This is one in a series of stories breaking down each player on Penn State football’s 2026 roster.
James Peoples already knows what Big Ten football looks like.
Now he gets a chance to show what he can do in Penn State’s backfield.
Peoples transferred to Penn State from Ohio State, giving PSU another experienced option at running back entering 2026. The junior from San Antonio, Texas, comes in with two seasons of production at one of the best programs in the country and gives Penn State a compact, physical runner with burst.
Height: 5-foot-10
Weight: 214 pounds
Hometown: San Antonio, Texas
High School: Veterans Memorial
Previous School: Ohio State
Before Penn State
High School: Peoples played at Veterans Memorial High School, where he became one of the top running back prospects in the country.
He was a finalist for the 2022 San Antonio Express-News Offensive Player of the Year and played in the 2024 All-American Bowl. As a junior, Peoples rushed for 1,904 yards and 28 touchdowns. He averaged more than 10 yards per carry in each of his last two high school seasons.
Peoples was rated as a four-star prospect, the No. 7 running back in the class by 247Sports and the No. 8 running back by On3.
2024: Peoples began his college career at Ohio State in 2024 and appeared in eight games as a freshman.
He rushed for 197 yards and two touchdowns on 49 carries. He also caught one pass.
His first season included 30 yards and a touchdown against Akron, 51 yards and a touchdown on 10 carries against Western Michigan and 31 yards on six carries against Marshall. He also saw action against Michigan State, Iowa, Purdue, Northwestern and Tennessee.
It was not a major workload, but it gave Peoples early reps in a crowded Ohio State running back room.
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Peoples’ role grew last year.
He played in 14 games, rushing for 344 yards and three touchdowns on 61 carries. He also added 10 receptions for 50 yards and an 18-yard kick return.
His best moments came later in the season. Peoples rushed for 42 yards and two touchdowns on six carries against UCLA. He followed that with 55 yards and a touchdown on three carries against Rutgers, including a 49-yard run.
He also had 59 yards on seven carries at Minnesota, 47 yards against Ohio and 59 yards against Grambling.
According to Pro Football Focus, Peoples played 184 offensive snaps in 2025 and finished with a 76.3 overall offensive grade. His best number was his 80.0 rushing grade, which reflected his effectiveness as a ball carrier. His pass-blocking grade was much lower, making that one of the areas to watch as he transitions to Penn State.
Where he stands: Peoples enters a Penn State running back room that has been reshaped by the transfer portal and a new coaching staff.
He isn’t arriving as a mystery. He’s played in the Big Ten, produced in limited opportunities and shown enough explosiveness to create chunk plays when given space.
The question is how large his role becomes.
Ideally, Matt Campbell would love a rotation with Quinton Martin Jr. and leverage Carson Hansen in physical, short yardage situations along with grinding the clock out.
Peoples has the recruiting pedigree, size and rushing efficiency to push for carries. If he becomes more complete in pass protection and the receiving game, he could become more than a rotational back.
Penn State added experience to its offense this offseason.
Peoples is part of that.
