2025 Football Roster
Jersey Number 20
James Peoples
- Position:
- Running Back
- Height:
- 5-10
- Weight:
- 206
- Hometown:
- San Antonio, Texas
- Last School:
- Veterans Memorial
- Year:
- Sophomore
Ohio State Overview
• James played in 22 games in his two seasons at Ohio State - all 14 in 2025 and in eight games as a true freshman in 2024 - and has two seasons of eligibility entering the 2026 campaign
• He rushed for 541 yards at Ohio State with 110 carries, a 4.9 yards-per-carry average and scored five rushing touchdowns
• Also caught 11 passes for 48 yards with a long gain of 12 yards (vs. Washington)
• Ranked third on the team in 2025 with 344 rushing yards with a long of 49 yards vs. Rutgers
• Was the Buckeyes' leading returning rusher entering the 2025 season with 197 yards off 49 carries in 2024
• Scored touchdowns in the first two games he played in: a 4-yard rush vs. Akron and a 12-yard rush vs. Western Michigan
• Also scored two touchdowns vs. UCLA in 2025 and another vs. Rutgers
• Had career highs of 10 carries vs. Western Michigan and 59 yards vs. both Grambling and Minnesota
• He was an OSU Scholar-Athlete and an Academic All-Big Ten Conference honoree majoring in sport industry
Honors & Awards
2025: Academic All-Big Ten Conference
2024: OSU Scholar-Athlete
More on James
• James was part of the 2024 Ohio State recruiting class
• He enrolled in classes in January and took part in 2024 spring drills
• James was the nation’s No. 4-ranked running back and a national top-100 prospect in 2024
• A four-star prospect by the major scouting services
• Returned from an injury this fall and rushed for 216 yards on just 11 carries – all in the first half – in a 56-0 victory that earned him San Antonio Express-News Athlete of the Week honors
• Carried 191 times for 1,904 yards and 28 touchdowns during his junior season in 2022
• Played in the 2024 All-American Bowl on Jan. 4 in his hometown of San Antonio
• Averaged over 10 yards per carry in each of his final two high school seasons
• Was a finalist for San Antonio Express-Times Offensive Player of the Year honors in 2022.
• Parents are Nakisha and James Peoples II
• James played in 22 games in his two seasons at Ohio State - all 14 in 2025 and in eight games as a true freshman in 2024 - and has two seasons of eligibility entering the 2026 campaign
• He rushed for 541 yards at Ohio State with 110 carries, a 4.9 yards-per-carry average and scored five rushing touchdowns
• Also caught 11 passes for 48 yards with a long gain of 12 yards (vs. Washington)
• Ranked third on the team in 2025 with 344 rushing yards with a long of 49 yards vs. Rutgers
• Was the Buckeyes' leading returning rusher entering the 2025 season with 197 yards off 49 carries in 2024
• Scored touchdowns in the first two games he played in: a 4-yard rush vs. Akron and a 12-yard rush vs. Western Michigan
• Also scored two touchdowns vs. UCLA in 2025 and another vs. Rutgers
• Had career highs of 10 carries vs. Western Michigan and 59 yards vs. both Grambling and Minnesota
• He was an OSU Scholar-Athlete and an Academic All-Big Ten Conference honoree majoring in sport industry
Honors & Awards
2025: Academic All-Big Ten Conference
2024: OSU Scholar-Athlete
More on James
• James was part of the 2024 Ohio State recruiting class
• He enrolled in classes in January and took part in 2024 spring drills
• James was the nation’s No. 4-ranked running back and a national top-100 prospect in 2024
• A four-star prospect by the major scouting services
• Returned from an injury this fall and rushed for 216 yards on just 11 carries – all in the first half – in a 56-0 victory that earned him San Antonio Express-News Athlete of the Week honors
• Carried 191 times for 1,904 yards and 28 touchdowns during his junior season in 2022
• Played in the 2024 All-American Bowl on Jan. 4 in his hometown of San Antonio
• Averaged over 10 yards per carry in each of his final two high school seasons
• Was a finalist for San Antonio Express-Times Offensive Player of the Year honors in 2022.
• Parents are Nakisha and James Peoples II
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