Ohio State Transfer Taking Pride in Doing What Penn State Always Has

There's a lot that we can say about Penn State football and its history, but nobody can argue against what it has done in developing linebackers and running backs. Linebacker U is a name for a reason, and at this point, calling Penn State Running Back U might not be the craziest thing either. 

Penn State has done nothing but develop elite running backs and will hope to continue doing so. 

This year's roster will be a tad different, as it might not have the same caliber of running backs that it has had in the past, but there are some interesting names, including Ohio State transfer James Peoples.

Peoples understands, especially coming from Ohio State, that Penn State is one of the best programs in the nation, and he has to hold up his end of the bargain. As a running back, that means a lot more, and instead of being worried about that, the Ohio State transfer said that he understands that this is a place where running backs come to succeed, and he's ready to build something that Penn State expects.

“Yeah, this place has a history of running backs and I know the two who are just leaving,” Peoples said, per the Centre Daily. “But I think this running back room here is coming in, and we’re looking to build our image — but we’re not too worried about that.

“I think that image is going to build itself. We’re just really focused on making this team better and bearing the weight of what it is to be a running back at Penn State. That’s going to come.”

Regarding what we're hoping to see from him this year, he said that he wants to make a lot of defenders miss, something that will certainly get people going inside of Beaver Stadium.

“I’d say the more satisfying thing would be when you make somebody miss,” he said from the Lasch Football Building, in one of his only responses that required a slight pause. “I think it stuns the crowd. It just stuns the crowd whenever it happens.”

Peoples wasn't the only one who had a lot of good to say about the history of Penn State and its running backs. Penn State plays a tough brand of football, and that all starts with understanding what guys before them did. If these new running backs can set that tone, the offense will be in a very good spot.

“I feel like the history of Penn State has always been the running back setting the tone, and I think fans should expect that again,” Quinton Martin said. “In our offense, we’re going to set the tone, run downhill and try to dominate our opponent and open up the pass game.”