Scarlet Sunrise: Recapping everything we learned from Lettermen Row 'Running Backs Week'

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Recapping everything we learned from Lettermen Row ‘Running Backs Week’

There’s a new face leading a new-look Ohio State running back room in 2024. Carlos Locklyn is replacing Tony Alford, who left two practices into Buckeyes spring ball to coach the running backs at Michigan. Locklyn is overseeing a top-heavy Ohio State backfield that includes only four scholarship backs at the moment.

Whereas the Buckeyes returned five such running backs last offseason, four of those five either transferred or made the jump to the pros after the 2023 campaign.

TreVeyon Henderson, however, stayed for his senior season. He’s teaming up with former Ole Miss stud Quinshon Judkins to form arguably the best running back tandem in college football this season. Those stars will headline the Ohio State running back room in 2024, and they were the focus of Lettermen Row “Running Backs Week,” the second installment of our position preview series.

Here’s a sneak peek of some components of that coverage…

THE BASICS

We outlined the measurables of Ohio State’s scholarship running backs, in addition to where each of them went to high school, what recruiting ranking they received, who they picked the Buckeyes over and their biggest strength, among other things.

Then we mapped out the career path of the Buckeyes’ top-five running backs. Henderson has dealt with injury trouble each of the last two seasons, but, in 2023, he still had himself more than 1,000 scrimmage yards over the course of 10 games. Despite arriving at Ole Miss with a three-star rating, Judkins hit the ground running, turning in the second-best rushing season by an SEC freshman.

Ohio State has a pair of true freshman backs this season: James Peoples and Sam Williams-Dixon. Peoples was the higher-rated prospect of the two, but both enjoyed action-packed high school careers. So did third-year preferred walk-on TC Caffey, who starred at nearby Hubbard High School before joining the Buckeyes ahead of the 2022 season.

READ: How they got here: Mapping out career path of each Buckeyes RB so far
READ: Tale of the Tape: Knowing the basics of Buckeyes running backs

A LOOK INSIDE THE DUO

Henderson and Judkins each have 1,000-yard rushing seasons and 20-reception seasons under their belts. Henderson pressed pause on the NFL Draft this offseason after turning to his faith and deciding to return for one more year at Ohio State. Judkins, meanwhile, transferred in after his second straight All-SEC, 17-touchdown campaign at Ole Miss.

Henderson is the bigger home run hitter, whereas Judkins is harder to bring down and perhaps the more efficient runner. Both are three-down backs who will split up the workload in 2024.

READ: Revisiting top running back duos in Ohio State history

WHO IS RB3?

While Henderson and Judkins are in the spotlight, the Buckeyes will need more contributing running backs than those two to get through a season that could be as long as 16 or 17 games.

Dallan Hayden was in line to be Ohio State’s RB3 before he transferred to Colorado after the spring season. Now it seems like Peoples is the frontrunner for that gig. But don’t count out Williams-Dixon, who ran for a team-high 75 yards in the spring game.

Caffey impressed in March and April, too. He’s found his way back to relevancy after tearing his ACL early in his true freshman season.

READ: Who will be third running back for Buckeyes this season?
READ: Hardworking TC Caffey never gave up on Ohio State dream, now is important piece of RB room
READ: From early enrollment to early playing time: Ohio State’s freshman RBs could be critical in 2024

Full coverage of ‘Running Backs Week’ at Lettermen Row

READ: Five offseason questions for Buckeyes running back room
READ: Breaking down projected Buckeyes running back depth chart
READ: How they got here: Mapping out career path of each Buckeyes RB so far
READ: Tale of the Tape: Knowing the basics of Buckeyes running backs
READ: Buckeyes have talent, coaching to produce two 1,000-yard backs
READ: Breaking down PFF stats to know about Ohio State running back duo
READ: Who will be third running back for Buckeyes this season?
READ: Hardworking TC Caffey never gave up on Ohio State dream, now is important piece of RB room
READ: A full-house backfield at Ohio State could happen — sparingly
READ: Roundtable: Buckeyes star-studded tailback room has ultra-high ceiling this season
READ: Most difficult Ohio State rushing records to break
READ: Three records Buckeyes running backs could break this season
READ: Three bold predictions for Buckeyes running back room
READ: Lettermen Row member mailbag: Running Back Week questions answered
READ: Revisiting top running back duos in Ohio State history
READ: Best-case, worst-case scenario for Buckeyes tailback room
READ: From early enrollment to early playing time: Ohio State’s freshman RBs could be critical in 2024

Counting Down

Buckeyes vs. Akron: 89 days
Buckeyes vs. Michigan: 180 days

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