Better Know A Buckeye is our look at every member of Ohio State’s 2026 recruiting class and how they became Buckeyes as they prepare to begin their OSU careers this fall.
Favour Akih dealt with multiple injuries during the latter stages of his high school career, but he showed enough as a junior to prove that he could potentially be a big-time playmaker and reliable running back at Ohio State, a school he grew up just up the road from.
Favour Akih
- Size: 5-11/184
- Position: RB
- School: Rutherford B. Hayes (Delaware, Ohio)
- 247 Sports Composite: ★★★★
- Composite Rank: #302 (#21 RB)
Background
Akih didn't receive an offer from Ohio State until March 2025, following OSU's first spring practice, but it was a long time coming for him. The Delaware, Ohio product had been in contact with the Buckeyes for months and had already visited campus multiple times. Two days later, he announced his college decision would be between OSU, Miami and USC.
After four more visits to Columbus that spring, including an official visit, Akih committed to the Buckeyes on June 6, 2025, becoming Ohio State’s first running back commit in the class and the sixth in-state commitment in the cycle.
In his first season receiving varsity snaps, Akih had 17 carries for 128 yards and a touchdown as a sophomore.
He burst onto the scene as a junior, notching 236 carries for 1,653 yards and 15 touchdowns to go along with nine catches for 142 yards and three scores. He earned first-team All-Ohio honors despite playing only nine games, missing two games due to injury.
A little bit of a look at what Ohio State RB commit Favour Akih can do on the football field. pic.twitter.com/GsaZYa4L04
— Tony Gerdeman (@TonyGerdeman) June 8, 2025
Akih's senior season was cut short after he suffered a high ankle sprain in his team’s season opener. He totaled just 17 carries for 128 yards and a touchdown in his final high school season.
Ohio State RB commit Favour Akih scores his first touchdown of the year. pic.twitter.com/7kGcWDuo60
— Garrick Hodge (@Garrick_Hodge) September 26, 2025
Off the football field, Akih competed in track and field, where he set personal bests of 10.9 in the 100-meter and 22.03 in the 200-meter dash in 2025.
Scouting Report
Akih not only has the speed to blow past opponents, but the strength to plow through defenders. Akih also showcases a shiftiness and quickness to redirect his momentum and feet when needed. Pairing those traits with his pass-blocking and pass-catching ability out of the backfield, Akih has the tools to be a three-down running back for Ohio State.
He will have to have better injury luck in college than he did in high school, but if he does, Akih has the talent to develop into a future starter.
Depth Chart Outlook
Ohio State's running back room is quite full heading into the fall. With rising sophomores Bo Jackson and Isaiah West, transfer Ja'Kobi Jackson and freshman Legend Bey likely leading the depth chart and Anthony "Turbo" Rogers also fighting for position on the depth chart, Akih's first season will be all about development off the field and on the practice field. Add in the fact that he just turned 17 late last year, and development will be even more key given how young Akih is compared to others in his class.
That said, Akih shouldn’t be completely overlooked, even as a freshman. West was largely viewed as an afterthought to play as a freshman in 2025, but he ended up in the rotation and rushed for 310 yards and two touchdowns on 59 carries even after missing the spring with an injury.
Akih’s best chance to start climbing the depth chart and earn a bigger role, though, will likely come in 2027 or later.
Player Comparison: Evan Pryor
Better Know A Buckeye
Pryor’s Ohio State career certainly didn't go as expected. After playing minimal snaps as a freshman, Pryor tore his patellar tendon in his left knee in the preseason of his second season as a Buckeye, an injury that forced him to miss all of the 2022 season.
After three years at Ohio State, Pryor transferred to Cincinnati, where he began to blossom and showcase his versatility as a three-down running back. The 5-10, 190-pounder totaled 132 carries for 940 yards and nine touchdowns to go along with 25 catches for 288 yards and two touchdowns as a pass-catcher over two seasons as a Bearcat. He will spend his final collegiate season in Gainesville after transferring to Florida this offseason.
While Akih will hopefully have better injury luck than Pryor did as a Buckeye, his game compares well to the former Ohio State playmaker in the backfield. Like Pryor, he’ll likely have to earn a bigger role as his college career progresses, and he’ll attempt to do that in Columbus.
