Isaiah West and Bo Jackson are pushing each other in Ohio State’s backfield, as a dynamic duo with championship potential entering 2026.
The competition inside Ohio State’s running back room is entering another gear this fall, and Isaiah West believes the Buckeyes have two backs capable of making a major impact.
Isaiah West spent the offseason transforming his body and working back from injuries that limited his development early in his Ohio State career. Now, entering his sophomore season, the running back says he feels bigger, stronger, and more explosive than he did a year ago.
Under strength coach Mickey Marotti, West added 12 pounds, moving from 208 pounds to 220. Despite the additional size, West said he feels more athletic and finally feels like himself again after battling shoulder and leg injuries.
Isaiah West said he put on 12 pounds of muscle mass:
“Last year I was playing about 208 and now I’m 220…I feel more explosive, I feel stronger, and much faster.”
Ohio State’s running back room has confidence paired with high expectations pic.twitter.com/E9mkQGpk1W
— The Silver Bulletin (@tSilverBulletin) August 19, 2026
Those setbacks have also changed his perspective. West said the rehabilitation process taught him not to take any individual rep for granted, a mindset he has carried into fall camp as he competes for a significant role in new offensive coordinator Arthur Smith’s system.
Bo Jackson Stepping Up
But while West is taking another step forward, he believes his backfield counterpart has done the same.
“I don’t think y’all even know how much better Bo Jackson got,” West said.
Bo Jackson emerged as one of Ohio State’s most promising young backs during the 2025 season and enters 2026 as the leader of a deep running back room. The Buckeyes have already emphasized the importance of developing both Jackson and West into more complete and explosive players.
West said Bo Jackson’s ability became especially noticeable once the pads came on. He described Jackson as decisive, explosive, and capable of hitting a crease with enough speed to immediately put pressure on a defense. His remarks echo those of his head coach from Saturday, when Ryan Day praised Jackson for his reads, his ability to hit the holes, and his ability to get to the second level this fall.
Arthur Smith’s Offense
The two backs also bring different styles to the room. West views Jackson as a slashing runner who can create explosive plays, while he describes his own evolution as becoming more decisive and consistently getting downhill. That complementary contrast will be highlighted by Arthur Smith’s offensive scheme.
West praised Smith’s approach to installing the offense, emphasizing a philosophy centered on being “brilliant in the basics.” By simplifying reads in concepts such as wide zone and tight zone, the goal is to allow the running backs to play fast rather than hesitate.
Ohio State used multiple backs effectively during the 2025 season, and running backs coach Carlos Locklyn has shown a willingness to distribute carries throughout his rotation. However, the Buckeyes enter the season ranked No. 1 nationally. If the 2024 championship team set an example in the running back room, the goal is not to feature a single back.
Rather, it is to build a stable to keep their legs fresh throughout a long, potential 17-game season. A deep postseason run into January requires multiple backs capable of carrying the load, and the second-year partnership between West and Jackson gives Ohio State one of the most talented backfields in the country.
Moreover, for West, the competition is about pushing both of them to become better, not about taking opportunities away from Jackson. Ryan Day emphasizes iron sharpening iron, and the running back room is one of the premier examples of that for the Scarlet and Gray.
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Blake Biscardi serves as Co-Founder, Lead Reporter, and Senior Editor of The Silver Bulletin. He hosts the Buckeye Cadence podcast, where he breaks down Ohio State football and basketball with an inside look into the programs. Covering Julian Sayin in New York City in 2025 was his Heisman moment, which became a viral moment in its own right. Biscardi is a member of the Football Writers Association of America (FWAA) and has degrees in Business Administration and Strategic Communication & Leadership.