Ohio State is expected to be one of the top two teams when the preseason rankings are released, battling Georgia State for the title of the most talented team in the country.
After a disappointing 2023 season, Ohio State returns most of its junior class and adds an elite transfer student, and this season looks to be a make-it-or-break-it national championship season.
Where does the most talent reside? With preseason camp fast approaching, let's rank the Buckeyes' position units based on talent, depth and production.
1. Defensive back
Notable departures: Josh Proctor, Jahad Carter
Notable returnees: Denzel Burke, Davison Igbinosun, Jordan Hancock, Lathan Ransom and Jermaine Matthews Jr.
New Arrivals: Caleb Downs, Aaron Scott, Bryce West, Miles Lockhart, Jalen McClain, Leroy Roker, Keenan Nelson Jr.
Picking between the defensive line and secondary is a tough choice, but Ohio State had the best pass defense in the country last season, with their only big loss being Proctor. In place of Proctor, the Buckeyes went with Downs, a transfer from Alabama who was one of the best defensive players in the country as a freshman. As good as Proctor was, Downs is another level up. Ohio State will pair Downs with Lathan Ransom to form the best safety duo in the country.
Ohio State didn't lose any of its cornerback production, returning the best trio in the country with Burke and Igbinosun on the outside and Hancock at nickel. The addition of Matthews off the bench, coupled with the addition of Downs, puts the combination of returning experience and talent over the top in the secondary.
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2. Defensive Line
Notable departures: Michael Hall Jr.
Notable returnees: Jack Sawyer, JT Tuimoloau, Tyrick Williams, Ty Hamilton, Kenyatta Jackson Jr., Kayden Curry, Hero Kanu
New Arrivals: Edric Huston, Dominic Kirks, Eric Mensa
Losing Hall will be a blow, but it shouldn't be too big a blow to a team that is blessed with plenty of experience, depth and talent.
Tuimoloau and Sawyer are two of the best edge rushers in the country, especially since Sawyer became more and more dominant as last season went on. In the final eight games, he recorded 10 tackles for loss and 6.5 sacks. Jackson and Curry are talented second-team options that can give Tuimoloau and Sawyer some breathing room at times.
The interior is also loaded. Williams is coming off a strong junior season and could be an All-American candidate, and Hamilton is poised to take a step up with him. They'll need depth to continue to grow, but there's no denying the amount of talent in this group, arguably the best defensive line in the country.
JT Tuimoloau and Jack Sawyer form one of the best defensive end duos in the nation. (Michael Reeves/Getty Images)
3. Running back
Notable departures: Miyan Williams, Darran Hayden, Chip Treynham
Notable returnees: Trevyon Henderson
New Arrivals: Quintion Judkins, James Peoples, Sam Williams Dixon
With the transfers of Williams and Treianum, there was some concern going into the offseason that the running back depth would be compromised, especially given Henderson's injury history. But with Henderson back in the lineup, plus the addition of Judkins, a two-time 1,000-yard rusher from the SEC in University of Mississippi, the Buckeyes instantly created the nation's best tailback tandem. The two are the best running backs in the country and should complement each other well while limiting wear and tear.
Based on talent alone, no running back corps can compare to Ohio State's, but I still rank them third in terms of talent in the secondary and defensive line and depth in the backfield. With Haden gone, the Buckeyes will have to rely on two freshmen in Peoples and Williams-Dixon if any of them get injured at the top of their depth.
Both freshmen are talented, but it's too early to know which one will be ready to contribute right away.
4. Wide receiver
Notable departures: Marvin Harrison Jr., Julian Fleming, Xavier Johnson
Notable returnees: Emeka Egbuka, Colonel Tate, Jayden Ballard, Brandon Innis
New Arrivals: Mylan Graham, Jeremiah Smith
While a player like Harrison is impossible to replace, the Buckeyes have plenty of talent waiting to make a name for themselves. Egbuka is a big name and a Biletinov Award candidate desperate for a strong season this year after battling injuries last season. If he can get back to form in 2022, he could be a first-round draft pick.
After Egbuka, all eyes will be on the young players who are likely to emerge. Sophomore Tate is poised to break out. Innis, if he can get through the preseason healthy, should be an intriguing weapon for Ryan Day and Chip Kelly to use in the slot. And then there's spring freshman sensation Smith. Smith, the No. 1 player in the 2024 freshman class, looks poised to take the bulk of snaps starting in Week 1. If camp is good, he'll likely vault into the starting lineup.
This isn't the same group as last year, but they still have a chance to finish the season as one of the best in the country despite losing two-time All-American Harrison.
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5. Linebacker
Notable departures: Tommy Eikenberg, Steel Chambers
Key returning players: Cody Simon, Sonny Styles, CJ Hicks
New Arrivals: Peyton Pierce, Garrett Stover.
Linebacker is a good and bad position this year. The Buckeyes lost two starters in Chambers and Eikenberg, both of whom played over 500 innings last season. No one can replace someone with that kind of experience. But there are obvious upsides to the position, with Cody Simon poised to take over as a starter. Hicks and Stiles don't have much experience at linebacker, but they're athletic and talented enough to be impact players before the season ends. The two are the Buckeyes' top recruits in the 2022 class and top-30 players in the country.
His ability to play both sides simultaneously and utilize disruptive coverage and blitz play should give the defense versatility. This linebacker corps may struggle early in the season, but the top three have enough talent and experience that it will be exciting to see what they can do after a few weeks of playing together.
6. Tight end
Notable departures: Cade Stover
Notable returnees: G Scott Jr., Jelani Thurman, Ben Christian
New Arrivals: Will Kacmarek, Max LeBlanc, Damarion Witten
Stover made a big impact last year, playing 597 snaps on offense for 576 yards and five touchdowns. Replacing him won't be easy, but Scott is eager for a chance to lead the tight ends. He's a natural pass-catching adept. Ohio State won't ask him to replace everything Stover did last year, but the other players don't have as much experience.
Thurman is talented and physically strong, Christian returns after missing all of last season due to suspension, and Kacmarek would add some much-needed blocking to the run game.
Like the linebackers, there is talent here but it's unproven and we won't get a full look at its potential until the season begins. For the tight ends, this seems like a bridge season to the future.
7. Quarterback
Notable departures: Kyle McCord
Notable returnees: Devin Brown, Lincoln Kienholtz
New Arrivals: Will Howard, Air Noland, Julian Sayne
As with last preseason, there is uncertainty at quarterback. McCord narrowly beat out Brown for the starting spot in the 2023 offseason but ended up transferring to Syracuse. The leading candidate to replace him is Howard, the former Kansas State starting quarterback.
I wanted to rank the offensive line above the quarterback this year, but I'm leaning toward the quarterback because of the depth of the roster. I'm confident Howard can get the offense going and lead Ohio State back to the Big Ten Conference championship game, especially with the strength of the defense he has on the other team.
But the best thing about this team is its youth. Ohio State has five quarterbacks in the starting lineup, including Sain, the top-ranked 2024 quarterback who transferred from Alabama after Nick Saban's retirement, Noland, the No. 4-ranked 2024 quarterback, and Kienholz, a promising redshirt freshman.
Ohio State's quarterback future is bright, but there's too much uncertainty right now to move the position group any higher.
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8. Offensive Line
Notable departures: Matt Jones
Notable returnees: Donovan Jackson, Josh Fryer, Josh Simmons, Tegla Tsabola, Carson Hinzman
New Arrivals: Seth McLaughlin, Deonte Armstrong, Devonte Armstrong, Ian Moore, Gabe VanSickle
The offensive line has ranked last for two straight years, but there is more confidence in this group now than there was a year ago. Simmons, Jackson, McLaughlin and Fryer are the four that are fit to start the season. The question is where Fryer will play and who will add in as a fifth lineman. Ohio State didn't dip its toe in the portal in the spring, which is a sign the Buckeyes couldn't find a better player than what they already have.
One of the biggest concerns is depth. The Buckeyes missed out on some great offensive linemen in recent cycles and, while talented, haven't landed the kind of top-tier talent they've acquired at most other positions. This group, while smaller than a year ago, still has big question marks.
(Top photo of Davison Igbinosun and Jordan Hancock: Robin Allam/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images)
