Can OSU running backs be elite?

COLUMBUS – Ohio State running backs coach Carlos Locklyn likes what he has seen from OSU's ball carriers in spring practice despite two of its best runners, sophomores Bo Jackson and Isaiah West, being sidelined by shoulder surgeries to repair injuries from last season. And he expects to like it even more when Jackson and West return for the regular season in September. "So they're out? We're going to be just fine. And when they come back we're going to be even better. Instead of having just those two guys we're going to have five or six (running backs)," Locklyn said on Friday. Jackson rushed for 1,090 yards and had 100 yards or more in six games last season. West ran for 310 yards. The Buckeyes also have added Ja'Kobi Jackson, who played the last two seasons at Florida, and 4-star high school recruit Legend Bey to their offensive backfield in the off season. Jackson rushed for 509 yards and 7 touchdowns in 2024 for the Gators but missed most of last season because of a shoulder injury. Jackson and West have used the off season to add around 10 pounds each, which means both will play at around 220 pounds this season. There were rumors that Bo Jackson considered entering the transfer portal or had threatened to do that to get a better NIL deal. He clearly was not interested in discussing that on Friday but did say, "It wasn't a hard decision. This is where I want to be." Locklyn expects significant improvement from Bo Jackson and West. "Bo Jackson played four games of football as a senior in high school and Isaiah West played five, so their senior year was last year. You're going to see tremendous growth in both of those guys because they're going to be confident, they're going to be bigger and stronger and now they've seen a few things. My expectations are for both of them to be elite this season," he said. OSU head coach Ryan Day has said he wants to see OSU runners do a better job this season of breaking through tackles at the second and third levels of defenses and in getting around them. "Some things were frustrating but I knew that was growing pains. You could see toward the end he (Bo Jackson) got better. He will be stronger this year, him and Isaiah both, and the rest of them. I think he will finish those runs. I'll challenge him to finish those runs," Locklyn said. There could be another factor in the Buckeyes' offensive equation if the speedy freshman Bey is as good as he reportedly has been at times during spring practice. West said, "Legend is extremely talented. I'm really excited to see what he does. Make no mistake about it, he's going to be great. The boy is fast, the boy can run." Locklyn said, "He is a tough kid. I just like seeing that speed and change of direction. You can give him the ball and the next thing you know he's gone."