SAN ANTONIO — Football has always been an escape for James Peoples. 

“The game offers a safe place,” Peoples said. “Some people have things that they exert their energies on when they don’t have much to do. Football was that thing for me and I love the sport because of that.” 

The San Antonio Veterans Memorial junior grew up playing the game as a wide receiver, but switched to his current running back position in junior high. 

“I feel like my love for the game and everything hasn’t changed. I still love the physicality,” Peoples said.

He’s now one of the best running backs in Texas and is a four-star prospect in the Class of 2024.

“My style of play is very versatile. Run, catch, all types of things. Outside zone, inside zone, wherever coach needs me to run that rock,” Peoples said. “I like hitting that A gap, B-gap, seeing how things open up.”

Peoples has already earned nearly 20 Division-I scholarship offers before the end of his junior season, including programs like Texas, Oklahoma and Ohio State.

He’s also got family ties to Ohio, where both of his parents are from. 

“It’s awesome, and it’s humbling at the same time,” Peoples said. “Whenever I go to a place, I always look for those little things that are on my checklist...of course family is up in Ohio, but that’s not the only thing that’s like going to maybe steer me that way. I gotta look into other things as well.”