Better Know A Buckeye is our look at every member of Ohio State’s 2025 recruiting class and how they became Buckeyes as they prepare to begin their OSU careers this fall.
The St. Joseph’s Prep-to-Ohio State pipeline that started with Kyle McCord and Marvin Harrison Jr. making the trek from Philadelphia to Columbus continued in the 2025 class with Isaiah West and Maxwell Roy. Today, we take a look at one of those two Buckeyes and why West could be a future player to watch in Ohio State’s running back room despite his three-star recruiting rating.
Isaiah West
- Size: 5-10/213
- Position: RB
- School: St. Joe's Prep (Philadelphia, Pennsylvania)
- 247Sports Composite: ★★★
- Composite Rank: #60
- Overall Rank: #733
How He Became A Buckeye
When West visited Ohio State in May 2024, he had not yet received an OSU offer. West had been committed to Kentucky since March, but the trip to Columbus was an important one for him, as he had to prove to new running backs coach Carlos Locklyn that he deserved that offer. From that moment forward, West became a priority target for Locklyn and company.
Two days after returning home from the visit, the running back decommitted from the Wildcats, which made all signs point to West eventually being part of Ohio State's 2025 class.
Following an official visit back to Ohio State in mid-June, West committed to the Buckeyes. The trip to OSU was the only official visit West made following his first visit to Ohio State, ensuring his commitment and love for the Buckeyes and Locklyn.
He became the second running back in the Buckeyes' 2025 class, joining Bo Jackson, with Anthony “Turbo” Rogers later joining them in the class.
High School Years
In his junior season at St. Joe’s, West recorded 861 yards and 10 touchdowns and helped his team to a 13-1 record, concluding with a state championship. In all, he had 1,107 yards from scrimmage and scored 12 touchdowns. West was also named a positional MVP at the Under Armour Next Camp in Baltimore last spring.
He rushed for nearly 400 yards during his senior season before it was cut short due to injury, one that also sidelined him for Ohio State’s spring practices.
Carlos Locklyn wants his running backs to do more than just run the ball. Ohio State freshman RB Isaiah West is comfortable being part of the passing game. pic.twitter.com/DA6M4ipysv
— Tony Gerdeman (@TonyGerdeman) May 15, 2025
Throughout his high school career, West showed that he can overpower opposing defenders with a quick stiff arm or running them over between the tackles while he still has enough speed to run past them on the outside and downfield. The 5-foot-10, 213-pounder pairs his crafty running ability and eye to find the hole at the line of scrimmage with the ability to catch the ball out of the backfield and be a well-rounded pass protector in the backfield when he doesn't have the ball.
Immediate Impact
Better Know A Buckeye
Besides the fact that West is the lowest-rated running back in a three-man class at the position, Ohio State's running back room is loaded heading into this fall even if it includes plenty of unproven talent. With James Peoples and CJ Donaldson leading the charge and freshman Bo Jackson likely rounding out the three-deep, West will compete with Rogers and redshirt freshman Sam Williams-Dixon for position on the depth chart behind them.
As an early enrollee, West got to be part of Ohio State's championship run last season, an experience that he will never forget. He said he learned a lot from being able to witness the championship run up close.
“It was an amazing experience. I remember when they first reached out saying that they wanted to bring the recruits out to Cali to go to the Rose Bowl, it blew me away,” West said this spring. ”Being able to be with the team throughout that entire process and see how those leaders led us all the way to the championship, it kind of set the foundation for us, and now we got to do it again.”
His first year in Columbus will likely be a developmental year both on and off the field for West as he works to hone not only his physical talent but his knowledge of the game.
"One thing that Coach Lock says to us, all the running backs all the time, is to make knowledge your best talent," West said. "All I've been doing is learning the playbook, improving my football IQ, and Coach Lock has helped me tremendously."
Long-Term Impact
West's ability to run opposing defenders over, catch the ball out of the backfield and be a reliable pass blocker is a combination that's tough to come by, especially early on as a Buckeye.
While it will be tough for West to see the field in year one at Ohio State, his skill set should be one that OSU can eventually utilize out of the backfield, even if it's part of a two- or three-headed monster at running back. Locklyn thinks highly of West despite his lower recruiting ranking, so it shouldn’t come as a surprise if West ultimately outperforms his three-star rating.
Player Comparison: Mike Weber
After redshirting during his freshman season, Weber made quite a name for himself in his second season as a Buckeye, leading Ohio State's ground attack with 1,096 rushing yards and nine touchdowns. Across his three playing seasons in Columbus, the 5-foot-10, 214-pounder used his size, versatility and bursts of speed to run for 2,676 yards and 24 touchdowns to go along with 297 receiving yards and a touchdown through the air.
While he didn't have top-end speed, Weber utilized his truck-sticking ability to run over opposing defenders and showcased his versatility as an all-around, three-down running back. The former Buckeye was selected in the seventh round of the 2019 NFL draft by the Dallas Cowboys.
West brings a similar skill set and size to Ohio State as Weber did. Ohio State now hopes he can make a similar impact to Weber as his Buckeye career progresses.
