2025 RB Bo Jackson Commits to Ohio State; 4-Star Had Offers from Alabama, Georgia
Scott Polacek@@ScottPolacek
Featured Columnist IVJune 5, 2024
Ohio State's impressive start to the 2025 recruiting class continued Tuesday.
Running back Bo Jackson, who is a 4-star prospect and the No. 5 running back in his class in 247Sports' composite rankings, announced he was joining the Buckeyes:
Bo Jackson @BoJackson2025It's Official 1000% Commited <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/TheeOhioStateFootball?src=hash&ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#TheeOhioStateFootball</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/Blessed?src=hash&ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#Blessed</a><a href="https://twitter.com/ryandaytime?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@ryandaytime</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/Locklyn33?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@Locklyn33</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/OhioStateFB?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@OhioStateFB</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/TonyJCoach?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@TonyJCoach</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/Ohio25?src=hash&ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#Ohio25</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/EliLee12?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@EliLee12</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/TJSaint_1?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@TJSaint_1</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/big_carter72?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@big_carter72</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/WhoGotNext?src=hash&ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#WhoGotNext</a> 🅾️🌰🌰🌰🏈🏈🏈 <a href="https://t.co/Zj4LKdoI8a">pic.twitter.com/Zj4LKdoI8a</a>
It was a heavyweight fight between some of the nation's best football programs, as ESPN's Eli Lederman noted Jackson decided on the Scarlet and Gray over fellow finalists Alabama and Georgia.
Not only is Jackson a potential rising star on the field, but he also brings a familiar name to the table for football fans.
Lederman reported he was born Lamar Jackson Jr. and received the "Bo" nickname in homage to the 1985 Heisman Trophy winner but is not related to him. Like the former Los Angeles Raiders and Kansas City Royals star, the younger Jackson is also a multi-sport athlete who plays baseball and competes in track and field.
But his future is in football, and he is joining a 2025 class that is already loaded.
Ohio State has the No. 2 class for the 2025 cycle according to 247Sports' composite rankings, and it is well on track to surpass the top-ranked Notre Dame group before signing day. Notre Dame is ahead in the numbers game with 21 commits to the Buckeyes' 13, but Ohio State's average recruit ranking of 94.92 is well ahead of the Fighting Irish's 91.01.
Once Ryan Day and Co. bring in more recruits before signing day, the overall gap in the class rankings will surely close.
Jackson could be one of the faces of that class if he lives up to expectations.
Hudson Standish of 247Sports highlighted his "impressive" cutting ability in the open field that combines well with his power in between the tackles and "elite short area quickness and agility." That combination of skills should help him get on the field early in his collegiate career, especially given the Buckeyes' running back situation.
TreVeyon Henderson and Quinshon Judkins are both expected to star for an Ohio State team that could start the 2024 season No. 1 in the country, but they both could be in the NFL by the time Jackson arrives on campus.
That could clear the way for the incoming freshman to at least be a part of the team's rotation as it looks to continue any momentum built during the upcoming campaign.