Devy Digest: Freshman Spotlight - RB Bo Jackson

Welcome to Freshman Friday, where Andy Pham highlights upcoming freshmen who could make waves in the upcoming season.

Ohio State Buckeyes
Position: Running Back
Bo Jackson
6’0”, 210 lbs
Draft Eligible: 2028

Who is Bo Jackson?

Jackson was a four-star recruit in the composite rankings who attended Villa Angela-St. Joseph in Cleveland, Ohio. He was a three-sport athlete, spending time on the baseball diamond early in his career and competing in track and field. Initially categorized as an athlete, he will play running back at the next level.

Jackson had a fantastic junior season, recording over 1,700 yards and 30 touchdowns. His senior season was cut short to just four games, in which he totaled 588 rushing yards and ten touchdowns. He held 23 offers from programs including Alabama, Auburn, Georgia, Florida, Michigan, Tennessee, and Texas A&M.

Jackson has an impressive frame for the next level and is already on campus at Ohio State, having bulked up to 210 lbs for spring camp. He is an exciting runner who thrives between the tackles and possesses good speed to reach the edge. His vision and patience behind the line are solid, but his greatest strength is his contact balance—consistently breaking through the first line of defense and using his lateral quickness to evade defenders at the second level.

Jackson’s frame is already suited for early playing time. He is a tremendous athlete who has been used as a receiver out wide, motioned into space, and deployed on wheel routes out of the backfield. He has soft hands and, as a runner, excels in a one-cut-and-go system. He blends contact balance and speed effectively and will compete for playing time as part of Ohio State’s backfield rotation in the upcoming season.

Pathway to Success

The Ohio State running back room lacks a true standout. They brought in former West Virginia running back CJ Donaldson, but he projects more as a depth piece and short-yardage back. The former tight end weighs 240 lbs but has lacked the necessary physicality for the position and has not demonstrated reliable hands in the passing game.

James Peoples is the returning player in the room and will have the inside track for the 1A role. Beyond him, there is little proven talent, giving Jackson a chance to carve out a role early on. He is best suited for a rotational role at this stage, as he still needs to develop the nuances of the position. However, he has the ideal skill set for a three-down back—he is a physical runner with the speed to be a threat in space and reliable hands for the passing game.

Peoples should be the lead back, but there is a strong argument that Jackson could surpass Donaldson as the 1B option by midseason. Ohio State’s early schedule includes games against Grambling State, Ohio, and Minnesota, which could provide Jackson with valuable playing time and an opportunity to earn the coaching staff’s trust.

Ohio State will be starting a young quarterback, and a strong running game will be crucial to easing his transition. Additionally, Donaldson has struggled with injuries. If he is unable to stay healthy, Jackson’s opportunity will expand even further. Looking ahead to 2026, Jackson projects as a potential sleeper to emerge as the next great Ohio State running back. Peoples is a solid player, but when comparing both as prospects, Jackson grades out higher—and not by a small margin. He is simply the better overall prospect.

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