LOOK: RB James Peoples Reveals Why He Committed To Ohio State

Ohio State Buckeyes class of 2024 commit James Peoples will look to be the next great running back in program history.

Author:
Casey Smith
May 11, 2023 4:04 PM EDT

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The Ohio State Buckeyes snagged their running back of the future in top-100 class of 2024 recruit James Peoples.

He had 26 offers from programs like Texas, Oklahoma, Alabama, TCU, and Oregon, among others, posting a spring schedule list of places he was planning on visiting. He told former Ohio State offensive lineman and Buckeye Scoop's Kirk Barton that he originally wanted to take his recruitment "slow" but once he visited Columbus he scrapped that and committed to the Buckeyes on April 2.

"When I stepped on that campus, the love, the genuine love I'd say — because I've been to a lot of places, and this is no hit on them, but you can kind of get a feeling for when things are played out, kind of an act, anything like that. It wasn't none of that," Peoples said. "From the coaches to the players to the fans. I'm talking about the highest people in the room, coach Day, to the person you may not even know, they're just showing love and gratitude, they know your name, things like that, and they are all saying the same thing."

Peoples said running backs coach Tony Alford played a big role in his commitment to the Buckeyes, as well, bringing him into the running backs room and integrating him during his visit.

The San Antonio, TX. native said seeing Alford break down film and push the message of the "ultimate goal" of being "a powerhouse in the league" was a big selling point for him also.

"When I really got a chance to hear and feel that knowledge and be there with Tre and Miyan and these big-name running backs and see how they go about their business really was a shock to me and it was special," Peoples said. "I was like, 'You know what, this is something I want to do. I want to be a part of this.'"

The No. 5 running back in the class of 2024 not only praised Alford's knowledge of the game and his ability to develop players, but he appreciated his personality off the football field. He said Alford is a "family man" and someone who can be a "father figure in your life while you're gone from your family."

In addition to praising offensive program assistant Riley Larkin, Peoples said Alford took the time to get know his whole family while on his visit as well.

"To my parents, to my grandparents, my uncle, my little cousin, the networking was top-notch, and it was all genuine," Peoples said. "It was all from the heart, having deep conversations with them, trying to figure out about me, how they're doing. I'd say, of course, recruiting is recruiting and he's a great coach but also his relationships as well."