Ohio State still has work to do on the recruiting trail, and the running back room is right in the middle of it.
The Buckeyes are trying to flip four-star running back Nigel Newkirk, a Georgia prospect committed to Alabama since the end of May. According to Chad Simmons of Rivals, Ohio State has secured an official visit from Newkirk, and the push is now very much on.
Newkirk is set to be in Columbus next weekend for the Buckeyes’ matchup with Oregon. That visit will likely come during a game in which Ohio State wears its all-scarlet uniforms. The Buckeyes already hosted him once before, when he was in Columbus in the middle of June.
At 5-foot-11 and 200 pounds, Newkirk brings a physical, north-south style as a runner. That kind of back is not currently on Ohio State’s roster, which is part of why this pursuit matters. The Buckeyes still do not have a true running back committed in the 2027 class after missing on David Gabriel Georges, who ended up choosing Tennessee, and also coming up short with Jordan Hall.
The need at the position has only grown more obvious. Ohio State’s running back depth is thin now, and the long-term outlook looks shaky too. Carlos Locklyn needs a win here, because if the Buckeyes miss again in this cycle, the pressure to dip into the transfer portal will only increase.
That urgency is tied to what has happened on the field this season. Bo Jackson was expected to be a major piece after an impressive freshman year, but he has not taken that step yet. He has only one game with more than 100 rushing yards and has totaled 516 yards through seven games.
With Julian Sayin likely done for the year after going down against Indiana, Ohio State is going to need Jackson to become a different kind of runner over the final stretch. If the Buckeyes want to make a national title run, the recipe will have to include a stronger ground game and a defense that carries its weight over the last five games.
Isaiah West also needs to be part of that solution. He posted his best game against Indiana, but he has mostly fallen short of the preseason buzz around him. That makes the state of the running back room look even more like a problem that was not properly addressed before the season.
Landing Newkirk would not fix everything overnight, but it would help Ohio State stop the bleeding down the line. A pair of wins over the next two weeks would give the Buckeyes a better shot at pulling him away from Alabama.
In Other News...
Ohio State's Latest Recruiting Push Centers On Two Elite Visitors
Ohio States recruiting momentum is already stretching well beyond the current cycle, with the Buckeyes making another early move on one of the nations most intriguing young prospects. The staff recently extended an offer to Kuika Moaalii, a 6-foot-3, 205-pound athlete from St. John Bosco who is drawing interest from multiple major programs, a sign the Buckeyes are continuing to cast a wide net as they build for the future.
The attention does not stop there. Ohio State also remains in the mix for 2028 offensive lineman RMonie Edwards and linebacker Tahj Gray, two highly ranked prospects with long offer sheets of their own, and the coaching staff is pushing to get each of them on campus as it works to turn early relationships into real traction. For a program that lives on elite recruiting, the next step will be seeing which of these visitors eventually becomes more than just a name on the board. [Read more 🡒]
Ohio State's USC Test May Come Down To Jim Patricia
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Jim Patricias unit now gets one of its toughest road assignments yet at Memorial Coliseum, where the atmosphere and the opponent create a different kind of stress test. USC quarterback Jayden Maiava brings a challenge that can force a defense to cover for longer stretches and stay sharp against mistakes, and Ohio States key defenders will be counted on to help Patricia keep the game from opening up. The Buckeyes have survived on defensive consistency so far, and this one could hinge on whether Patricia can keep his group organized when the stage gets louder. [Read more 🡒]
Ohio State's USC Trip Now Rides On Ryan Day's Toughest Call
Ryan Day is staring at the kind of quarterback decision that can tilt a big game before it even kicks off. With Julian Sayin dealing with an injury, Ohio State has to choose between freshman Luke Fahey and sophomore Tavien St. Clair for the USC trip, and each option changes the feel of the offense in a different way. Fahey has flashed quick processing and mobility, while St. Clair brings the kind of size and arm strength that can stretch a defense.
The tradeoff is real, and it goes beyond simple experience. Faheys profile suggests a quarterback who can get the ball out and keep plays on schedule, even if he does not fit the usual mold, while St. Clair gives the Buckeyes more of a downfield profile but has been less steady with his accuracy. However Day leans, the choice will shape how Ohio State tries to attack USC and how much pressure falls on the rest of the offense to carry the load. [Read more 🡒]