After losing Quinshon Judkins and TreVeyon Henderson to the NFL, Ohio State’s ground game hasn’t quite had the same bite this season. Freshman Bo Jackson stepped in and delivered a solid campaign, racking up 1,035 rushing yards and flashing real potential. But even with Jackson’s emergence, the Buckeyes leaned more on their aerial attack than we’ve seen in recent years.
Quarterback Julian Sayin has shown poise and promise under center, and having a talent like Jeremiah Smith on the outside certainly makes life easier. But when Ohio State’s offense is at its most dangerous, it’s because defenses are forced to respect both dimensions - and right now, the run game just isn’t demanding that level of respect.
That’s why the transfer portal could be a key piece of the puzzle this offseason. Head coach Ryan Day has a decision to make: stick with the young, developing Jackson as the feature back, or bring in another proven weapon to share the load and raise the ceiling.
Enter Cam Cook.
The Jacksonville State running back has officially declared for the transfer portal, and he’s going to be a hot commodity - for good reason. Cook led the entire FBS in rushing yards this season with 1,659, outpacing Jackson by over 600 yards. He also found the end zone 16 times on the ground, making him one of the most productive backs in the country.
And this wasn’t just a case of one or two big games inflating the numbers. Cook topped 100 rushing yards in 10 different games this season.
For comparison, Jackson hit that mark six times. And while Jackson punched in five touchdowns, Cook’s 16 scores stand out not only for the volume, but for the consistency he brought week in and week out.
To put it in perspective: Ohio State as a team totaled 24 rushing touchdowns this year. Cook, by himself, accounted for two-thirds of that number at Jacksonville State.
Adding a player like Cook wouldn’t just give the Buckeyes another home-run threat out of the backfield - it would give them options. A one-two punch of Cook and Jackson could be exactly what this offense needs to keep defenses honest and reestablish the kind of balanced attack that’s defined Ohio State at its best.
The portal opens in just a few days, and if the Buckeyes are serious about bringing more firepower to their run game, Cook should be at the very top of their list.