CLEVELAND, Ohio — When Lamar “Bo” Jackson walked onto a high school football field three years ago as a freshman, Villa Angela-St. Joseph coach Jeff Rotsky already knew he could grow into what he is becoming: a 6-foot running back with a blend of speed and power headed to Ohio State.
Rotsky already coached two of Jackson’s older brothers, Omari and Ty Howard. Jackson’s father, Lamar, is a freshman coach for him at VASJ.
Of course, Rotsky watched Jackson play as a middle schooler while he coached those older brothers.
“Every once in a blue moon, you see a kid who is flat out different,” Rotsky said Tuesday evening after Jackson announced his commitment to the Buckeyes. “But what I believe makes Bo special is he can run it hard, to the edge, between the tackles and 100 yards. But what separates him is he has the best ball skills I’ve ever seen in a running back.”
Rotsky has coached his share of “special” football players, including Travis Kelce at Cleveland Heights and Bam Childress at Bedford Chanel.
Jackson is now following Childress’ footsteps to Columbus, becoming the 13th member of the Buckeyes’ 2025 recruiting class. He is the first running back in that group, which includes five-star quarterback Tavien St. Clair of Bellefontaine and Toledo Whitmer offensive tackle Carter Lowe. Jackson is the third to commit from Northeast Ohio, joining Archbishop Hoban linebacker Eli Lee and St. Ignatius safety Cody Haddad.
Alabama, Georgia, Michigan and Notre Dame were among all of the big schools after Jackson, who weighs 205 pounds and held a four-star rating from most recruiting services. He was ranked as high as 85th nationally by 247Sports, and considered an athlete because of his versatility at VASJ.
Rotsky confirmed Ohio State recruited him to play running back.
“Bo did it right,” the coach said. “He spent hours upon hours meeting and talking. He did it almost scientifically. He’s such a humble kid. He doesn’t speak much. He speaks with his work ethic.”
Jackson took his official visit Friday before giving Ohio State coach Ryan Day his commitment.
“Pretty much his whole message is that he wants me there and that they’re really interested in me,” Jackson told On3 about Day. “And Ohio State is home. My parents like him a lot.”
He will be the third son of Lamar and Andrea Jackson to head to college, with Ty currently playing linebacker at Duquesne and Omari pursuing his master’s degree.
With Bo, Ohio State added the running back it missed last month when Cleveland Heights’ Marquise Davis picked Kentucky shortly after the Buckeyes lost running backs coach Tony Alford to Michigan. While Davis is a returning Mr. Football finalist in the state, rushing for 2,228 yards and 35 touchdowns, Jackson is of similar potency.
As a junior last fall, he totaled 1,700 yards with 28 touchdowns on just 114 touches while splitting carries in the backfield and doubling as a linebacker and safety. VASJ finished 9-4 and reached the OHSAA Division III regional semifinals.
While Jackson shared carries the last two years with Amani Powell, Rotsky anticipates him carrying a greater load this fall for the Vikings. Powell has graduated, but VASJ has three returning starters on the offensive line, led by another Division I college prospect in Robert Smith at guard. The Vikings also can stretch the field with 6-4 receiver Brian Kortovich, who also is a Division I college prospect.
Smith has upcoming visits with Cincinnati and Boston College. Kortovich is slated to see Purdue.
Rotsky plans to take his team on camp tours next week.
“The school up north is our first visit,” he said with a laugh. “Then Findlay and Bowling Green.”
Jackson no longer has to worry about those. His college destination is set, and so are the comparisons sure to come with the last Bo Jackson, who starred at Auburn in the 1980s before becoming a two-sport star in the NFL and Major League Baseball.
“It’s going to be fun how the name Bo Jackson comes back alive in college football,” Rotsky said. “Now he can be a 17-year-old kid, one of our captains and enjoy his senior year.”
Contact sports reporter Matt Goul on X (@mgoul), Threads (@mgoul) or email (mgoul@cleveland.com).
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