Bo Jackson of Ohio State links to CFB legend from high school, has unique name ties to MLB/NFL star.

Billy Heyen

Ohio State’s Bo Jackson is related to a CFB legend via high school, but has quirkier name connections to MLB/NFL superstar image

TL;DR

  • * Ohio State running back Bo Jackson's real name is Lamar Jackson, named after his father.
  • * His nickname "Bo" is an homage to the legendary two-sport athlete Bo Jackson.
  • * Despite the name, Lamar "Bo" Jackson is not related to the famous Bo Jackson or Ravens quarterback Lamar Jackson.
  • * Jackson attended Villa Angela-St.

Bo Jackson, the Ohio State running back, is actually named Lamar.

Bo is just a nickname.

That's right. The freshman phenom RB for the Buckeyes is named Lamar "Bo" Jackson. Not a bad name for a football player.

He actually has quite the connection through college football history that relates to his high school alma mater, too.

Here's what you have to know:

Is OSU's Bo Jackson kin to Bo Jackson?

No, Bo Jackson from Ohio State is not related to the two-sport legend.

Bo isn't even his first name, as mentioned above. It's just a nickname.

Ohio State's RB is really Lamar Jackson, which is also his father's name. But again, no relation to the Ravens quarterback.

Jackson's nickname of "Bo" is in homage to the one-time Heisman Trophy winner, though. The new Bo grew up as a multi-sport athlete, too, according to ESPN.

OSU's Bo Jackson's high school?

Lamar "Bo" Jackson is an Ohio kid.

He was a star in the Cleveland area at Villa Angela-St. Joseph, where he grew into a four-star recruit. Jackson picked the Buckeyes over Alabama and Georgia.

He's not the first notable college football grad of Villa Angela-St. Joseph. That title goes to Desmond Howard, the Michigan legend.

MORE: Indian Valley's Grady Kinsey has incredible case for Ohio Mr. Football

Billy Heyen

Billy Heyen is a freelance writer with The Sporting News. He is a 2019 graduate of Syracuse University who has written about many sports and fantasy sports for The Sporting News. Sports reporting work has also appeared in a number of newspapers, including the Sandusky Register and Rochester Democrat & Chronicle