New Penn State running back James Peoples could be a game-changer for the Nittany Lions in 2026
One of the biggest additions to the Penn State roster this offseason was, without question, James Peoples.
The transfer running back from Ohio State made the move from Columbus to Happy Valley, even with all of the uncertainty in the Nittany Lions program. Peoples comes to Happy Valley with not only incredible skill, but experience in winning major football games.
Peoples spent two seasons in Columbus as the third option at running back for two different classes of elite running backs.
In 2024, when the Buckeyes made the run to the National Championship, Peoples was a tertiary piece to the running back room of TreVeyon Henderson and Quinshon Judkins, who were both second-round NFL picks.
Then, in 2025, when it was supposed to be his time, he was leapfrogged by two freshmen and saw the writing on the wall.
Over his career for the Buckeyes, he has carried the ball exactly 110 times for 541 yards and five touchdowns. He is also a decent threat out of the backfield, as last year he even in limited time, he had 10 catches for 50 yards.
He has done a lot of winning in his time in Columbus, and it is players like that who will not only improve what happens on the field, but are culture guys in the locker room, too.
It's not to be confused, Peoples is not the prime Saquon Barkley, but he is a very dynamic player. He would fall in the category of backs that is more of the dynamic back, like a Jahmir Gibbs, than a bruiser like Jonathan Taylor.
When he has the ball in his hands, he does things that will make you raise your eyebrows. He just needs his consistent opportunity, and he will surely thrive in that environment.
For Penn State, this is exactly what they need for both the short and the long term. Because he hasn't experienced a ton of success, there is a chance that he will stick around for maybe two seasons. If he does that and proves to be a valuable piece, he will immediately become a foundational piece to this team and program.
James Peoples, the transfer from Ohio State, has the talent and skill level to elevate the Penn State Nittany Lions offense to an explosive level in 2026. It's players like this that will help separate the Buckeyes on the National Level.
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