BOOM
Four-star Ohio offensive tackle Sam Greer commits to Ohio State.
Ohio State’s No. 3 running back spot seems open for the taking.
James Peoples and West Virginia transfer CJ Donaldson are the clear frontrunners to replace TreVeyon Henderson and Quinshon Judkins as the Buckeyes’ top two backs, but beyond that, there’s an open door for a freshman to contend with Sam Williams-Dixon for the next spot in line. And Bo Jackson might be his top competition this spring.
“Right now, I'm just trying to work as hard as I can and do whatever I can for everybody,” Jackson said on Wednesday.
Arriving on campus to some solid acclaim – both for his name and his talent – Jackson is dedicated to drilling down on the fine details of his position to try and climb Ohio State’s depth chart in his first season as a Buckeye.
“He's a hard worker,” Peoples said. “He came in here and just kept his head down, just been working. He has good speed, of course, good feet. He’s a good back and a good dude as well. So, well-rounded guy.”
Jackson was the 247Sports composite No. 160 overall prospect and No. 10 running back for the recruiting class of 2025, but those rankings may well have been higher had he not missed the majority of his senior season with a knee injury. As a junior, Jackson rushed for 1,700 yards and nearly 30 touchdowns.
His athletic profile is exceptional, with a classic blend of speed, power and cutting ability. He landed at No. 32 on 247Sports’ list of the top 50 “freakiest” athletes in his recruiting class. He was also known for his receiving prowess out of the backfield for Villa Angela-St. Joseph.
“I’d say I’m very versatile,” Jackson said. “I can catch, I can move fast, I feel like I’m pretty good.”
Jackson got his first chance to settle in with Ohio State during the Buckeyes’ four-game College Football Playoff run at the end of the 2024 season when he and some of his fellow freshmen got to witness the behind-the-scenes of the national championship gauntlet.
“That was incredible, just to see how all the leaders led in that position and just seeing what they did and how they prepared,” Jackson said. “That's going to help a lot with everybody.”
With his knee now back to “100 percent,” Jackson’s first objective is to carve out a spot on Ohio State’s special teams, perhaps its kickoff unit as other young Ohio State running backs have historically made an early mark on.
“I tell all the young guys, it's a marathon, not a sprint,” running backs coach Carlos Locklyn said. “First things first, you gotta earn a spot on special teams. You earn a spot on special teams, then you earn the right to be a Buckeye RB so they can get out there on the field. I think they're trending in the right direction.”
In terms of what he wants to see from Jackson and his freshmen at the running back position before he trusts them for carries, ball security is a top priority. A willingness to develop as a pass blocker also shows commitment to the finer points of the game, Locklyn said.
“The first thing is, really own the ball,” Locklyn said. “The way they do their really small details, take care of the ball. The second thing would be, how good are they in pass pro? ‘Cause that’s the hardest thing for high school backs. ... But all that falls on me.”
Jackson echoes Locklyn’s sentiments. As he tries to make a year-one impact, all the finer points will make a difference.
“I’ve learned a lot,” Jackson said. “All the little things matter, all the technique stuff. I’m just trying to take it all in slowly.”
