Signed: James Peoples Adds Next-Level Vision and Dual-Threat Ability to Ohio State's Running Back Room

James Peoples is a Buckeye.

James Peoples From the Lone Star State to the Buckeye State. This all-purpose back with some serious Ohio ties has made his way to CBUS where he looks to emulate the elite Buckeye backs of old while setting a new standard dominating in the pass game while also grinding pic.twitter.com/AI3yKUf1Qe

— Ohio State Football (@OhioStateFB) December 20, 2023

After Ohio State added TreVeyon Henderson and Evan Pryor in the class of 2021, Dallan Hayden in the class of 2022 and no running back in the class of 2023, the Buckeyes went all in on the position in the 2024 class, securing commitments from Peoples, Jordan Lyle and Sam Williams-Dixon, though Lyle has since flipped to Miami.

Peoples – the No. 95 overall prospect and No. 7 running back in the class, according to the 247Sports composite – became Ohio State’s first pledge at the position for 2024 when he announced his commitment to the Buckeyes on April 2. Williams-Dixon followed suit 13 days later on April 15, and Lyle completed the trifecta at the end of the month on April 29.

Peoples’ commitment came when Tony Alford and Ohio State needed it most. Alford had recently missed on one of his top targets in the class, Jordan Marshall. To make matters worse, Marshall committed to Michigan over Ohio State. With pressure on Alford to land a premier ballcarrier in the class, the veteran assistant looked to Peoples and the San Antonio, Texas native delivered.

After he committed, Peoples said his mother and father’s connection to Ohio – the former a native of Cleveland and the latter of Youngstown – and Alford’s relentless pursuit and recruitment of him, helped seal the deal for him to become a Buckeye.

“There’s a lot of great things about Ohio State. But they always have a great offensive line. 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 (to me),” Peoples told Eleven Warriors. “But (also), my parents were both born in Ohio, and something that was big on my list is my family making it to games. That was appealing about Ohio State, too.”

As for what Ohio State can expect from Peoples – well, the 5-foot-10, 195-pound running back had an answer for that as well.

“My best attribute is my vision. From my agility and quick feet to the way I move,” Peoples said. “But it’s hard (to name one attribute) 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 certainly showed off each of those attributes in his final two seasons at Veterans Memorial High School. In 2022, Peoples carried the ball 208 times for 2,044 yards and 31 touchdowns, adding another 16 catches, 294 yards and three scores as a pass-catcher. This past season, Peoples missed some time with an undisclosed ailment, but he still managed to rack up 898 yards and 10 scores for the Patriots.

EXPLOSIVE runner!! https://t.co/i6tHjX4EZo

— Mark Pantoni (@markpantoni) December 20, 2023

At Ohio State, Peoples will look to continue as a dual-threat player out of the backfield, and he could do so as early as next season depending on how Alford’s room looks after this month. 

At the start of December, Chip Trayanum (Kentucky) and Pryor (Cincinnati) transferred from Ohio State, and Miyan Williams declared for the 2024 NFL draft. Meanwhile, Henderson continues to labor over the decision to remain with the Buckeyes for another year or enter the NFL draft. If Henderson declares, Alford’s five-scholarship running back room will dwindle to one. Dallan Hayden would be the last man standing in Columbus with incoming freshmen Peoples and Williams-Dixon.

In recent years, Ohio State has not been afraid to use freshman running backs if they prove themselves ready for a featured role. In 2017, J.K. Dobbins recorded 1,538 combined rushing and receiving yards and eight total touchdowns. In 2021, Henderson collected 1,560 combined yards and 19 total touchdowns. And in 2022, Hayden racked up 566 yards and five touchdowns. With Peoples’ ability to run and catch the ball, as well as block in pass protection, he could be the next first-year Buckeye to see the field sooner rather than later at the position.