After a national championship run in 2024-25, the NFL drafted 14 players off the Ohio State Buckeyes’ squad, leaving holes for head coach Ryan Day to fill. Ohio State lost eight defenders and six offensive players to the draft, leaving the team with massive holes on both sides.
Ryan Day Confident in Ohio State’s 2025 Weapons
But Day is confident in the Buckeyes’ weapons, especially the team’s running back room, which runs five deep.
“It starts at tight end, where we have more options there, probably than we’ve ever had since I’ve been here,” Day said. “So that’s exciting. We have different styles of wide receivers, and we’re also building some depth at running back. So that part is fun. James [Peoples] really did have a good spring.
It’s hard to tell when you’re in the spring on running backs since we’re not tackling as much to the ground as we did with CJ Donaldson. I thought he got better as the spring went on. I also thought Bo Jackson showed a lot for a freshman.
“Sam Williams-Dixon is fighting. He’s had some good practices. I thought he got better. And then we’ll have Isaiah getting healthy, and then [Anthony Rogers] coming in. So, more depth in that room as well.”
People who day called a “special back” in the spring, ran 49 carries for 197 yards as a freshman last year. Williams-Dixon also saw brief action for the team. Donaldson joins Ohio State as a West Virginia transfer, with Jackson and Rogers both incoming freshmen.
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“I think [RB coach Carlos Locklyn] has done a nice job of building depth,” Day said. “We also have depth in the tight end room, and then we have some different styles of guys at the wide receiver position. So again, where does that go? We’ll see. But [we’ve got] some good, good players to work with.”
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