Ohio State just added some serious experience to its running back room - and not the kind you usually find in a college backfield. Former Florida Gator Ja’Kobi Jackson, a seventh-year senior, is headed to Columbus, bringing a veteran presence to a Buckeyes offense that’s seen some turnover.
Jackson’s journey to the Big Ten is anything but typical. He started his college career back in 2020 at Coahoma Community College, where he made an immediate impact - racking up 1,390 yards and 14 touchdowns over three seasons.
That production earned him a shot at Florida, where he redshirted in 2023 before stepping into a key role in 2024. That year, he posted 509 rushing yards and seven touchdowns as the Gators’ No. 2 back.
He looked poised to build on that performance in 2025, but an upper-body injury cut his season short after just 98 yards on 27 carries.
Now healthy and looking for a fresh start, Jackson joins a Buckeye backfield that’s in transition. With CJ Donaldson out of eligibility and both James Peoples and Sam Dixon entering the transfer portal, Ohio State was in need of depth - and experience. Jackson checks both boxes.
At 5-foot-11 and 214 pounds, Jackson brings a physical, downhill running style that should complement the explosiveness of rising sophomore Bo Jackson, who returns as the Buckeyes’ lead back. Isaiah West, another sophomore, is expected to take on a larger role as well after seeing time in 2025. Together, they form a young core - but Jackson’s arrival gives the group a steadying presence and a proven contributor who’s seen just about everything college football can throw at a player.
He’s not the only seasoned addition to this Ohio State roster. Jackson is now the second seventh-year senior to join the 2026 squad, alongside former Northwestern tight end Hunter Welcing. In fact, the Buckeyes didn’t have a single player from the 2020 recruiting class on the roster last season - now they’ll have two, both bringing valuable maturity and leadership to a team with championship aspirations.
Jackson also becomes Ohio State’s 14th transfer commitment of the 2026 cycle, as the Buckeyes continue to reload through the portal. Alongside Bo Jackson and West, the running back room will also feature redshirt freshman Anthony “Turbo” Rogers and true freshmen Favour Akih and Legend Bey. It’s a group with plenty of upside - and with Jackson in the mix, a little more experience to help guide the way.
For a program like Ohio State, where expectations never dip and the margin for error is razor-thin, having a veteran like Ja’Kobi Jackson in the backfield could be the kind of under-the-radar move that pays big dividends when the season gets real.