Carlos Locklyn sends clear message to Ohio State RBs on earning their spot

Ohio State running backs coach Carlos Locklyn is not messing around with the running back position. Locklyn was brought in late in the coaching hire cycle and didn't really join the team until spring practices after coming from Oregon.

After having one of the best, if not the best, running back rooms last season with TreVeyon Henderson and Quinshon Judkins last season, the Buckeyes are looking to see who the next guy up will be. Locklyn is making it clear, though, that it will be a true competition for the starting role, and if anyone thinks they have it in the bag, they should think again, and fast.

"We competing out there every day, if you think you have arrived in that room, you're going to get your feelings hurt because I'm going to hurt them," Locklyn said. "We coming to work every day, if you don't humble yourself, I will."

Right now, the two running backs who have seemed to take the lead in this position battle are CJ Donaldson, who transferred from West Virginia in the offseason, and James Peoples, who is in his second season with the Buckeyes. Peoples did have 49 carries last season for 197 yards and two touchdowns, averaging 4.0 yards per carry.

Donaldson at West Virginia last season had 163 carries for 734 yards and 11 touchdowns, averaging 4.5 yards per carry. So while it seems like Donaldson is leading the way based on experience, Locklyn has made it clear no one has the job yet, and only hard work will win it.

Locklyn certainly isn't the coach who will sugarcoat things for his players, as he said in his quote that he will humble his players if he needs to. Ohio State has also used two running backs before, just like they did with Henderson and Judkins last season, and found a lot of success, so Donaldson and Peoples could be used in that manner as well this season.