Scarlet Sunrise: Buckeyes tailback earns high praise among freshman backs nationally

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Buckeyes tailback earns high praise among freshmen backs nationally

Ohio State has the best tailback room in college football. Most experts, including college football preseason magazine legend Phil Steele, love the Buckeyes two-headed monster at the top of the depth chart, which consists of senior TreVeyon Henderson and Ole Miss star transfer Quinshon Judkins.

But Steele also loves what the Buckeyes have behind their top two tailbacks in the pecking order. Steele published his rankings of his top 25 freshman running backs in college football this upcoming season; former four-star back and new Buckeyes weapon James Peoples is fifth on Steele’s list of the top first-year running backs.

Peoples trails only Penn State’s Quinton Martin when it comes to freshman Big Ten backs on Steele’s list.

Peoples was ranked by the On3 Industry Ranking as the No. 8 running back and No. 119 overall prospect. He was the No. 18 prospect in the state of Texas for the class of 2024.

Now he might be one of the premier freshman tailbacks in college football. Phil Steele believes he can be.

Elite linebacker, Buckeyes target set to announce commitment

McKinney (Texas) four-star linebacker Riley Pettijohn is set to announce his commitment on Saturday, choosing between Texas, Texas A&M, Ohio State and USC.

Momentum has long been around the in-state schools, but with a decision just hours away, some eyes are beginning to look toward Columbus. On Friday afternoon, Lettermen Row recruiting insider Alex Gleitman logged a pick in the On3 Recruiting Prediction Machine in favor of the Buckeyes landing the elite defensive prospect.

Pettijohn visited Ohio State at the end of March and returned on the weekend of May 31 for his first official visit. That recent official visit made a mark on Pettijohn and his family.

“We really enjoyed our trip back to Columbus,” Pettijohn’s father, Duke, told On3. “The biggest takeaway we had was just the consistency and transparency in everything about the program. Ohio State is an elite institution that is poised to remain for a long time and we like that.”

On3 VP of Recruiting Steve Wiltfong joined Gleitman later on Friday to also submit an On3 RPM for Pettijohn to join the Buckeyes top-ranked class.

Pettijohn is the No. 33 overall prospect and No. 2 linebacker in the 2025 cycle, according to the On3 Industry Ranking.

ICYMI: Pair of Buckeyes OTs land in Phil Steele ranking of top NFL Draft tackles

Ohio State didn’t have its best offensive line in program history last season. But this year, the Buckeyes return three starters on the offensive line — including both tackles.

College football preseason magazine legend Phil Steele likes what he sees from both of the Buckeyes’ returning tackles. Steele ranked his top 25 offensive tackles who are eligible for next spring’s NFL Draft in his preseason magazine, and he included both Ohio State starters. Steele has starting left tackle Josh Simmons as the No. 7 tackle for next spring’s draft, and he has starting right tackle Josh Fryar as the No. 13 draft-eligible tackle entering the season this year.

Simmons is Steele’s top-ranked Big Ten tackle. Fryar is third, behind only Simmons and Michigan’s Miles Hinton.

Counting Down

Buckeyes vs. Akron: 56 days
Buckeyes vs. Michigan: 147 days

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