Eric Boggs
After much anticipation and speculation swirling over the weekend, Ohio State University revealed late Monday evening that they have snagged a new running backs coach. Ryan Day, the head coach of the Buckeyes football team, has officially tapped former Oregon running backs coach Carlos Locklyn for the coveted position.
According to ESPN’s Pete Thamel, Locklyn has inked a two-year deal with the Buckeyes worth $650,000 a year. However, Ohio State will have to fork over $366,667 to Oregon as a buyout fee for acquiring Locklyn’s services. The delay in Locklyn’s appointment stemmed from his previous buyout amount of $733,333, which was slashed in half on Monday.
Locklyn’s track record speaks volumes. Under his tutelage, Oregon’s rushing offense soared, ranking sixth in the nation with an impressive 5.52 yards per carry in 2022, and climbing to third in 2023 with 5.91 yards per carry.
The seasoned coach steps into the shoes of longtime Buckeyes coach Tony Alford, who recently made a surprising move to archrival Michigan after an illustrious nine-year tenure in Columbus.
The more you delve into Locklyn’s background, the more admiration he commands. His journey in collegiate coaching began at Western Kentucky in 2021, where he cut his teeth as a running backs coach. Before landing in Oregon, Locklyn honed his skills as a weight room assistant at Memphis and served as a high relationship coordinator at Florida State.
But Locklyn’s passion for football transcends coaching. In his college years at Chattanooga in the late 90s, Locklyn himself was a gridiron warrior. Prior to delving into the college football realm, Locklyn dedicated his time to law enforcement and generously volunteered as a high school coach. The following quote was from anarticle written by Tyson Alger in The I-5 Corridor.
“I’m so focused on changing the narrative of what a running backs coach is in this profession. I’m passionate about this position. They don’t just hire anybody to coach quarterbacks or offensive linemen. In college, most RB coaches are viewed as recruiters, but everybody on your staff should be an elite recruiter because everybody should be out there focused on building relationships with these families.”
Carlos Locklyn
As Locklyn steps into his new role with the Buckeyes, Ohio State fans can expect an infusion of passion, dedication, and a relentless pursuit of excellence on and off the field.
