After Ohio State’s first fall camp practice, Ryan Day didn’t hesitate to point out the leap Isaiah West has made.
"You can see the work he's put in. Had a tremendous offseason, one of the best in the whole building," Day said.
"Consistency, and when he was in there last year, he showed some real good things. So we want him to take the next step."
That next step has started with West’s body. He said one of the smartest things a player can do at Ohio State is to “cling” on to strength coach Mick Marotti, and the results are showing. West has added 12 pounds of muscle since a year ago, moving from 208 to 220, and he says the extra size hasn’t slowed him down at all.
"Honestly, it's weird. You would think putting on some weight, you would get a little slower.
I feel more explosive. I feel much stronger, much faster," West said after practice Wednesday.
His teammates have noticed the difference, too. Ja'Kobi Jackson, the running back transfer from Florida, praised both West’s work in the weight room and what it’s doing for him on the field.
"He's a freak in the weight room," running back Ja'Kobi Jackson, who transferred from Florida this offseason, said after practice Wednesday. "And then even on the field, he has great vision and great short-area burst, so he's a great back."
For West, though, the bigger story has been getting and staying healthy. His path at Ohio State has been interrupted by injuries from the start.
He arrived for his freshman season last year after a torn ACL ended his senior year at St. Joseph's Prep in Philadelphia.
He missed his first spring with the Buckeyes, returned in time for fall camp, and still managed to appear in 10 games as a freshman, finishing with 310 yards and two touchdowns on 59 carries.
Then came another setback. West was sidelined this spring after shoulder surgery, an injury he played through during the season. A full summer and fall have given him something he hasn’t had much of lately: uninterrupted work.
"It was extremely valuable. I mean, to be able to actually get reps in and practice, it's gonna help me tremendously," West said.
"The thing about shoulders, there's nothing you can really do about it. Like, once it gets hurt, you're not gonna stop playing and keep playing through it.
But I wouldn't say that it necessarily affected me too much. Obviously, it was a big surgery, and now I'm good."
That stretch of injuries has changed how he views the game. West said the setbacks have made him more grateful to be on the field and more careful not to let the opportunity slip by.
"Any time that maybe I took the game for granted, any time that I was having a rough time, or maybe just not approaching practice with the right mindset, I look back to those times and I say that's God kind of teaching me - saying, 'Hey, listen, I gave you this gift, I gave you this opportunity.' Then I'll never take it for granted," West said. "So having those injuries, being out here on this field, it only makes me appreciate it more."
The depth chart has shifted, too. A year ago, West climbed from fourth to third and eventually moved ahead of James Peoples.
Now he’s sitting among Ohio State’s top two backs, paired with sophomore Bo Jackson. With his health finally in order and his frame looking better than ever, West is positioned for a significant role in 2026.
Payton Pierce summed up the offseason buzz earlier this month.
"He's very explosive. He'll be in the gap, then he'll pop out, and he's there, and then he's gone," linebacker Payton Pierce said earlier this month. "And so he's super twitchy, and he had a heck of an offseason."
In Other News...
Ohio State Freshman Is Pushing For A Receiver Role Sooner Than Expected
Ohio States freshman receiver room is already drawing attention in camp, and Brock Boyd has been one of the early names to watch. He and Chris Henry Jr. both had their black stripes removed, a small but meaningful sign that each is moving forward in the program, and Boyd in particular has earned praise from coaches and observers for how he has looked in early training camp work and scrimmage settings.
The timing matters for a Buckeyes offense that has room for young wideouts to carve out roles sooner than expected. With roster changes opening up playing time and multiple freshmen in the mix, Boyd has a real path to getting on the field this season if his early momentum continues, giving Ohio State another option as it reshapes the receiver rotation. [Read more 🡒]
Bo Jackson Gives Ohio State A New Reason To Trust The Run Game
Bo Jackson is already giving Ohio State a familiar kind of confidence in the backfield, and the latest sign came with his inclusion on the 2026 Doak Walker Award preseason watch list. The honor puts him among the nations top running backs entering the season, a fitting nod after a freshman year in which he rushed for 1,090 yards and scored six touchdowns while carving out a place in program history.
For a Buckeyes offense that always wants the ground game to travel, Jacksons rise matters beyond the individual recognition. He became one of the few true freshmen in Ohio State history to top 1,000 rushing yards, and now the question is how much farther he can push his role as the season unfolds, with semifinalists and finalists still to be sorted out before the award is handed out in December 2026. [Read more 🡒]
Ohio State Faces A Big QB Question Behind Julian Sayin
Ohio States quarterback room has a familiar kind of intrigue to it, the sort that comes with a program that expects every passer to be measured against the greats who came before him. Julian Sayin is set as the starter for 2026, but the more immediate question is who settles in behind him and positions himself as the next name in line. Tavien St. Clair, a highly rated sophomore, entered the conversation as the clear-looking backup and future successor, and his spring game showing only reinforced why the Buckeyes have been so high on his upside.
Preseason camp, though, has kept that pecking order from feeling settled. St. Clair is still regarded as a strong prospect, but the battle for the No. 2 job remains alive, with the staff getting a closer look before the season begins. For Ohio State, it is more than a depth-chart footnote. In a quarterback room that is always under a spotlight, the backup spot can say a lot about how the next chapter is taking shape. [Read more 🡒]