James Peoples has been buried on the depth chart since arriving at Ohio State in 2024. He will look to catch the attention of scouts quickly after landing with Big Ten rival Penn State in the transfer portal. His explosiveness and contact balance out of the backfield could help the Nittany Lions get back on track in 2026. As we enter the summer portion of the 2027 NFL Draft cycle, this article will assess Peoples ahead of his junior season.
James Peoples 2027 NFL Draft Early Scouting Report
Career Statistics
- 546 Rushing Yards
- 4.9 Yards Per Attempt
- 24.6 Yards Per Game
- 5 Touchdowns, 0 Fumbles
- 30 Missed Tackles Forced
- 386 Yards After Contact
- 75.4 Average Offensive Grade (Pro Football Focus)
- 77.9 Average Rushing Grade (Pro Football Focus)
- 58.7 Average Receiving Grade (Pro Football Focus)
Player Background
Peoples enjoyed a highly productive high school career in San Antonio, Texas. His 38 touchdowns across two seasons earned him an invite to the All-American Bowl in 2024, where he participated alongside the likes of Jeremiah Smith, Ryan Wingo, and fellow running back prospect, Nate Frazier. After his performance at the prep level, Peoples was given a four-star rating and considered the seventh-best running back in the 2024 recruiting class, according to 24/7 Sports. He received offers from massive programs like Oklahoma, Alabama, and Oregon but ultimately committed to Ohio State.
With TreVeyon Henderson and Quinshon Judkins, the Buckeyes were only able to give Peoples limited run in their backfield. On the way to a National Championship, he posted just 197 yards and two touchdowns while his three touchdowns and 349 yards in 2025 were slightly more productive. After entering the portal as a three-star transfer and the 25th-ranked running back, Peoples landed with the Nittany Lions. He brings two years of eligibility to Penn State and will likely fight for the starting role in Matt Campbell’s offense.
Best Tools for James Peoples
- Close to perfect build for a running back at 5’10”, 214 lbs.; he uses his bigger frame to shield and protect the football which allows him to limit fumbles (zero career fumbles)
- Showcased an impressive combination of moves to put six points on the board against UCLA — did a great job of reading his blockers before hesitating and hurdling a defender
- Ideal pad level when running that forces defenders into a backpedal when engaged in tackle battles
- Ability to pinball off of defenders at the second level while keeping his stride against arm tackles/lower-half tackles
Penn State running back James Peoples… very good at football pic.twitter.com/WeUUki04ko
— The Basic Blues Podcast (@BasicBluesPod) January 7, 2026
Tools to Improve for James Peoples
- Pass protection technique is severely underdeveloped; feet are moving even when he meets defenders which limits his ability to anchor
- When the front wins, it feels as though Peoples has little ability to salvage yards by making defensive linemen miss in a phone booth
- Little to no experience as a pass catcher with little production on tape to prove he can grow into a role back on third down
- Lack of overall experience makes it difficult to evaluate a former top prospect and highly touted high school recruit
Early Player Summary
James Peoples has been a productive college running back on a yards-per-attempt basis. He averages nearly five yards every time he touches the ball and possesses special explosiveness to force missed tackles. That being said, this is still a tough evaluation. There isn’t much to project from and when he has gotten an extended look (Texas in 2025), he has struggled to showcase his skills.
A featured role in Penn State’s offense will be there for the taking in 2026. Carson Hansen, an Iowa State transfer, will be the only one preventing Peoples from being named the starting running back. At the worst, he should rotate in on a down-to-down basis but with another lacklustre season, his draft stock could plummet even further.
