COLUMBUS, Ohio -- The NFL’s 2024 leader in rushing touchdowns was almost an Ohio State football player. Imagine that.
Jahmyr Gibbs has quickly become on of the NFL’s best young running backs while sharing at backfield with David Montgomery in Detroit. In an interview with The Pivot podcast previewing the 2025 season, Gibbs revealed that coming out of high school as a four-star recruit in the 2020 class, he wanted to be a Buckeye. The reason that never happened, wasn’t necessarily his choice.
“I was mainly going to go to Ohio State,” Gibbs said. “I was about to commit and then they called me. Something about (a lack of) scholarships or something and they wanted Trey Sermon out of the portal. Then I just committed ton (Georgia Tech).”
Gibbs’ side of the story checks out with the timeline of how things happened. OSU had already signed Miyan Williams as its 2020 running back recruit after missing out on Bijan Robinson. It needed another, but J.K. Dobbins’ departure for the NFL made finding a more game-ready player in the transfer portal more pressing. Mix that with a practice fully 85-man roster and there wasn’t much wiggle room for another incoming freshman. As a result, Gibbs canceled his winter official visit and eventually chose the Yellow Jackets.
“The numbers are pretty tight right now,” Day said then about the idea of adding another running back. So probably not, but we’ll kind of see how things go."
Ohio State would later add TreVeyon Henderson and Evan Pryor in its 2021 class. Henderson became a four-year starter while Pryor later transferred to Cincinnati.
Things worked out for the best for all parties. Gibbs eventually transferred o Alabama and was a first round pick while Henderson was eventually paired with Quinshon Judkins, leading the Buckeyes to a national title in 2024
But that doesn’t mean the what if of a TreVeyon Henderson-Jahmyr Gibbs backfield isn’t enticing.The NFL’s 2024 leader in rushing touchdowns was almost an Ohio State football player. Imagine that.
Jahmyr Gibbs has quickly become on of the NFL’s best young running backs while sharing at backfield with David Montgomery in Detroit. In an interview with The Pivot podcast previewing the 2025 season, Gibbs revealed that coming out of high school as a four-star recruit in the 2020 class, he wanted to be a Buckeye. The reason that never happened, wasn’t necessarily his choice.
“I was mainly going to go to Ohio State,” Gibbs said. “I was about to commit and then they called me. Something about (a lack of) scholarships or something and they wanted Trey Sermon out of the portal. Then I just committed ton (Georgia Tech).”
Gibbs’ side of the story checks out with the timeline of how things happened. OSU had already signed Miyan Williams as its 2020 running back recruit after missing out on Bijan Robinson. It needed another, but J.K. Dobbins’ departure for the NFL made finding a more game-ready player in the transfer portal more pressing. Mix that with a practice fully 85-man roster and there wasn’t much wiggle room for another incoming freshman. As a result, Gibbs canceled his winter official visit and eventually chose the Yellow Jackets.
“The numbers are pretty tight right now,” Day said then about the idea of adding another running back. So probably not, but we’ll kind of see how things go."
Ohio State would later add TreVeyon Henderson and Evan Pryor in its 2021 class. Henderson became a four-year starter while Pryor later transferred to Cincinnati.
Things worked out for the best for all parties. Gibbs eventually transferred o Alabama and was a first round pick while Henderson was eventually paired with Quinshon Judkins, leading the Buckeyes to a national title in 2024
But that doesn’t mean the what if of a TreVeyon Henderson-Jahmyr Gibbs backfield isn’t enticing.
Preseason gifts
Caleb Downs was in a giving mood after practice as the Buckeyes prepare to face Texas.
For the second straight year the All-American safety gifted Beats head phones to his teammates.“We’ve been putting in a lot of work. In the Bible, it says, ‘discipline precedes time for a harvest.’ It’s time for the harvest,” Downs said while addressing the team in the locker room. “We’ve got action next week. We got action. It’s time to let it go; it’s time to let it show on the field. But God has blessed me with a chance to gift everybody on the team with a pair of Beats. So, I appreciate y’all. We’ve got some stuff to do next weekend. Let’s keep working.”
Downs is one of nine college football players with a partnership with this season in what’s being called the ‘Beats Elite” class. Other members include labama wide receiver Ryan Williams, Michigan quarterback Bryce Underwood, Georgia running back Nate Frazier, Texas linebacker Colin Simmons, Oregon quarterback Dante Moore, Florida quarterback DJ Lagway, Oklahoma quarterback John Mateer and South Carolina quarterback LaNorris Sellers.
Watch Downs give out his gift below.
Key dates
Ohio State vs. Texas (season opener): 5 days, Aug. 30, 2025
Ohio State vs. Penn State: 68 days, Nov. 1, 2025
The Game 2025: 96 days, Nov. 29, 2025
Early Signing Period: 101 days, Dec. 4-6, 2025
Big Ten Championship Game: 103 days, Dec. 6, 2025
College Football Playoff first round: 116 days, Dec. 19-20, 2025
College Football Playoff quarterfinal: 128 days, Dec. 31, 2025-Jan. 1, 2026
College Football Playoff semifinal: 136 days, Jan. 8-9, 2026
College Football Playoff National Championship Game: 146 days, Jan. 18, 2026
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