ROSE BOWL BOUND
Ohio State demolishes Tennessee, 42-17, and advances to the Rose Bowl to face top-seeded Oregon.
Carlos Locklyn is on the board yet again for the 2025 recruiting class.
THE Ohio State! Im home!@Locklyn33 @TonyJCoach @OhioStateFB @Coach_Sug @T_Roken @ryne011 #gobucks #committed pic.twitter.com/NJWIm59EnO
— Isaiah West (@IsaiahWest_12) June 16, 2024
Ohio State added a big-time playmaker to its running back corps on Sunday after three-star Pennsylvania running back Isaiah West committed to the Buckeyes while on his official visit.
The West File
- Size: 5-11/208
- Pos: RB
- School: St. Joseph's Prep School (Philadelphia, PA)
- Composite Rating: ★★★
- Composite Rank: #526 (#45 RB)
Locklyn identified West as a priority target shortly after arriving at OSU, and established a relationship with him during the spring, even though he still was a Kentucky commitment at that time. West made an unofficial visit to campus on May 12 and instantly fell in love with the campus, Chip Kelly's offensive scheme and felt confident he could do big things in Columbus.
Two days after his visit to OSU, West decommitted from Kentucky. From there, it was only a matter of time before he'd make his pledge to the scarlet and gray, and pulled the trigger on his official visit weekend. West's Columbus visit was the only official visit he made after decommitting from Kentucky, because it was the only one he needed.
West is the 16th player to commit to OSU in total for 2025 and the second running back this cycle, joining Bo Jackson. He may not be the last, though, as Locklyn and OSU have their eyes set on taking three running backs this cycle if possible. It's no secret who the Buckeyes have their eyes on for the final spot in 2025 with California prospect Jordon Davison expected to be on campus next weekend. While OSU is in a good spot for Davison, Locklyn could pursue current Alabama running back commit Anthony Rogers in the fall if Davison goes elsewhere.
| Pos | Name | Rating | Rank | Size | School |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| CB | DEVIN SANCHEZ | ★★★★★ | #5 NATL | #1 CB | 6-2 | 170 | North Shore (Houston, Texas) |
| CB | NA'EEM OFFORD | ★★★★★ | #6 NATL | #2 CB | 6-1 | 185 | Parker (Birmingham, Alabama) |
| QB | TAVIEN ST. CLAIR | ★★★★★ | #14 NATL | #3 QB | 6-4 | 210 | Bellefontaine (Bellefontaine, Ohio) |
| S | FAHEEM DELANE | ★★★★ | #34 NATL | #2 S | 6-2 | 195 | Good Counsel (Olney, Maryland) |
| LB | TARVOS ALFORD | ★★★★ | #47 NATL | #5 LB | 6-2 | 210 | Vero Beach (Vero Beach, Florida) |
| WR | QUINCY PORTER | ★★★★ | #49 NATL | #8 WR | 6-3 | 190 | Bergen Catholic (Oradell, New Jersey) |
| OT | CARTER LOWE | ★★★★ | #54 NATL | #7 OT | 6-5 | 290 | Whitmer (Toledo, Ohio) |
| DE | ZAHIR MATHIS | ★★★★ | #60 NATL | #5 Edge | 6-6 | 225 | Imhotep Institute (Philadelphia, Pennsylvania) |
| RB | BO JACKSON | ★★★★ | #81 NATL | #5 RB | 6-0 | 205 | Villa Angela-St. Joseph (Cleveland, Ohio) |
| DE | LONDON MERRITT | ★★★★ | #116 NATL | #13 DL | 6-2 | 250 | IMG Academy (Bradenton, Florida) |
| TE | NATE ROBERTS | ★★★★ | #132 NATL | #6 TE | 6-4 | 235 | Washington (Washington, Oklahoma) |
| S | DESHAWN STEWART | ★★★★ | #295 NATL | #26 S | 6-2 | 185 | DePaul Catholic (Wayne, New Jersey) |
| WR | DE'ZIE JONES | ★★★★ | #313 NATL | #42 WR | 6-0 | 180 | DePaul Catholic (Wayne, New Jersey) |
| S | CODY HADDAD | ★★★★ | #376 NATL | #18 ATH | 6-1 | 175 | St. Ignatius (Cleveland, Ohio) |
| LB | ELI LEE | ★★★★ | #380 NATL | #41 LB | 6-3 | 230 | Archbishop Hoban (Akron, Ohio) |
| RB | ISAIAH WEST | ★★★ | #526 NATL | #45 RB | 5-11 | 208 | St. Joseph's Prep School (Philadelphia, PA) |
| Prospect Rating Data: 247Sports Composite | |||||
West brings powerful running style to Columbus
Per 247Sports' composite rankings, West is considered the No. 526 player and the No. 45 running back in the 2025 class.
He attends St. Joseph's Prep School in Philadelphia, the same school that produced former OSU players Marvin Harrison Jr. and Kyle McCord. In his junior season, West recorded 861 yards and 10 touchdowns and helped his team to a state championship and a 13-1 record. West was also named a positional MVP at the Under Armour Next Camp in Baltimore last spring.
West runs with a mean streak and has never shied away from contact with his sturdy build of 5-foot-11, 208 pounds. Whether it's between the tackles or on an outside zone, West will fight for every extra yard that he can as he tries to either power through defenders or shrug them off.
While he may not have the top-end speed some other backs may possess, he makes up for it with a crafty running style and his ability to break tackles. His build also lends itself to being a successful pass protector in college. Though he's a three-star prospect, coaches at OSU think West is significantly underrated in the recruiting rankings and will likely see a significant jump in his senior year.
