Spring practice is finished, and the transfer portal window has closed. Now is a good time to break down the Ohio State football roster as a whole.
Here are 43 thoughts on the Buckeyes’ 43 scholarship offensive players. Check back for the defense and special teams next week.
Quarterbacks
Kyle McCord, Jr.
McCord had a good spring and has the most experience in an Ohio State jersey. He started one game against Akron in 2021 and completed 13-of-18 passes for 319 yards and two touchdowns. He enters this season as a true junior, with two years of eligibility left. He has a strong arm with some nice touch on the ball, his touchdown to Carnell Tate in the spring game being the perfect example. He showed his ability to move in the pocket, too. He’s not as mobile as Devin Brown, but he can extend plays when he needs to.
Scale of 1-10: How excited are you about Carnell Tate? 💥@carnelltate_ x @OhioStateFB pic.twitter.com/yoZ70X7pFP
— Ohio State on BTN (@OhioStateOnBTN) April 15, 2023
Devin Brown, R-Fr.
Everybody wishes we got Brown vs. McCord in the spring game, but an injury to a finger on his throwing hand left Brown on the sideline. He’ll still be in a battle with McCord this summer. We don’t have a lot of live snaps to see what Brown is capable of, as he’s yet to throw a pass in a college game, but reporters did see snaps from him in practice. McCord has the stronger arm, but Brown has shown he has the arm talent to make the throws Ohio State needs from him. Could his ability to make more plays with his legs be the difference in the quarterback battle?
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Tristan Gebbia, Grad.
Gebbia transferred to Ohio State from Oregon State this winter knowing he wasn’t going to be asked to battle for the starting job. Still, he fills an important role for the Buckeyes. Coach Ryan Day wants a veteran quarterback in the room and got exactly that in Gebbia, a seventh-year senior who will be the third-string quarterback in the fall.
Lincoln Kienholz, Fr.
In the four-star 2023 signee, Ohio State got an elite athlete who played basketball and baseball and will arrive on campus this summer with no pressure to jump right onto the field. He’ll benefit from having a veteran like Gebbia in the room.
Running backs
TreVeyon Henderson, Jr.
Henderson couldn’t get healthy last year. He broke a bone in his foot in the third week of the season and never looked like himself despite trying to play. His explosiveness faded, and he couldn’t cut without feeling pain in his foot. Henderson can be one of the best running backs in the country. The key will be staying healthy. If he does, can he return to his freshman form that saw him explode onto the scene with 1,255 yards and an average of 6.8 yards per carry?
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Miyan Williams, Sr.
Williams’ growth last year was crucial. He battled injuries, like Henderson, but was the most consistent running back on the roster. He ran for 825 yards, 6.4 yards per carry and 14 touchdowns. Among FBS running backs with 100-plus rushes, Williams finished ninth with an average of 4.37 yards after contact, according to TruMedia. When both Williams and Henderson were healthy, the Buckeyes had a dynamic one-two combo. I expect the same this year, and Williams has a chance to further make a name for himself as an NFL prospect.
Dallan Hayden, Soph.
I don’t think anybody outside of the program saw the year Hayden had coming. He didn’t arrive until last summer, but Ohio State needed him and he delivered. He had 553 yards rushing and five touchdowns, including three 100-yard games. His 146-yard and three-touchdown performance against Maryland helped keep the Buckeyes undefeated going into the Michigan game. He’s not the home run threat that Henderson is, but he can be a consistent chain-mover.
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Chip Trayanum, Sr.
Trayanum is officially a running back and had a stellar spring. He transferred to Ohio State from Arizona State last year as a linebacker but switched positions because of injuries. He had a 65-yard touchdown run in the spring game and a few big runs throughout the practices. Because of the depth in the unit when healthy, it’s not clear where he fits into the running back rotation. He could be anywhere from third to fifth, depending on the health of Evan Pryor.
Evan Pryor, R-Soph.
Pryor didn’t participate in spring drills, so the hope is that he can get back on the field for the summer and preseason camp. If so, how fast can he acclimate and get back to the form that had so many people excited at this time last year?
Wide receivers
Marvin Harrison Jr., Jr.
The best wide receiver in the country is projected as the No. 2 pick in Dane Brugler’s initial 2024 mock draft after catching 77 passes for 1,263 yards and 14 touchdowns last year. Still, there are things he wants to improve. The 6-foot-4 Harrison wants to be better after the catch, for one. He averaged 4.19 yards after the catch, ranking No. 156 among wideouts with 40-plus catches, per TruMedia. He’s already frequently unstoppable — he burned Georgia with five receptions for 106 yards and two touchdowns before he left the Peach Bowl with a concussion — and adding more explosiveness could take him to an even higher level.
Emeka Egbuka, Jr.
If Harrison is the No. 1 wide receiver in college football, Egbuka has an argument for No. 2. He caught 74 passes for 1,151 yards and 10 touchdowns last year but was overlooked at times. He played in the slot and outside, excelling at both. He also can return kickoffs and punts. There might not be a more well-rounded receiver in the country.
Julian Fleming, Sr.
Fleming missed the first two games of 2022, but when he got back he was a good complement to Harrison and Egbuka. He had 34 catches for 553 yards and six touchdowns, averaging 15.7 yards per catch. He scored a touchdown in his first five games of the season and didn’t score in the final six. Though he missed spring practice, he is a breakout candidate in 2023 as he searches for more consistency.
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Xavier Johnson, Grad.
Ohio State’s biggest X-factor, Johnson played receiver and running back last year. Once a walk-on, Johnson has solidified himself as an impact player after catching 13 passes for 151 yards and rushing 12 times for 146 yards. He’s going to be in the rotation at receiver and is just too dynamic to keep off the field.
Jayden Ballard, R-Soph.
If it wasn’t for Tate, I’d be saying that Ballard had the best spring of anybody. A speedy receiver with strong hands, Ballard showed that often this spring. He impressed at pro day when catching the ball for C.J. Stroud and then carried that into spring practice. If he can have a strong performance in the preseason, he could give the Buckeyes a rotation that is at least five deep.
Carnell Tate, Fr.
The hype around Tate is real. I wouldn’t be surprised if the 6-foot-2 freshman finds a way to make an immediate impact. He makes contested catches, he runs smooth routes and he has no problem getting separation. He had three receptions for 45 yards in the spring game and showed in practices that he can move around the formation.
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Kyion Grayes, R-Fr.
Grayes played just 16 snaps last season and had some good moments in the spring. Right now, it’s just about making a difference in the summer and preseason camp to inch up the crowded depth chart.
Kojo Antwi, R-Fr.
The 5-foot-11 Antwi is in his second year waiting his turn in a loaded receiving corps. I’m not sure there’s a path to the field right now, but he had some impressive moments this spring.
Noah Rogers, Fr.
His 57-yard touchdown in the spring game was impressive because of the way he kept his balance. He had to stretch for the catch, looked like he was stumbling and did enough to get through two tackles and reach the end zone. He might not see the field this year in the top rotation, but it was a good start to the early enrollee’s career.
Bryson Rodgers, Fr.
Another one of the first-year receivers pushing the second-year group, Rodgers still has room to grow but had a stellar first spring.
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Brandon Inniss, Fr.
We haven’t seen Inniss yet, but if everybody is right about him, I’d expect the five-star recruit to push the second-year group.
Tight ends
Cade Stover, Sr.
Stover returns as one of the best tight ends in the country with his mix of blocking and pass-catching ability. He had 406 yards and five touchdowns last season and will continue to have a prominent role in the offense. Another strong season will help Stover draw a lot of NFL Draft interest.
Gee Scott Jr., R-Jr.
Scott needed to improve his blocking this offseason. Though that’s hard to get a gauge on in the spring, he’ll always be a useful pass-catching target at tight end. He’ll be battling Joe Royer throughout the preseason for the backup spot.
Joe Royer, R-Jr.
Royer was on just about every breakout candidate list heading into the spring and performed well. The second tight end spot will come down to preference for coach Keenan Bailey and offensive coordinator Brian Hartline. Royer can be a reliable option in the passing game if Ohio State uses more 12 personnel.
Jelani Thurman, Fr.
The No. 3 tight end recruit in the Class of 2023, Thurman absolutely looks the part. At 6 feet 6, he moves well and has shown pretty good hands. He’s a plug-and-play red zone threat right now, but how much we’ll see him will be based on how fast he adjusts to the physicality of blocking at Ohio State. His future is bright.
Sam Hart, R-Soph.
Hart made a few nice plays this spring. If Ohio State does roll with more tight ends this year, Hart could see the field in some blocking situations again.
Bennett Christian, R-Fr.
Christian faces a crowded path to the field for now but provides some depth in a loaded position group.
Offensive line
Donovan Jackson, Jr.
A potential top-15 pick in next year’s NFL Draft, Jackson is the linchpin in this year’s offensive line and one of the best guards in the country. Playing alongside Paris Johnson Jr. benefited him, and now he’ll be expected to become a consistent leader with a new tackle and center playing next to him. If he can do that, expect his draft stock to rise and the postseason accolades to come in, as well.
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Matthew Jones, Grad.
Jones returned for a sixth season, meaning the Buckeyes have both of their starting guards back. Jones and Jackson are going to have to be the leaders on and off the field to help the offensive line maximize its potential.
Josh Fryar, R-Jr.
Fryar has the starting left tackle job all but locked down. He wasn’t perfect in the spring, but the potential is evident. It comes down to consistency. Nobody is thinking he’ll be Paris Johnson 2.0, but he can be a serviceable tackle.
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Carson Hinzman, R-Fr.
Hinzman started gaining notice during Peach Bowl prep and carried that momentum into a strong spring. He’s not perfect, but he received most of the first-team reps at center. Expect the competition to continue into preseason camp when Jakob James is healthy too.
Enokk Vimahi, R-Sr.
We saw a lot of Vimahi as the third guard in the spring, with Ohio State rotating him to the first team when it sat Jackson. I thought there was a chance Ohio State would start Vimahi at right guard and move Jones to center, but that hasn’t come to fruition. Either way, he’s a capable rotation player on the interior of the line.
Victor Cutler, Sr.
Ohio State brought in Cutler from Louisiana Monroe to add depth and compete at center. He’s done that. Cutler and Hinzman will continue to battle, though I think Hinzman has the inside track at the moment.
Tegra Tshabola, R-Fr.
I thought Tshabola was very good at right tackle in the spring game. He had a block that sprung Trayanum’s long touchdown run and held up fairly well in pass blocking.
Zen Michalski, R-Soph.
There was a point this spring when I thought Michalski was going to be the guy at right tackle. I just think he’s been too inconsistent. Still, the battle is far from over. With San Diego State transfer Josh Simmons coming in, there’s going to be a fierce competition for the position. Michalski, now in his third year, will be in the thick of it.
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Josh Simmons, R-Soph.
Simmons is Ohio State’s newest offensive lineman as a post-spring transfer from San Diego State. He is going to come in and compete for the starting right tackle spot, even if he struggled last year as a redshirt freshman starter for the Aztecs. He did, however, finish the year strong, not allowing a sack or quarterback hit in the final four games, per PFF. The potential is there, and Ohio State’s development could be a difference-maker. He’ll push Michalski and Tshabola this summer.
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Jakob James, R-Jr.
James didn’t participate in the spring practice but is going to get a chance to compete at center once he gets healthy.
George Fitzpatrick, R-Fr.
Fitzpatrick took nearly every snap as the backup left tackle in the spring. I think he’s pretty solidified in that spot unless Fryar gets injured.
Trey Leroux, R-Jr.
Leroux is entering his fourth year at Ohio State and wasn’t brought up much during the spring. I’m not sure there’s a path to the field this year unless something drastically changes.
Grant Toutant, R-Jr.
He’s entering his fourth year and didn’t play a snap last season. I just don’t see room for him in the rotation right now.
Luke Montgomery, Fr.
Fitzpatrick got more time with the second team at left tackle than Montgomery this spring. That’s no surprise, given that those were the true freshman’s first reps at Ohio State, though he did come in as the team’s highest-rated offensive line signee in the 2023 class.
Joshua Padilla, Fr.
Nobody expected Padilla to come in and break into the rotation right away. He’ll need time to acclimate to college ball and compete for a role down the line.
Austin Siereveld, Fr.
Like Padilla and Montgomery, Siereveld wasn’t expected to come in and break the two-deep. Give it time.
Miles Walker, Fr.
Another true freshman who is just getting his feet wet on the offensive line. We’ll come back to him.
(Top photo of Kyle McCord and Miyan Williams: Ben Jackson / Getty Images)