In the sixth edition of what you can expect to be a regular feature in this newsletter, here’s a closer look at what that caught my ear during interviews at Ohio State after practice Friday.
Running back is a position not getting a lot of attention this preseason at Ohio State.
Despite losing two 1,000-yard rushers, that makes some sense.
Whenever there is a quarterback battle, that will take up a lot of the oxygen.
The defense is also being rebuilt under new management, and the offensive line seems to be a perpetual problem (that is showing some positive signs this month).
But what if Ohio State ends up being as good or even better at running back this season?
I wouldn’t be surprised if that turned out to be the case.
I am a big fan of James Peoples, the sophomore from Texas. He could be a better all-around player than Quinshon Judkins (power runner) or TreVeyon Henderson (home-run hitter but inconsistent) , but only time will tell.
Ohio State also brought in C.J. Donaldson, a big back with two 700-yard seasons at West Virginia, to provide a one-two punch again at the position, and there are some young guys vying for time as well.
Peoples and Donaldson were interesting when they spoke to reporters Friday, but their coach stole the show.
Carlos Locklyn is an interesting fellow, for sure. He still has a deep southern drawl from growing up in Montgomery, Ala., and he is one of those people who seems to wake up on edge.
He brings intensity to the practice field and the interview room for that matter.
So what did he say that was interesting?
He is not afraid to ruffle the feathers of his players. In fact, that seems to be the goal.
“They didn’t come here for me to be nice to them. I told ‘em, I ain’t your best friend. I’m not trying to be your best friend. I you wanna be my best friend, guess how you can be? Make plays. Do your job. We can be best friends all day then.”
Tough love is the name of the game for Locklyn, who is entering his second season with the Buckeyes.
“You told me you wanted to become the best running back. You wanted to be developed. Guess what? That takes me having tough love sometimes. That takes me having to get after you sometimes. I’m not gonna keep you, because I damn sure ain’t gonna cheat myself. I’m gonna go after you. So that’s where that comes from. I can’t demonstrate it. I ain’t like it’s an act. When I’m out there on the field, I am going at my kids.”
If you want to see more of what the Buckeyes had to say after earlier practices, check out my YouTube channel or my Twitter (which is now called X for some reason) feed.
OSU RBs coach Carlos Locklyn is not what you’d call a new-school mentor
— #Marcus Hartman (#@marcushartman)
7:40 PM • Aug 8, 2025
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Ohio State preseason practice is set to continue next week and will include interviews with Ryan Day on Monday, coach Tyler Bowen and the offensive line on Tuesday and coach Larry Johnson and the defensive line on Thursday.
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