The Ohio State Buckeyes were crowned national champions for the ninth time in program history. Ryan Day’s squad has a chance to do something Ohio State has never done, which is win back-to-back titles. The closest the program has come was back in 1969 when an end-of-the-season loss to Michigan messed up what could have gone on to be three in a row as Woody Hayes’ teams won it all in 1968 and 1970. With what looks like to be well over a dozen NFL Draft picks now gone, the Buckeyes will look quite different, especially on defense. Ohio State freshmen just might have the opportunity to make their names known as soon as possible.
Spring practice is set to kick off Monday, and the Buckeyes are welcoming 21 early enrollees, led by a trio of five-star athletes. ESPN‘s Tom Luginbill and Craig Haubert looked at some of the top recruits and highlighted a few players who have a legitimate shot to make an early impact.
ESPN Expects a Few Ohio State Freshmen to Compete Quickly
Best In America
Between the three starting corners and two safeties, only Davison Igbinosun and Caleb Downs are set to return. Both are leaders and will likely end up playing on Sundays in 2026 (with Downs garnering serious top-10-pick hype). One safety and two cornerback spots are open for the new defensive coordinator, Matt Patricia.
At the corner position, Devin Sanchez could be the defense’s Jeremiah Smith with how he can step right up and make an impact. Luginbill and Haubert laud him for his confidence and how he shines in man coverage. The six-foot-two, 185-pound corner was widely considered the top corner in this recruiting class and a top-five talent regardless of position.
Faheem Delane was the other secondary piece mentioned and his positional flexibility will be intriguing. He can play both slot corner and safety and could take on that Jordan Hancock role with a strong Spring. He’s also six-foot-two and plays with the physicality of a scrappy vet already. If Patricia needs a guy who can come from the secondary to defend the run or surprise on a blitz, Delane may have packages tailored for him.
If there is a room that will be as competitive as the receivers, it’s the cornerbacks. Each year, the Ohio State freshmen corners come to town to compete. Sanchez and Delane have to battle it out with other top-rated players from their classes.
Big Shoes to Fill
For the first time since 2020, TreVeyon Henderson will not be on the roster. He and Quinshon Judkins are on their way to making NFL teams rather happy through the draft. With their exit, it leaves a massive hole at running back. As of now, it looks like James Peoples and West Virginia transfer CJ Donaldson are expected to lead the way. However, the Buckeyes took in a few talented running backs.
ESPN starts strong by comparing Anthony Rogers to Ezekiel Elliott. They go on to say his power and stature will allow him to grind out those tough, downhill yards. He has the talent, patience, and vision to excel as a counter runner for the Buckeyes this fall. However, one thing that may work against him for 2025 is the fact that he is not enrolling early.
In addition to Rogers, Bo Jackson, Jr. will compete for carries this Fall. Unlike his running mate, Jackson will be on campus for Spring practice. He’s a do-it-all kind of back insofar as he can hit the home run explosive play and churn out those tough, short-yardage/red zone carries.
Time will tell how similar the Brian Hartline-run offense is to Day’s or Chip Kelly’s. Oddly enough, the Buckeyes hovered around the 33 rushes per game mark over the last four seasons, regardless of who was calling plays. Kelly’s offense was a bit more efficient, earning about 30 more yards per game on the ground. Last year, three players ran the ball over 100 times, and one was a quarterback. So unless Julian Sayin turns into Justin Fields overnight, there may be plenty of opportunities for a third running back. Rogers and Jackson have the talent to shake things up from the jump.
Unlikely But Exciting to Think About
There is going to be an open quarterback battle kicking off this Spring. Redshirt freshman Sayin likely has the inside track based on the fact that he was the third quarterback last year, and both players ahead of him are gone. Coaches raved about his accuracy last Spring, and he evidently developed throughout the season. Lincoln Kienholz is the grizzled veteran of the group who has the benefit of being in the system the longest. However, Ohio State’s incoming freshman at the position could be the wild card.
Tavien St. Clair has been a Buckeye through and through ever since Day offered. He is a six-foot-four, 225-pound natural athlete who could make things very interesting with a strong Spring. Luginbill and Haubert compare the Bellefontaine standout to Anthony Richardson, but actually good at playing quarterback. We joked about Sayin turning into Fields, but St. Clair could be the closest. He’s a very different player than Sayin and Will Howard which could provide the Buckeyes with a fresh look at the position.
ESPN notes that St. Clair is a big, athletic quarterback who can make all of the throws. However, for as exciting of a prospect as he is, he is raw. At Bellefontaine, he was the definition of a big fish in a tiny pond. He did take a massive step forward in his senior season, so Day may have a true battle on his hands.
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