Peoples Primed to Shine: James Peoples Poised to Emerge as Ohio State’s Next Great Running Back

Ohio State fans are buzzing after a recent glowing outlook on running back James Peoples, spotlighting him as the most likely candidate to step into the shoes of Quinshon Judkins and TreVeyon Henderson. The Buckeyes face a steep challenge replacing two of the most productive backs in school history, and yet in Peoples they may already have the next star ready to carry their championship hopes forward.

In every offseason room where the glory of past performances meets the uncertainty of the future, rare moments arise when a young backup begins to eclipse expectation. That moment appears to have arrived for James Peoples. After limited action as a freshman behind Judkins and Henderson, he finished the year with 197 yards and two touchdowns on just 49 carries. It was hardly enough to make national headlines, but for those paying attention, his bursts of balance, determination, and sudden burst into the secondary hinted at something deeper. Analysts who watched him maneuver through traffic in spring workouts—most notably Cameron Teague Robinson of The Athletic—did not just take note. They offered bold predictions, suggesting Peoples is on the verge of unleashing a performance level worthy of stardom once he is entrusted with the ball regularly.

That confidence is resonating throughout Buckeye Nation. Ohio State’s need to replace not one but two thousand-yard rushers from the same room cannot be overstated. Quinshon Judkins and TreVeyon Henderson combined for nearly nine thousand yards and dozens of touchdowns across multiple seasons, anchoring an offensive attack that helped deliver the Buckeyes a national championship. Their departure left a vacuum—not just in production but in leadership. Into that void steps James Peoples, whose soft hands, physical frame at 5‑10 and 203 pounds, and refined vision remind many of Ohio State’s tradition of tough, productive backs who grind out yards and pick up tough yards in key moments. Observers note that his knack for following blocks and collapsing into contact mirrors the very traits that made his predecessors so effective.

Peoples’ path to this moment was far from rushed. A four‑star recruit out of San Antonio, Texas, Peoples arrived in Columbus and embraced a role as a supporting player, watching and learning, waiting. That patience, combined with natural ability, paid off in practice environments. Teammates and coaches report his bursts through the second level often left defenders flat‑footed, even when the blocking wasn’t perfect. At one point in an open practice, Robinson wrote, he took an outside run for 20 yards and once he hit daylight, he never looked hesitant, showcasing a quick burst and natural instinct in the open field. That single play, in Robinson’s view, was proof that Ohio State’s rushing game was in capable hands with Peoples back at the controls.

Yet Peoples is not alone in the conversation. Ohio State added depth and competition to the room this offseason, most notably with the transfer of CJ Donaldson from West Virginia. Donaldson, at 6‑2 and roughly 230 pounds, enters a system that demands versatility. While he previously carried a heavier frame and played more as a bully inside, Donaldson has trimmed down and sharpened his ability to hit zone reads and work in open space. His experience and size make him a natural complement to Peoples’ more balanced, vision‑based style.

The Buckeyes also boast young talent ready to grow. Sam Williams‑Dixon, a redshirt freshman, returns after limited action as a first‑year back, showing potential in the running lanes and receiving game alike. True freshmen Bo Jackson and Isaiah West also made impacts during spring practices. Jackson, listed at 6‑0 and 220 pounds, is regarded as a big‑play threat with breakaway speed and impressive field instincts—described by coaches as the type of mature freshman Buckeyes fans have been hearing about before the season even begins. West, also on campus now, brings all‑purpose skill, versatility, and an ability to contribute in the passing game, further deepening a backfield loaded with options.

Yet amid all of this depth and intrigue, signs point toward James Peoples as the clear frontrunner. He carries the weight of expectation not through hype but through polish. Film watchers note his refined approach—he similarly navigates zone and man-gap plays, knows how to shift his timing, and makes decisive cuts. He is a confident runner, strong in short-yardage situations, willing in pass protection, and reliable as a receiving outlet. He has been described as ready for every-down duty, the type of player offensive coordinator Chip Kelly and coach Ryan Day envisioned when building their multi-faceted system.

Kelly, known for an offense that values precision, timing, and patience in reads, seems tailor-made for a back like Peoples. As one coach put it, his offense doesn’t simply ask its backs to find daylight—it asks them to wait for it and trust their eyes and instincts. Peoples appears to embody that approach. If spring practice is any indication, he’s embraced the mindset, working early mornings under running backs coach Carlos Locklyn, who has pushed a physical, accountable approach to every rep, every lift, and every drill.

Locklyn, new to the Buckeyes after time at Oregon, has already made it clear that attention to detail and toughness are non-negotiable. He holds players to high standards, and he has singled out both Peoples and Donaldson as examples of how to operate as Buckeyes. In interviews, Locklyn emphasizes daily grind and responsibility. He says that if a running back is missing assignments or playing soft, he holds himself accountable. He pushed Peoples and others to take ownership of the room, to bring a mindset each day that challenges teammates and lifts performance. Peoples seems to have responded fully—and critics argue that reaction shows in the film.

Naturally, projections and spring praise do not guarantee outcomes. The questions remain: can Peoples sustain that burst under a full workload? Can he absorb the blitz and NFL-level physicality of heavier fronts? Can he hold up through the inevitable contact of Big Ten football and beyond? Can he harness his confidence without letting inconsistency sneak in? The belief across the program is yes—but real confirmation awaits once the season begins and defenses stack the box, blitz linebacker levels, and adjust to the Buckeyes’ schemes.

A key test will come in the opener, when Ohio State travels to Texas on August 30 to face a top-five Longhorn defense in front of a hostile crowd. If Peoples starts and thrives there—if he hits runs north of 5 yards per carry, sheds tackles, bursts through short zones, and perhaps catches a pass out of the backfield—he will answer many questions in short order. If not, the coaching room will turn to fresh horses in Donaldson, Williams‑Dixon, or the freshmen to balance the attack.

Context matters: a simulation from a recent EA Sports College Football 26 model projected Ohio State finishing undefeated at 12‑0 and advancing to the College Football Playoff National Championship. In that simulation, Peoples led the rushing attack, and the offense generated rhythm behind a stable of wide receivers and a rising quarterback, laying a hypothetical blueprint for the season. That projection crystallizes the vision some analysts hold: Peoples leading the charge on the ground, complementing a high‑powered passing game and elite wideout talent.

Support inside the locker room and fans on the outside seem equally confident. A player poll earlier this summer revealed that among offensive skill players, James Peoples was the most anticipated breakout star after quarterback Julian Sayin. That level of support matters in a team-driven environment where confidence breeds production.

For Buckeye fans searching for hope in the running back room this year, James Peoples embodies both a promise and a process. He represents continuity with the past while offering something fresh—burst, balance, reliability—in the present. And although the room is deep and talent abounds, he stands alone at the front of the clubhouse. It’s still young for him—he hasn’t carried a full load yet, he hasn’t taken elite contact in every down, and he hasn’t handled the wear and tear of a championship playoff run—but all the pieces are falling into place. Training camp, fall practices, and the opener against Texas will answer the rest.

But for now, the hype is growing, and headlines about his potential are justified. James Peoples is not just a practice standout or a film projection—he is being framed as the next great Buckeye running back, a player ready to seize the opportunity. In a season where so much is new, so much is unknown, his emergence offers a steadying hand. For Buckeye Nation: get ready to cheer a new face in scarlet and gray, because the outlook has never looked quite this epic.