Ohio State continued to add to its top-rated 2025 recruiting class on Sunday, securing a commitment from Philadelphia St. Joseph’s Prep School three-star running back Isaiah West (5-11, 208).
West, who hails from the same high school as both former Ohio State wide receiver Marvin Harrison Jr. and quarterback Kyle McCord, is the nation’s 526th-best player, 44th-best running back and 16th-best player out of Pennsylvania in the class. He served as a reliable runner out of the backfield for St. Joseph’s Prep during his sophomore season, totaling 861 yards from scrimmage and 10 touchdowns to help the Hawks go 13-1 and secure a Pennsylvania Interscholastic Athletic Association Class 6A state championship.
West committed to Ohio State on his official visit that took place this weekend, ending an eventful recruitment for the three-star that increasingly turned in the the Buckeyes’ and Locklyn’s favor as summer neared. The St. Joe’s product, despite beinh committed to Kentucky at the time, took an unofficial visit to Ohio State on May 12. That visit changed the tide for West in his recruitment, as just two days later he decommitted from Kentucky, only to end up with the Scarlet and Gray just over one month later.
The commitment of West continues an active recruiting cycle for new Ohio State running backs coach Carlos Locklyn, who has already secured a pledge from Cleveland Villa St. Angela-St. Joseph four-star Bo Jackson (6-0, 205) on June 4.
Locklyn, who has most recently been seen displaying his hard-nosed coaching philospophy while working with running back recruits who attended Ohio State’s football camps last week, may also be looking to add a third tailback to the class in the near future. He has also developed relationships with Santa Ana (Calif.) Mater Dei four-star Jordan Davison (6-0, 235) and Fort Lauderdale (Fla.) American Heritage four-star Byron Louis (5-11, 200), among some others.
West is now the 16th commitment in a well-stocked Buckeye 2025 class that ranks first in 247Sports team rankings with 284.63 points ahead of Notre Dame (264.56) and Alabama (248.12). He is also the first three-star to commit to Ohio State in this class as well as the seventh offensive player to pledge, joining Bellefontaine, Ohio five-star quarterback Tavien St. Clair (6-4, 225), Jackson, Wayne (N.J.) DePaul Catholic four-star wide receiver De’Zie Jones (6-0, 180), Toledo Whitmer four-star offensive tackle Carter Lowe (6-5, 290), Oradell (N.J.) Bergen Catholic four-star wide receiver Quincy Porter (6-3, 190) and Washington, Okla., four-star tight end Nate Roberts (6-4, 235).
