Ohio State football will be without Bo Jackson and Isaiah West in the spring. Which running backs will step up in their absence?
Ohio Stateand running backs coach Carlos Locklyn will have to navigate 15 practices without the duo, but adversity also provides opportunity for the Buckeyes. Ohio State, even with Jackson and West, is young at running back.
Their absence means more reps for inexperienced, but talented, players at the position. Who could benefit from this opportunity and make strides toward becoming a breakout player in the fall? Here are some names to know. Ohio State is trying to revive something special, but is it already too late to save it? Stephen MeansJackson and West were the instant-impact running backs from Ohio State’s 2025 signing class, combining for 1,400 rushing yards as freshmen. But the Buckeyes have another signee from that class looking to increase his usage this year: The Alabama native decommitted from the Crimson Tide in November 2024. A month later, he signed with the Buckeyes. Rogers didn’t enroll until June, and while he showed flashes in preseason camp, he was on and off Ohio State’s availability report. The former four-star prospect did not take a snap as a freshman.Ja’Kobi started his collegiate career in 2020 at Coahoma Community College. He signed with the Gators as a junior college prospect in 2023. Ja’Kobi didn’t take any snaps for UF in his first season with the program, but he combined for 607 rushing yards and seven touchdowns across the last two years. The 5-foot-11, 214-pound Florida native is entering his seventh year at the collegiate level. During his radio show on Jan. 30, when asked about the running back room, Day detailed the injuries to West and Bo Jackson. That’s also when he raved about Bey — a former quarterback at North Forney High School in Texas. “Legend Bey is a guy who is dynamite,” Day said. “I kind of call him maybe the poor man’s Tyreek Hill. I mean, he can go. And when you watch him last year play quarterback in Texas, he’s putting up five-touchdown games, six-touchdown games, just running around making guys miss. “He’s lightning in a bottle. He can do a bunch of different things for us. Very excited to see him in the spring kind of figure out how he can fit into the offense.”His ability to make an impact in the spring could depend on his injury status. Akih suffered an ankle injury on his first play from scrimmage for Hayes High School in August. He attempted to return later in the year but eventually opted for season-ending surgery.
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