peoples was raised in Texas, his parents have strong Ohio ties, with his mother and father hailing from Cleveland and Youngstown, respectively.
“There’s a lot of great things about Ohio State, but they always have a great offensive line,” Peoples told Eleven Warriors in February 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.”
For the last few months, Peoples and Alford have spoken nearly every single day, with the Texas standout saying he appreciates the relationship formed with OSU's running backs coach.
“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 is the first running back commitment in the 2024 class and the seventh commitment overall. Ohio State would like to take two running backs in the current cycle, and it's likely the Buckeyes are eyeing Ohio prospect Sam Williams-Dixon as their top priority for the No. 2 spot.
Peoples gives Ohio State a dynamic running back capable of leading the Big Ten in rushing one day
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.”
At 5-foot-10, 192 pounds, Peoples has the frame needed to succeed at the collegiate level and put on additional weight. As we've seen in the past few seasons with the likes of TreVeyon Henderson and Dallan Hayden, OSU isn't afraid to let true freshman running backs see the field early if they prove themselves ready for it. Peoples ability to do whatever is asked of him and the weapon he can be in the receiving game is a dynamic that could lead to him seeing the field sooner rather than later.
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.”
