Ohio State had a few bodies missing during spring ball, and that made it easy for some players to slip out of the conversation. Isaiah West was one of them.
The Buckeyes’ backfield took a hit in the spring Game, with three running backs sidelined by injuries. That group could wind up being the top three backs on the depth chart, which says plenty about how much was unavailable. West, though, is the name fans probably should not have let fade.
He flashed as a freshman last season, stepping into a reserve role and putting together 59 carries for 310 yards and two touchdowns. He also split work with Bo Jackson, who remains the established starter even while recovering from an injury this spring. Jackson is still the more familiar name, but West’s production deserves attention.
West averaged 5.3 yards per carry in his first year in college, and that kind of efficiency gives Ohio State a useful piece behind the starter. He is a solid runner who can handle volume, and the setup around him should be better this fall. The Buckeyes are also expecting the four returning offensive linemen to be much improved after the line was the team’s biggest issue late last season.
That matters for West. A cleaner offensive front should help him turn more touches into bigger gains.
Ohio State’s offense is also set up to put plenty on his plate. With Arthur Smith taking over as offensive coordinator, the run game is expected to play a bigger role, and Smith has shown he can create space for runners. The passing game should keep defenses honest, too, with Jeremiah Smith described as the most dangerous weapon in football and Julian Sayin entering his second year as a starter.
All of that should make life easier for West as a sophomore. He is expected to share snaps because of his talent, but he will still have a real role. The biggest question is whether he can hold off Legend Bey, who stood out during spring practice.
Even with that competition, West should get plenty of chances to matter in an offense that could set records.
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