The Ohio State Buckeyes were frequently featured in CBS Sports' list of the 100 best players in college football.
The seven members of the Buckeyes have performed almost evenly on offense and defense, and are among the top stars in the country heading into the 2024 season. Here are the Scarlet and Gray players receiving their awards from CBS Sports' Blake Brockermeyer.
No. 12 – Quinshon Judkins, RB
The duo of Judkins and fellow Buckeyes running back Treveyon Henderson is considered by many to be the best in the country.
“Judkins is the most important part of Ole Miss' explosive offense and the bell tower of another loaded offense in Columbus,” Brockermeyer said.
No. 19 – Caleb Downs, S
Caleb Downs will play a key role in Ohio State's secondary this season, adding youth to the area and sending much of that depth to the 2025 NFL Draft.
“Downs is not only a good all-around player, both in coverage and in run support in the box, but he also plays with a lot of intelligence,” Brockermeyer said. “Downs will make an immediate impact on a loaded Ohio State defense and will take an even bigger leap forward in his first year.”
No.38 – Jack Sawyer, EDGE
Jack Sawyer was one of the players many Ohio State fans expected to be drafted after the team's humiliating loss in the 2023 Cotton Bowl. Instead, Sawyer's decision to stay with the Buckeyes maintains a veteran presence on the defensive end.
No.39 – Emeka Egbuka, WR
Emeka Egbuka now assumes the leadership chair with the most experience in this group of pass catchers without Marvin Harrison Jr. and Julian Fleming.
“This guy is going to be the WR1 on 99.9 percent of teams, but OSU continues to bring in some of the top talent in the country to take away some of his touches,” Bookermeier said. He is a good route runner and does damage in the open field, even though he lacks elite speed. ”
No. 51 – Treveyon Henderson, RB
As mentioned, Ohio State fans have high expectations for Henderson and Judkins. As it turns out, so is Brockermeyer.
“Trevayon Henderson is a fluid back with great vision and incredible speed who can be a home run hitter as both a runner and receiver,” Brockermeyer said. “This is probably one of the best thunder and lightning combinations we've seen in a while.”
No. 81 – Denzel Burke, CB
Burke's college days were filled with injuries and disappointing times. However, the senior is poised to enter the NFL on track next season.
“I don't know if Denzel Burke is a superstar. That's where he was headed after his freshman season, but he put together a resilient junior season,” Brockermeyer said. “He's a great addition to an Ohio State defense that's really stingy and works well as a team.”
No. 92 – Seth McLaughlin, OC
McLaughlin, a new member of Ohio State's offensive line, has had no trouble adjusting to his new team. The former University of Alabama center is also prepared to remain a starter, even if he wears a different uniform.
“McLaughlin plays with a high IQ and does a good job of organizing safeguards to get everyone on the same page,” Brockermeyer said. “He’s great in both run and pass protection.”
