Ohio State Buckeyes’ expected starter heading into the season may have lost his job against the Ohio Bobcats
Coming into their Week 3 matchup against the Ohio Bobcats, it was clear the Ohio State Buckeyes could not treat them as a pushover. That proved true in the first half, as Ohio State held just a 13-3 lead at halftime. But the home team in Columbus turned things up after the break and pulled […]
Coming into their Week 3 matchup against the Ohio Bobcats, it was clear the Ohio State Buckeyes could not treat them as a pushover. That proved true in the first half, as Ohio State held just a 13-3 lead at halftime. But the home team in Columbus turned things up after the break and pulled away for a 37-9 win.
The Buckeyes ended up out-gaining Ohio 572-180 in total yards. Ohio State moved the ball well but was inefficient early, settling for field goals on multiple drives and even being stopped on a fourth-down attempt. That changed in the second half when Julian Sayin connected with Jeremiah Smith for a 47-yard touchdown with 6:16 left in the third quarter, giving the Buckeyes the momentum they needed. The run game also came alive, and it looks like Ohio State may have no choice but to increase the workload for true freshman Bo Jackson.
Bo Jackson looks like the best running back Ohio State has to offer
After rushing for 108 yards on just nine carries against Grambling State last week, Jackson one-upped himself with another explosive outing against Ohio with nine runs for 109 yards. His highlight was a 64-yard run, the biggest play of the night for the Buckeyes. He finished as the team’s leading rusher with the nine carries — many of them coming early, not just in garbage time — while splitting snaps with CJ Donaldson and James Peoples. Jackson is making a strong case to be Ohio State’s No. 2 back at worst. The Buckeyes put up 225 rushing yards against the Bobcats.
Coming into the season, many expected Peoples to claim the starting job as a sophomore. Donaldson led the way against Texas and took most of the early snaps against Grambling. But against Ohio, the Buckeyes turned to Jackson in key situations while the game was still somewhat close. The freshman also added two catches for 21 yards, and though he didn’t score, he was arguably Ohio State’s best offensive player outside of Smith.
A top-10 running back recruit from Northeast Ohio, Jackson battled injuries in high school —otherwise, he might have been a five-star prospect. Three games into his career, no other freshman has made a bigger impact for the Buckeyes. He not only looks like their top young player but also the most explosive member of Carlos Locklyn’s running back room.
These past two weeks provided Ohio State with games it was expected to win comfortably, but Ohio played tough and gave them a decent fight. Still, the talent gap was obvious. More importantly, the Buckeyes got extended looks at their younger players, and Jackson has clearly stood out. Heading into their bye week, he looks like a lock for RB2 duties at worst — and possibly much more. One thing is for sure: This Ohio State running back room is deep.
Ohio State Buckeyes News
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