Welcome to the Shoe – James Peoples RB

High school football star James Peoples has committed to Ohio State University (OSU), choosing the Buckeyes over five other finalists, including Oklahoma, Alabama, and Texas. The 5-foot-10, 192-pound running back from Veterans Memorial in San Antonio, Texas, is rated as a four-star recruit and is ranked as the 69th-best player and fifth-best running back in the 2024 class by 247Sports’ composite rankings.

Peoples first visited OSU in the summer of 2022 for a recruiting camp and was offered a scholarship by OSU running backs coach Tony Alford in October. “I love Ohio State and had family in Ohio and stuff like that. I was really grateful when I got that offer,” Peoples said. During his visit, Peoples was impressed by OSU’s strong offensive line and the possibility of playing with the best in the nation.

Peoples had been in frequent contact with Alford in the months leading up to his commitment, with Alford praising Peoples’ all-around game and saying there is always room for improvement. The Texas standout is OSU’s first running back commitment for the 2024 class and the seventh overall. The Buckeyes are reportedly looking to add one more running back to their roster in the current cycle, with Ohio prospect Sam Williams-Dixon being their top priority for the spot.

Peoples’ commitment is a significant win for OSU, and his strong relationship with Alford could help bring in other top recruits. The Buckeyes have a reputation for developing elite running backs, with current NFL stars Ezekiel Elliott and J.K. Dobbins both having played for OSU. Peoples will have big shoes to fill, but he seems to be up for the challenge.