The echoes of a legendary name have returned to college football, but not in the way you might expect. When Ohio State Buckeyes running back Bo Jackson took the field during the 2025 Cotton Bowl College Football Playoff quarterfinal against Miami, fans across the nation did a double-take. Was the famous two-sport star Bo Jackson back? Not quite—but the story behind Ohio State’s newest breakout star is just as fascinating.
Let’s set the record straight: Ohio State’s Bo Jackson is not related to the iconic Bo Jackson of Auburn, Los Angeles Raiders, and Kansas City Royals fame. Nor is he tied to the Baltimore Ravens quarterback Lamar Jackson, despite those uncanny name similarities. According to ESPN and multiple reports, the Buckeyes’ Bo Jackson was born Lamar Jackson Jr. in Cleveland, Ohio. His father, also named Lamar Jackson, bestowed the nickname “Bo” upon him at an early age. The inspiration? None other than the original Bo Jackson, whose athletic dominance in both football and baseball left a lasting impression.
“Bo” just rolled off the tongue better than Lamar Jr., his father thought, and the name stuck—especially given young Jackson’s own prowess across multiple sports. “He was a star in both football and track, just like the original Bo Jackson,” Yahoo Sports reported, echoing the family’s admiration for the legendary athlete. And so, Bo Jackson of Ohio State was born—not by blood, but by nickname and ambition.
Jackson’s journey to Columbus was itself a tale of athletic excellence. Hailing from Villa Angela-St. Joseph High School in Cleveland, the same institution that produced Michigan Heisman Trophy winner Desmond Howard, Jackson quickly made a name for himself on the field, the track, and the baseball diamond. As a high school athlete, he was a 4-star running back prospect, ranked No. 10 nationally in the class of 2025 and No. 6 overall in Ohio according to the 247Sports Composite rankings. Offers poured in from powerhouse programs including Alabama, Georgia, Miami, Indiana, Michigan, Oregon, Notre Dame, Penn State, Tennessee, and even Auburn—the alma mater of the original Bo Jackson. Ultimately, he chose to stay close to home and don the scarlet and gray.
But Jackson wasn’t just a football star in his prep days. He was a multi-sport standout, echoing the versatility of his namesake. According to MaxPreps, he played baseball—leading the Cleveland area with a remarkable .542 batting average in the spring of his junior year. On the track, he was a state championship-level sprinter, holding school records in both the 100- and 200-meter events as of 2023. Athleticism, it seems, runs in the family—if not by lineage, then certainly by determination and drive.
Once he arrived at Ohio State, Jackson wasted little time making his mark. The 2025 season saw him emerge as a true freshman star in the Buckeyes’ backfield, breaking the 1,000-yard rushing barrier and earning second-team All-Big Ten honors. Entering the Cotton Bowl, Jackson had tallied 1,035 rushing yards, averaging an impressive 6.2 yards per carry and finding the end zone for six touchdowns. His breakout moment came in The Game against Michigan, where he posted a career-high 117 rushing yards—no small feat in one of college football’s fiercest rivalries.
The Cotton Bowl quarterfinal on December 31, 2025, added another highlight to his growing résumé. Jackson scored Ohio State’s first touchdown of the night against Miami, sending Buckeye fans into a frenzy and prompting yet another round of “Wait, did they say Bo Jackson?” from television announcers and viewers alike. With his speed, vision, and knack for finding gaps in the defense, Jackson has become a staple of the Buckeyes’ offense and a key factor in their consecutive College Football Playoff appearances.
Despite the confusion over his name, Jackson’s story is uniquely his own. The original Bo Jackson, whose given name is Vincent, hails from Bessemer, Alabama, and carved out a legendary path through both the NFL and MLB. Ohio State’s Bo Jackson, meanwhile, comes from the shores of Lake Erie, representing the best of Cleveland’s athletic tradition. And while their paths have never crossed, the younger Jackson’s admiration for the multi-sport star is evident in every stride he takes.
As for his father, Lamar Jackson, there’s no relation to the Baltimore Ravens’ quarterback of the same name. It’s simply a case of shared names in the world of sports, where coincidences sometimes lead to compelling narratives. According to My Name Stats, Jackson is the 23rd most popular family name in the United States—a fun fact that only adds to the tapestry of this story.
Jackson’s commitment to Ohio State was as much about loyalty as it was about opportunity. Despite interest from across the country, he chose to stay in his home state, playing for a program with a storied history and a passionate fan base. The Buckeyes, perennial contenders in the College Football Playoff, have found in Jackson not just a talented runner but a player whose work ethic and versatility embody the spirit of Ohio football.
“He’s a freshman star for the championship-contending Buckeyes,” noted The Sporting News, highlighting the impact Jackson has had in such a short time. His performance this season has not only justified the hype but also set the stage for even greater things to come.
For those wondering about the legacy of his high school, Villa Angela-St. Joseph has long been a cradle of athletic excellence. Producing talents like Desmond Howard and now Bo Jackson, the school sits proudly on the northeastern edge of Cleveland, just along Lake Erie—a fitting backdrop for a player whose journey is only beginning.
As the College Football Playoff continues, all eyes remain on Bo Jackson and the Buckeyes. Will he add another chapter to his growing legend? The action is ongoing, and if his freshman campaign is any indication, there’s plenty more excitement on the horizon for Ohio State fans and college football enthusiasts everywhere.
So, the next time you hear an announcer call out “Bo Jackson” in a Buckeye uniform, you’ll know the story behind the name—a tale of homage, hard work, and a young star blazing his own trail on the national stage.
