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James Peoples had a monster 2022 season, earning district Most Valuable Player and first-team Class 5A all-state honors after tallying 2,044 yards and 31 touchdowns on 208 carries, good for 9.8 yards per carry. He also added 294 yards and three touchdowns on 16 receptions, enough for 18.4 yards per catch. “He runs the ball really hard, and he doesn’t go down on first contact,” Veterans Memorial coach Robert Irvin told the San Antonio Express-News. “He’s just not a running back that can run downhill, but he can run it outside. He’s a great pass catcher. He’s got unbelievable hands. He has receiver’s hands, so he makes our offense very versatile because we can throw to him coming out of the backfield or we can line him up in the slot.” As a sophomore, Peoples finished with 1,056 yards and 13 scores on the ground. “I like that bouncy feeling you get when you are in the hole,” Peoples told the Express-News. “I don’t know, there’s an art to it. It feels like you are doing art. You are going through the trenches and seeing and reading blocks and making people miss.”

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COLUMBUS - Ohio State has been one of the hottest teams in the country to start the 2025 season. The Buckeyes are off this week but left guard Luke

Ohio State stars Luke Montgomery, James Peoples have partnered with TRUFF

Lettermen Row Football

Lettermen Row

Ohio State standouts Luke Montgomery, James Peoples partner with premium hot sauce brand TRUFF

When Texas meets Ohio State on Saturday, several Buckeyes with Lone Star roots will be playing with more than pride on the line. For these players,

Ohio State mascot, Brutus, and University of Texas mascot, Hook 'Em, interact during a filming of the Joel Klatt Show on Ohio State's campus on Aug. 28, 2025. The Buckeyes' kick off the 2025 season against the Longhorns at Ohio Stadium on Aug. 30. (© Adam Cairns/Columbus Dispatch / USA TODAY NETWORK via Imagn Images)

Inside Texas Football Recruiting

Inside Texas

Texas vs Ohio State: Buckeyes with Lone Star Roots Carry Motivation

There have been a handful of recruitments involving the Texas Longhorns and Ohio State Buckeyes on both sides of the field before Saturday's big game

5-star CB Devin Sanchez (Sam Spiegelman, On3)

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Look at the Texas-Ohio State recruiting battles on the Buckeyes roster

Over the weekend, On3's Pete Nakos assembled a list of the 10 most valuable non-quarterbacks in college football this year. The list had all of the

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On3 Football

Don’t sleep on these 10 non-quarterback stars flying under the radar in 2025

Phil Steele released his preseason All-Big Ten teams ahead of the 2025 college football season. He went from first to fourth teams across the

Phil Steele releases Preseason All-Big Ten Teams ahead of 2025 season

COLUMBUS — The expectations for the Ohio State running back room couldn't have been more clear last season.   The Buckeyes rostered two of the best

CJ Donaldson by Mick Walker -- Lettermen Row --

What are reasonable expectations for Buckeyes tailback room?

Lettermen Row members: have a question? Submit it on the Lettermen Lounge message board this offseason. It might be answered in a full story on the

Locklyn

Will Buckeyes tailbacks split carries evenly this season?

COLUMBUS — Nobody has more confidence in his position group -- and his ability to get the most out of that group -- than Ohio State tailbacks coach

James Peoples by Matt Parker -- Lettermen Row --

Three big questions for Buckeyes reloaded tailback room

COLUMBUS — Ohio State needs to replace both TreVeyon Henderson and Quinshon Judkins, who are off to the NFL after incredible careers in college

Bo-Jackson

Ohio State feeling 'solid' about running back room exiting spring ball

COLUMBUS — Ohio State running backs coach Carlos Locklyn understands why many outside the walls of the Woody Hayes Athletic Center believe James

Carlos Locklyn by Mick Walker -- Lettermen Row --

"You need two and a spare:" Buckeyes have intriguing tailback room heading into spring

INDIANAPOLIS — The NFL Combine served as a four-day advertisement for Ohio State as a developmental program.  The Buckeyes sent 15 players to

Eddrick Houston by Adam Cairns/Columbus Dispatch / USA TODAY NETWORK

Five Buckeyes gaining buzz ahead of pivotal spring practice

INDIANAPOLIS — Even former Ohio State defensive back Lathan Ransom had good things to say about second-year Buckeyes running back James Peoples.  A

James Peoples buzz continues ahead of second spring with Buckeyes

COLUMBUS — James Peoples will not be like his predecessors at Ohio State. His path just won't look that similar to what we're so used to from

Ohio State RB James Peoples ready to lead Buckeyes backfield after waiting his turn

COLUMBUS — The Ohio State running back room just had one of the wildest seasons in recent memory. The Buckeyes lost their running backs coach, Tony

Roster Reset: Examining revamped Ohio State running back room

COLUMBUS — Ohio State running back Quinshon Judkins came to the Columbus to boost his NFL Draft stock, be a part of a two-headed monster in the

Quinshon Judkins by Mick Walker -- Lettermen Row --

Impact of Quinshon Judkins leaving Buckeyes, declaring for NFL Draft

With Ohio State and Notre Dame set to battle in Atlanta for the CFB National Championship tonight, we take a look at the Texas high school football

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Texas high school football connections to the National Championship

Here’s a recap of the top 25 players from the state of Texas in the 2024 recruiting class and additional notable names, highlighting their On3

Colin Simmons

How the top 2024 recruits from Texas fared in their true freshman seasons

Texas is set to face Ohio State in the 2025 Goodyear Cotton Bowl as a part of the College Football Playoff semifinals on Friday from AT&T Stadium

Donovan Jackson by Adam Cairns/Columbus Dispatch / USA TODAY NETWORK via Imagn Images

Ohio State's roster features only a handful of Texas high school football standouts

Alabama running back Justice Haynes officially entered the transfer portal on Friday afternoon. The former top-50 prospect has two seasons of

Alabama RB Justice Haynes

Two early schools to watch for Alabama RB Justice Haynes

You could easily make the case that Caleb Downs was the top non-quarterback to enter the NCAA transfer portal in college football this offseason. A

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Ryan Day addresses Caleb Downs' potential future involvement in Ohio State's offense

COLUMBUS - Week two of the college football season has come and gone. Ohio State dominated Western Michigan in route to a 56-0 win in week two.  Week

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Lettermen Row Football Recruiting

Three Weekend Thoughts: Quincy Porter, the visitors list, the true freshmen running backs

COLUMBUS — Ohio State probably would have wanted to get its starters out of the game quicker on Saturday. But after a slow start in the 52-6 win over

Five young Buckeyes we want to see more from after Week 1

COLUMBUS — Ohio State freshman tailback James Peoples said earlier this week that if he's called upon to play this season for the Buckeyes, he'll be

Buckeyes freshman running back James Peoples loses black stripe

Sam Williams-Dixon scampered for a team-high 78 yards in the Ohio State spring game. The true freshman running back was also responsible for the

James Peoples and Sam Williams-Dixon by Mick Walker/Lettermen Row

Ohio State Buckeyes Football

Ohio State

True freshman RBs James Peoples, Sam Williams-Dixon ready to step up in 2024

The wait is nearly over as the highly anticipated EA Sports College Football 25 video game debut is right around the corner. Set to be released for