Carlos Locklyn’s recruiting board took a hit Wednesday when 5-star Baylor (TN) running back David Gabriel Georges picked Tennessee, leaving Ohio State without an RB commitment in the 2027 cycle. But the Buckeyes are hardly stuck.
There are still multiple ways for Locklyn and Ohio State to patch the hole, and the most obvious path starts with the backs already in Columbus. With Arthur Smith set to bring a run-heavy approach to the offense in 2026, the Buckeyes have a chance to sort out their long-term answer at the position without needing to force the issue on the trail right away.
Bo Jackson sits at the center of that conversation. The true sophomore could turn into the best back in the Big Ten, but there’s also a world where he wants a bigger workload than what Ohio State can give him with Jeremiah Smith and Chris Henry Jr. also commanding attention.
If that happens, he could look elsewhere for his final college season before the NFL in 2027. If not, he may decide to stay for 2027.
Either way, Ohio State has two other backs it can develop. Isaiah West, who also had offseason shoulder surgery like Jackson, handled 59 carries for 310 rushing yards and two touchdowns in 2025, averaging 5.3 yards per carry. He was RB2 and should be again, but he also led Ohio State in missed tackles forced rate, a sign his ceiling may be higher than the recruiting ranking suggested.
Then there’s Legend Bey, the 5-star freshman who missed the spring game because of a hamstring injury. Bey could grow into the future of the position, but he also has the kind of profile that makes him dangerous as a receiver out of the backfield and as an elite return man.
If Ohio State can get all three back next season, that would solve a lot. Even getting two of the three would count as a win, and it would push Georges into the background in Columbus.
The long view matters too. Ohio State already has 4-star IMG Academy commit Elijah Newman-Hall in the 2028 class, and the Buckeyes could still go after 4-star Newton (GA) back Kevin Hartsfield to strengthen that group even more.
There’s also the portal to consider. Locklyn and Ohio State could look there for a difference-maker next January, then turn around and take a big swing in the 2028 class. How aggressively they keep using the portal may depend on how former LSU Tiger Kyle Parker and former UTSA Roadrunner Devin McCuin settle into the offense, since both transfer receivers have had muted contributions so far.
For now, though, Georges’ decision doesn’t close the door on Ohio State at running back. It just shifts the plan. If Locklyn and company keep working, the Buckeyes still have a workable path forward.
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Texas Just Got A Brutal Break Before Ohio State Showdown
Texas is already looking ahead to its 2026 opener against Ohio State, and the Longhorns offensive front just became a little more settled. Cole Hutson, a veteran lineman who has worked both guard and center, gives Texas a proven piece in the middle of the line, the kind of player who can help steady protections and keep an offense on schedule in a game that figures to draw plenty of attention.
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Former Ohio State Coach Takes Public Shot At Buckeyes After Brutal Miss
Ohio States running backs room has been under a brighter spotlight than usual this week after the Buckeyes came up short in a major recruiting battle for five-star back David Gabriel Georges, who chose Tennessee after Ohio State had spent two years working to land him. It was the kind of miss that stings in Columbus, especially at a position that has long been a point of pride and a key part of the programs identity.
Carlos Locklyn now oversees that room after Tony Alford left for Michigan, and the timing of the latest recruiting setback only added to the attention around the position. Alfords name has already lingered in the background of Ohio States recent running backs story, and his latest social media move only made the old storyline harder to ignore. [Read more 🡒]