Penn State adds former Ohio State running back from the transfer portal
Penn State has picked up a second running back from the transfer portal from a Big Ten rival.
Former Ohio State running back James Peoples has committed to Penn State, he confirmed on his X page.
Peoples played two seasons with the Buckeyes, contributing in both years on offense. He had 49 carries for 197 yards and two touchdowns in 2024 and had 61 carries for 344 yards and three touchdowns in 2025. Peoples’ best game came against Minnesota when he had seven carries for 59 yards.
He will join a running back room that has added former Iowa State RB Carson Hansen already this offseason, with Quinton Martin Jr. declaring he will return for 2026 after a breakout performance in the Pinstripe Bowl for the Nittany Lions.
Hansen is in his final year of eligibility, while Peoples has two more years and Martin has three.
