Ja'Kobi Jackson’s path to Ohio State has been anything but direct, but the veteran running back has arrived in Columbus with a clear mindset: compete, contribute and help the Buckeyes chase a title.
Jackson knew he had Division I ability by his junior year at Pensacola Catholic High School in Florida, but the road to get there stretched across three seasons at Coahoma Community College in Mississippi before he transferred to Florida. From there, his college career kept testing him. He spent three years with the Gators, did not appear in a game in 2023, and had his 2025 season cut short after four games because of an upper-body injury.
Now, after being granted an eligibility waiver for the 2026 season, Jackson is in his seventh year of college football and wearing scarlet and gray.
"I kind of reflect on being positive through it all," Jackson said after practice Thursday. "Just thanking God, and thanking my family for always being there for me, being the helping hand I need, the voice I need whenever I'm down and out.
And just knowing that when it gets tough, you'll see better days. Just keep going."
For Jackson, even the idea of landing at Ohio State this late in the process would have sounded far-fetched not long ago.
"It took a long route, long time, and a lot of hard, long days to get to this opportunity," Jackson said.
His waiver opened the door to a move out of Florida, where Jaden Baugh now leads the backfield. Jackson then found his next stop with the Buckeyes, where the competition is just as real. He came in knowing he’d be battling Bo Jackson and Isaiah West for touches, but that didn’t scare him off.
"I've always been a competitive type," Jackson said. "There's nothing wrong with a little competition every now and then. And I feel like I thrive at my best throughout competition."
Jackson’s production before the injury showed why Ohio State wanted him around. In 2024, he carried the ball 95 times for 509 yards and seven touchdowns.
A year earlier, before the injury hit, he ran 27 times for 98 yards. He also had 116 rushing yards and a touchdown against Texas, though he said he and his new teammates have not talked about their games against the Longhorns.
For now, Jackson is listed third on Ohio State’s running back depth chart behind the two sophomore backs. Still, during the media’s viewing sessions over the first three days of fall camp, he was getting first-team reps and frequently working as a pass-catching option, catching screens and checkdowns even though he had only 11 receptions in two seasons at Florida.
And that experience is paying off in another way, too. Jackson is bringing leadership to the room, not just depth to the roster.
"You come in and you kind of get a feel for the room and get a feel for what everybody does throughout their day," Jackson said. "And then just kind of move from there, talk, have conversations, little simple conversations like ‘What did you do today or how's your day going?’ and stuff like that."
When asked why he chose Ohio State, Jackson made the kind of answer that fits exactly what the Buckeyes want to hear.
"I'm here to help this team win it (all). And just find my place at this school," Jackson said. "When I got here, (running backs coach Carlos Locklyn) said that he just needed a back to come in and help the team, and I was willing to come in and help the team."
In Other News...
Former Michigan Star Just Fed Ohio State Fans A Matt Patricia Debate
Jake Butts stop at Ohio State practice offered Buckeyes fans a little extra perspective from an unlikely source. The former Michigan tight end, now a Big Ten Network analyst, came away impressed enough to say the 2026 Ohio State team still has the kind of talent to stay among the nations best, even with several key players gone to the draft and a defense that has to reload in a few spots.
The part that will get debated in Columbus is Butts read on Matt Patricia, because he tied the Buckeyes continued defensive success to the coordinators impact. For a program that measures everything against championship standards, that kind of praise from a former rival is one more sign that the expectation level remains high even as Ohio State turns the page to a new group. [Read more 🡒]
Ohio States No. 2 Receiver Battle Has A New Name To Watch
The race to become Ohio States second receiving option behind Jeremiah Smith has a new face in the mix, and Devin McCuin is making enough noise in fall camp to force his way into the conversation. The UTSA transfer has brought experience and polished route-running to a group that is still sorting itself out, and those traits have helped him stand out as the Buckeyes look for a reliable complement to their primary target.
McCuins camp momentum has given him a leg up on some of the younger receivers trying to climb the depth chart, even if nothing is settled yet. With playing time still up for grabs, his fit in the offense is worth watching because Ohio State could use a steady presence opposite Smith, especially if McCuin keeps showing the kind of consistency that has gotten him noticed so far. [Read more 🡒]
Ohio States New Offense Could Make Julian Sayin Even Tougher To Stop
Ohio State is heading into the new season with a different kind of edge on offense, as Arthur Smith reportedly leans into a more controlled approach that could change the way the Buckeyes operate. The core up front remains largely intact, and with much of the offensive line and tight end depth back in place, there is a sense that the unit is being built to be steadier, cleaner and harder to disrupt from snap to snap.
Julian Sayin has already been part of the conversation around that shift, with the quarterback noting the offenses maturity as it takes shape. Kenyatta Jackson Jr. has seen the adjustments from the other side of the ball, and the early signs suggest Ohio State is trying to pair that stability with more efficiency. If the structure holds, Sayin may be asked to do less to make the offense dangerous, which is often when a quarterback becomes the toughest to stop. [Read more 🡒]