The Ohio State football program is about to start Spring practice. The Buckeyes have a lot of players who are fighting for playing time next season because there is a lot more playing time available. Ohio State is losing a lot of starters on both sides of the ball, so more guys have a shot to get real snaps.
This Spring, there are going to be a lot of great players who are trying to earn more playing time than they've ever had before. Even if they don't project to be starters, the Buckeyes have guys who will move up the depth chart with as many guys as they are losing who still need playing time.
One player who needs to have a better Spring than everyone else if they want to get serious playing time is James Peoples. Peoples returns as the most experienced running back who played for the Buckeyes last year. Yet, he won't be the starting running back.
Ohio State football player James Peoples needs to have a big Spring
Peoples isn't going to be the starting running back next season. That spot will go to transfer running back C.J. Donaldson Jr., who comes in from West Virginia. Still, Peoples is fighting for snaps to be backup back. We saw last year how valuable those snaps can be.
Quinshon Judkins came in as the backup running back last year and was a key part of their national championship run. He was really more of a second starter that the Buckeyes happened to have right behind TreVeyon Henderson. Peoples could be the same thing with a good Spring.
Peoples has competition with Sam Williams-Dixon, Bo Jackson, and Turbo Rogers for that backup spot. The Buckeyes like what Peoples did last year as the third-string back, but the other backs are all extremely talented, and Brian Hartline is going to go with the guy who has the most talent.
The Ohio State Buckeyes have many options at the running back positions behind Donaldson Jr. Peoples understands this and will be working hard to make sure he earns that second-string spot on the depth chart.