Is the Ohio State football team on the verge of a running back commitment?

After waiting the first five months of 2024 to secure their first running back commitment, the Buckeyes appear to be on the verge of another as a major recruiting weekend commences.

When Isaiah West de-committed from Kentucky just days after making an unofficial visit to Ohio State in May, many recruiting experts felt it was just a matter of time before announcing he’s becoming a part of their 2025 recruiting class. That unofficial visit to Columbus went so well, no less than five of 247 Sports’ recruiting experts put in a Crystal Ball prediction for the Buckeyes. Ohio recruiting guru Bill Kurelic of Bucknuts feels West will commit to OSU very soon.

There is good reason Kurelic feels a commitment is imminent. Since making that unofficial visit to Ohio State last month, West has not visited any other school. There’s been no indication he’s shown interest in anyone else. He’s in Columbus this weekend for his official visit and the feeling is he will commit to the Buckeyes during the visit or very soon after.

West, who hails from the same high school as Marvin Harrison Jr. (St. Joseph’s Prep in Philadelphia), is only the 45th-ranked running back in 247 Sports’ Composite rankings (these combine the rankings of a few different recruiting sites) but expect him to climb throughout his 2024 season.

At 5’11”, 208 pounds, he’s almost identical in size to Bo Jackson (6’0”, 205 pounds), who committed to the Buckeyes on June 4th. In reading the scouting report on him, he strikes me a bit like former Buckeye Master Teague. Not great top-end speed, but he will get through the hole, can make a tackler miss, and will pick up yardage after contact is made. He may turn out to be more of a situational type of running back, but there is absolutely nothing wrong with having those guys in your backfield.

If West does indeed commit to OSU as expected, I still think you’ll see them continue to pursue Jordon Davison, the nation’s number six running back. Considering they will probably be down to just two scholarship players at this position after the upcoming season, there is room for them to take three running backs in this recruiting cycle. At 225 pounds, Davison would give them the big back every program needs. Two Crystal Ball predictions have him committing to the Buckeyes.