Four-Star RB James Peoples commits to Ohio State

Four-star running back James Peoples of San Antonio (TX) Veterans Memorial announced his commitment to Ohio State Sunday evening. 

The 5-foot-11, 200 pounder chose the Buckeyes over Texas, Alabama, Oklahoma, and others.

Peoples on why he chose Ohio State

“What stood out the most to me was family! Everyone there was like one big family and I felt that not just from the Coaches but through the players and people around campus as well. They really took me in like one of their own which was special to me! Everyone there had a pride for the block O, which they carried around everywhere they went and in everything they did.”

Relationship with coaching staff stood out + their plan for Peoples

“My relationship with the staff was deep leading up to the visit but while I was up it got even stronger! As I was able to hang around the staff more, get a feel and talk with them more, I began to feel more and more comfortable with them and it really felt like Home. We can talk about anything really, no matter if it’s football, family, my aspirations and goals and more! They told me I’m a 3 down back and plan on utilizing all my skills in their scheme. So I’m excited about the opportunity I’ll have under Coach Hartline’s schemes!

Personal Life (per On3 DB)

“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 and has got unbelievable hands. He has receiver’s hands, so he makes our offense very versatile. 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.”

He currently has an On3 NIL Valuation of $109K. The On3 NIL Valuation is the industry’s leading index that sets high school and college athletes’ projected annual value (PAV). The NIL valuation does not act as a tracker of the value of NIL deals an athlete has completed to date. It rather signifies an athlete’s value at a certain moment in time.