Bo knows it.
Its Official is 1000% committed #TheeOhioStateFootball #Blessed@ryandadaytime @Locklyn33 @OhioStateFB @TonyJCoach #Ohio25 @EliLee12 @TJSaint_1 @big_carter72 #WhoGotNext pic.twitter.com/Zj4LKdoI8a
-Bo Jackson (@BoJackson2025) June 4, 2024
Whether you use Jackson’s legal first name, Lamar, or his nickname, Bo, the newest member of the Buckeyes’ 2025 cycle shares a name with a former Heisman Trophy winner. This seems to bode well for a successful academic career.
That said, after a lengthy recruiting effort that ultimately required fending off Georgia and Alabama, Ohio State accomplished a major goal by successfully keeping 2025 four-star running back Bo Jackson in-state on Tuesday. with the Cleveland product’s commitment to the Buckeyes.
|
Pos |
Name |
Rating |
Rank |
Size |
School |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|
CB |
DEVIN SANCHEZ |
★★★★★ |
#5NATL | CB n°1 |
6-2 | 170 |
North Shore (Houston, Texas) |
|
CB |
NA’EEM OFFORD |
★★★★★ |
#6 NAT | #2 CB |
6-1 | 185 |
Parker (Birmingham, Alabama) |
|
QB |
TAVIEN STREET. CLEAR |
★★★★★ |
#14NATL | #3 QB |
6-4 | 210 |
Bellefontaine (Bellefontaine, Ohio) |
|
OT |
CARTER LOWE |
★★★★ |
#54 NAT | #7 In overtime |
6-5 | 290 |
Whitmer (Toledo, Ohio) |
|
OF |
ZAHIR MATHIS |
★★★★ |
#60NATL | #5 Edge |
6-6 | 225 |
Imhotep Institute (Philadelphia, Pennsylvania) |
|
kg |
TARVOS ALFORD |
★★★★ |
#47NATL | #5LB |
6-2 | 210 |
Vero Beach (Vero Beach, Florida) |
|
R.B. |
BO JACKSON |
★★★★ |
#81 NAT | #5RB |
6-0 | 205 |
Villa Angela-St. Joseph (Cleveland, Ohio) |
|
OF |
LONDON MERRITT |
★★★★ |
#116 NAT | #13DL |
6-2 | 250 |
IMG Academy (Bradenton, Florida) |
|
THE |
NATE ROBERTS |
★★★★ |
#132 NAT | #6 THE |
6-4 | 235 |
Washington (Washington, Oklahoma) |
|
S |
DESHAWN STEWART |
★★★★ |
#295 NAT | #26S |
6-2 | 185 |
DePaul Catholic (Wayne, New Jersey) |
|
W.R. |
DEZIE JONES |
★★★★ |
#313 NAT | #42 WR |
6-0 | 180 |
DePaul Catholic (Wayne, New Jersey) |
|
S |
CODY HADDAD |
★★★★ |
#376 NAT | #18 ATH |
6-1 | 175 |
St. Ignatius (Cleveland, Ohio) |
|
kg |
ELI LEE |
★★★★ |
#380 NAT | #41LB |
6-3 | 230 |
Bishop Hoban (Akron, Ohio) |
|
Prospect evaluation data: 247Sports Composite |
|||||
Jackson’s official visit this weekend sealed the 6-foot, 205-pound running back’s recruitment, as the talented guard got a taste of what his life could be like with the Buckeyes. He attended a gathering hosted by JT Tuimoloau and bonded with his player host, Sam Williams-Dixon during his visit. He also spent a lot of time with Carlos Locklyn, who showed him how he would play in Chip Kelly’s offense. While Jackson still had an official visit to Alabama planned, he felt comfortable ending his recruitment early and committing to his home state’s team.
“Overall, it was a great weekend for me and my family,” Jackson said. Eleven warriors of his visit. “Spending time with Coach Ryan Day, Chip Kelly and Carlos Locklyn has been great, but the real highlight of the two trips so far has been being around the current players on campus.”
The Jackson file
- Class: 2025
- Size: 6-0/205
- Position: R.B.
- School: Villa Angela-St. Joseph (Cleveland, Ohio)
- Composite score: ★★★★
- Composite rank: #81 (#5RB)
In a strange way, Tony Alford’s departure to Michigan in the spring may have helped the Buckeyes land Jackson, given that Alford’s replacement was Locklyn, the former Oregon running backs coach . Jackson had established a strong relationship with Locklyn since his time with the Ducks and it was a smooth transition recruiting him into his new role at Ohio State. Since Locklyn arrived on campus, he and Jackson spoke almost every other day until his commitment.
Jackson is OSU’s 13th commit in 2025 and the leading running back, although he likely won’t be the last. Ohio State continues to actively pursue four-star California prospect Jordon Davison and also has a vested interest in former Kentucky commit Isaiah West. Another potential fit could be Alabama’s Anthony Rogers, who just took an unofficial visit to Ohio State last week and could take an official visit this fall.
Jackson brings a powerful running style to Columbus and could get early playing time
According to the 247Sports composite rankings, Jackson is considered the No. 81 prospect nationally and the No. 5 running back in the 2025 class. It’s hard not to daydream about how Jackson could be used in the Ohio State’s offense immediately upon arriving on campus, given the transportation that will likely be available assuming TreVeyon Henderson and Quinshon Judkins are NFL-bound after the 2024 season.
“They say with a new offensive coordinator, they’re going to pass the ball to the running back in the backfield a lot,” Jackson said in May. “Throwing the ball, running the ball, everything. My parents and I had a great conversation with Chip Kelly (during my spring visit to OSU). The way he has everything set up in the offense, it feels like it’s going to open everything up with everything spaced out.
Jackson is both a strong runner and talented pass catcher and will bring a mean streak to an Ohio State rushing attack that will only improve using Kelly’s offensive schemes. He’s talented enough that he could compete for early playing time in 2025, although players like James Peoples and Williams-Dixon will be a year ahead of him.
“I love the way they use their backs,” Jackson said last year of what he considered the most appealing thing about playing for Ohio State.
Jackson has elite acceleration and can run between the tackles or in an outside zone. Arm tackles won’t do the trick against Jackson, who scored nearly 30 touchdowns and ran for 1,700 yards during his junior season.