Tag: running

Carlos Locklyn Joins Ohio State Buckeyes as Running Backs Coach for 2024 Season

Columbus, OH — The Buckeye Nation is excited as Carlos Locklyn steps into the running’s back coach position at Ohio Stadium. The seasoned coach is set to make waves with the Buckeye football team armed with a wealth of experience and a passion for player development.

From Hilltoppers to Buckeyes

Locklyn’s journey to the Buckeyes began at Western Kentucky, where he orchestrated an offensive plan that left opponents trying to figure out how the stop their run game. As the Hilltoppers’ running backs coach, he played a pivotal role in their historic run to the Conference USA Championship Game. The offense their averaged 44.2 points per game, leaving defensive coordinators guessing.

But Locklyn isn’t just about Xs and Os. He’s a maestro in the art of recruiting. His stint at Florida State as the director of high school relations showcased his prowess in building bridges with young talent. The Seminoles’ 2020 recruiting class? A solid No. 20 nationally, according to Rivals. Not too shabby, Coach!

Taming Tigers and High School Heroics

Before the college ranks, Locklyn cut his teeth at Memphis. From weight room assistant to offensive analyst, he climbed the ladder, eventually becoming the Tigers’ director of high school relations. In 2019, Memphis danced its way to the AAC West title and clinched the American Championship. The Cotton Bowl against Penn State? Yep, they were there, fueled by Locklyn’s dedication.

And let’s rewind further. Back in Memphis, Locklyn was the offensive coordinator at four local high schools. His magic wand transformed their scoring offenses, propelling them into the Tennessee state playoffs. Imagine the locker room speeches—equal parts motivation and southern charm.

Buckeye Impact and Family Ties

Now, as he dons the scarlet and gray, Locklyn faces a new challenge. Ohio State’s running back room boasts stars like TreVeyon Henderson and Quinshon Judkins. His task? Nurture their talent, fine-tune their footwork, and unleash them on unsuspecting defenses. Buckeye fans are already dreaming of end zone dances set to Carmen Ohio.

Off the field, Locklyn’s family—wife Victoria, twins Donovan and Dorian—adds warmth to the chilly Ohio winters. They’re all in, ready to embrace the Buckeye culture.

So, next time you’re at an Ohio State football game, keep an eye out for Coach Carlos Locklyn. He’s the one with a playbook in his hand and a heart full of Buckeye pride. Welcome home, Coach!

Massillon Washington Running Back Willtrell Hartson

Willtrell Hartson, a recent graduate of Massillon Washington High School in Ohio, has decided to join Ohio State’s 2013 football program as a preferred walk-on. Hartson is a multi-sport athlete, having played football, basketball, and track, and was a standout for the Tigers in all three sports. He was a four-year letterman in football, playing quarterback, wide receiver, and defensive back. He was a three-year letterman in basketball, playing forward and center, and a two-year letterman in track, competing in the sprints and relays.

Hartson’s decision to join Ohio State’s 2023 football team was due to his admiration for the program and the opportunity to compete at the collegiate level. He believes that the combination of Ohio State’s nationally-renowned football program, the quality of its academic offerings, and the chance to play Big Ten football was too good to pass up.

With the Buckeyes, Hartson will be able to continue to hone his skills at the college level. He will have the opportunity to compete for a spot on the team and prove himself to the coaching staff. He is confident that he will be able to make a positive impact on the program and help the Buckeyes to continued success.

What does being a preferred walk-on mean?

A preferred walk-on is an athlete who is invited to join a college team without being offered an athletic scholarship. Preferred walk-ons are typically highly skilled athletes who have the ability to contribute to the team’s success. Preferred walk-ons are typically invited to join the team by the head coach or other members of the coaching staff. They are typically asked to join the team after the team has filled all of its scholarship slots, and they are invited to join the team without having to go through the regular recruiting process. Preferred walk-ons are expected to work hard and compete for playing time just like any other member of the team, and they may eventually be awarded scholarships if they perform well.

Prior to committing to Ohio State, Hartson had scholarship offers from a number of other schools, including Akron, Cincinnati, Ohio, and Toledo.

What does the Ohio State football program running back squad look like in 2023?

In 2023, the Ohio State football program running back squad will be a veteran unit, with many of the same players who were on the team in 2013 still contributing. The team is expected to field a deep roster of experienced players, including:
• Miyan Williams is an Ohio State running back from Winton Woods High School in Cincinnati, OH. He was a four-star recruit and the top-rated recruit from Ohio in the 2020 recruiting class. Williams has been a standout for the Buckeyes since his freshman year, rushing for over 1,500 yards and 10 touchdowns. He was also the MVP of the 2021 Fiesta Bowl win over Clemson. In addition to his on-field performance, Williams has been a leader off the field as well, participating in community service projects and becoming an ambassador for the university. He is seen as a role model in his hometown of Cincinnati and is a source of pride for the state of Ohio.
• TreVeyon Henderson is a talented young running back out of Hopewell High School in Hopewell, Virginia. At 5-10 and 190 pounds, Henderson is a formidable force on the field. He has the speed and agility to outrun defenders and the strength to break tackles and gain extra yards. He is also a gifted pass-catcher with sure hands and excellent route-running abilities.
• Dallan Hayden is a 5-10, 200-pound running back from Christian Brothers High School in Memphis, Tennessee.
• DeaMonte “Chip” Trayanum is a running back for the Ohio State University football team from Akron, Ohio. Trayanum is a powerful runner who has the ability to run between the tackles and break tackles. He also has elite speed, which makes him a threat to score any time he touches the ball. His incredible athleticism makes him a threat to opposing defenses.
• Evan Pryor is a 5-11, 200-pound running back from William Amos Hough High School in Cornelius, North Carolina.

The Ohio State running backs will be a talented, deep group in 2023, with the potential to be even more successful than in the past.

WILLTRELL HARTSON – MASSILLON TIGERS RUNNING BACK

Mark Fletcher Ohio State 2023 Running Back

Mark Fletcher from American Heritage in Fort Lauderdale Florida committed to Ohio State for the 2023 season earlier this month. Considered a big back, he has provided his school with three productive high school football seasons, gaining over 2500 yards and 29 touchdowns.

At 6’1″ 225 lbs. Fletcher, a four start running back, picked OSU over Penn State, Michigan, and Miami of Florida. He is rated the 7th best running back in the country. He made visits to Ohio State on April 1st, Miami on March 24th, Michigan on March 21st and was at USC on March 11th.

Crystal Ball projections made shortly prior to the commitment had Fletcher going to the Buckeyes.

Ohio State 2023 Class

Running Back’s coach Tony Alford recruited Fletcher and is looking to add another back to the 2023 class. At the time of Fletcher’s commitment, Ohio State had 6 commits including mostly defensive players. No other running backs are currently looking to join the Buckeye’s class. Ahead of Fletcher on the depth chart are Marcus Crowley, Miyan Williams, Treveyon Henderson, Evan Pryor and Dallen Hayden.

Fletcher plays 7-on-7 with current commit Cedrick Hawkins at South Florida Express. He can catch the ball and has decent speed in space as seen in film.

American Heritage is a school Ohio State has been trying to create a relationship with for some time. So getting Fletcher is an important step for the Buckeyes in Florida.

What are the Buckeyes getting with Mark Fletcher?

Five Star Running Back TreVeyon Henderson from Hopewell Virginia

Hopewell Virginia running back TreVeyon Henderson committed to the Ohio State Buckeyes tonight over offers from Oklahoma, Georgia, Penn State, Michigan and others. A 5’11” 195 lbs. prospect, Ryan Day has a great piece of his 2021 class settled tonight.

Considered the top player in the country by many, his motivation comes from his desire to help his hard working mother.

Running Back TreVeyon Henderson

Henderson was great on the field last year, winning a state championship with 2,424 yards and 45 touchdowns, as well as in the classroom, earning a 4.0 grade point average. He averaged 12.2 yards/carry during his junior season.

Henderson is the current Gatorade Player of the Year in Virginia. He went from being a defensive back prospect as a sophomore to a 20 lbs. heavier running back with better speed as a junior.

He is able to change direction quickly and increase speed while breaking away from entire backfields.

TreVeyon Henderson Visits

Henderson was unable to visit Ohio State as he had planned in April due to the world-wide pandemic (the NCAA on-campus and off-campus visit suspension), but felt great about the coaches and the program at OSU. He mentions running backs coach Tony Alford as a reason that he feels very comfortable with the team today. Expectations were for Henderson to take his time with recruiting, but all that changed with the visit restrictions. Al Washington and Ryan Day were also pivotal in Henderson’s recruitment.

Many are comparing Henderson to JK Dobbins, who also never visited Ohio State before committing. He grew up watching Ezekiel Elliott and the Buckeyes during their great 2014 and 2015 seasons.

TreVeyon Henderson: 5-star running back commits to Ohio State

The Ohio State 2021 Class

Ohio State had the top 2021 class in the country before Henderson’s commitment and is now only stronger. Most college programs are just trying to keep what they have and wait out the pandemic, but not Ohio State. Ohio State has become a virtual recruiting giant doing video chats, constant phone conversions, and having academics available to answer any and all questions.

Ohio State will have a running backs room with Trey Sermon, Marcus Crowley, Steele Chambers and Miyan Williams in 2020. Trey Sermon will graduate from the program as Henderson and Evan Pryor enter for 2021.

Recruiting running backs for Ohio State has been without much success over the past two seasons, but the recent pickups of Trey Sermon, Evan Pryor and TreVeyon Henderson have led everyone to forget about those years.

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