Ryan Day issued a public challenge to Ohio State’s running backs entering preseason camp.
When Ohio State’s head coach was asked at last week’s Big Ten Media Days about which position groups he has the most questions about entering Ohio State’s summer practice schedule, Day singled out Carlos Locklyn’s unit as one that needs to step up during the Buckeyes’ monthlong buildup to the season.
“To me, a position group that's got to have a great preseason is the running back group,” Day said. “If we're going to get to where we need to go, we need a high level of play at that running back position. So this is critical.”
On paper, there’s a lot to like about Ohio State’s running back unit for the 2026 season. Bo Jackson returns as the Buckeyes’ starter after rushing for 1,090 yards, the third-most of any FBS freshman, in 2025. Isaiah West is also coming off a promising freshman campaign. Florida transfer Ja’Kobi Jackson has shown he can be a productive Power 4 back, rushing for 509 yards and seven touchdowns on just 95 carries as a Gator in 2024. True freshman Legend Bey has generated plenty of buzz this offseason. And Anthony “Turbo” Rogers was a top-100 overall prospect ranked above Bo Jackson and West as the No. 5 running back in the 2025 recruiting class.
But Ja’Kobi Jackson was the only one of those running backs who had a full spring. West and Bo Jackson were both sidelined from contact work for the entire spring after undergoing shoulder surgeries. Bey and Rogers suffered injuries that sidelined them for the end of spring, leaving the Buckeyes with only three healthy running backs – Ja’Kobi Jackson, true freshman Favour Akih and walk-on Stanley Jackson Jr. – for the spring game.
“If we're going to get to where we need to go, we need a high level of play at that running back position. So this is critical.”– Ryan Day on the importance of a great preseason for Ohio State’s running backs
Speaking on Bo Jackson and West, Day liked what he saw from both of them as freshmen. Jackson was just the fifth freshman in Ohio State history to rush for more than 1,000 yards, averaging more than 6 yards per carry, while West flashed in limited action with 310 rushing yards and two touchdown runs on 59 carries.
But a good first year doesn’t guarantee second-year greatness. The other two freshmen to rush for 1,000-plus yards since Day arrived at Ohio State, J.K. Dobbins and TreVeyon Henderson, both experienced dips in production as sophomores. So Day sees the next month as crucial for Jackson and West to find their stride and demonstrate they’re ready to build off of last year’s success as the Buckeyes’ projected one-two punch.
“Both of those guys didn't practice in the spring. So, that's one that, like, I’ve got my eye on big time,” Day said. “The good news is they both had very good freshman campaigns. But here's where you got to take the next step. I think about J.K. Dobbins in year two; unbelievable freshman year, solid second year, ridiculous junior year, right? We've had guys in the program very good freshman year, and I'm not going to say sophomore slump, but that second year was okay. And then the third year, they turned it on. Well, we can't afford to do that in that room this year. This has got to be a huge year for those guys.”
Ja’Kobi Jackson, Ohio State’s only scholarship running back with multiple years of college experience, had a solid spring. Running as the Buckeyes’ No. 1 RB with Bo and Isaiah sidelined, Ja’Kobi showed plenty of pass-catching ability out of the backfield throughout the spring – including three catches for 35 yards in the spring game – and drew praise from Locklyn for his ability to make defenders miss. But despite his substantial first-team work, he wasn’t among the 11 transfers whose black stripes were removed this spring, suggesting there’s still more the Buckeyes want to see from the seventh-year senior in preseason camp if he’s going to earn a significant role in this year’s rotation.
The most intriguing potential breakout star in Ohio State’s running back room entering camp is Bey. Day continued to express excitement about Bey’s playmaking ability at Big Ten Media Days after comparing the freshman to Tyreek Hill and Curtis Samuel earlier this offseason.
But missing most of the spring with a hamstring injury was a significant setback for Bey, who’s preparing to be a full-time running back for the first time – with the potential to also play some snaps at receiver – after playing quarterback in high school. So while Day left the door wide open for Bey to play a significant role for Ohio State as a freshman, he also indicated that Bey still has to prove his reliability in preseason camp to make that a reality.
“The talent is there, for sure. You can't deny that. But he got hurt in the spring,” Day said of Bey. “So didn't get a chance to finish out and grow because he played quarterback in high school, and now he's learning to play running back and a little bit of receiver. But there's more to it than just talent. And every day is an opportunity to build trust. And he's had a good summer. So there's no question when you see the ball in his hand, he's going to stick out.”
Ohio State’s running game underperformed last season, ranking just 52nd in the FBS with 4.55 yards per carry. And the fact that Ohio State reportedly made an NIL offer worth more than $1 million to five-star 2027 running back David Gabriel Georges, who ultimately committed to Tennessee, suggests that the Buckeyes still have questions about whether their young stable of running backs includes everything they need for their future at the position.
For 2026, Ohio State will be relying on some combination of Bo Jackson, West, Ja’Kobi Jackson, Bey and Rogers to get its running game back to where it needs to be to compete for a national championship this season. And there’s a clear sense of urgency from Day for those running backs to start showing that quickly when the Buckeyes begin camp on Thursday.
“That's certainly an area that we got to get great production from this season,” Day said.
