The first Quick Hits of preseason camp is here.
Following Ohio State's second preseason practice, offensive coordinator Brian Hartline, defensive coordinator Matt Patricia and six Buckeye receivers – Jeremiah Smith, Carnell Tate, Brandon Inniss, Mylan Graham, David Adolph and Bryson Rodgers – met with reporters on the Woody Hayes Athletic Center indoor practice field.
Among the topics discussed, Hartline said he's looking for consistency from Julian Sayin and Lincoln Kienholz as Ohio State's quarterback battle continues. Patricia said Larry Johnson has the Buckeyes' defensive tackle depth "going in the direction we need them to" and Smith said he's "definitely hungry" to face Texas in the season opener.
Videos, quotes and bullets from all of our interviews are below.
Brian Hartline
“You consistently make the play, consistently communicate, consistently loud, consistently have energy, consistently prepare well – whatever that is. The consistency level of anybody ultimately dictates your identity.”– Brian Hartline on what he wants to see from Ohio State’s quarterbacks
- On the leadership in his wide receiver room: “Brandon has always been a big part of our receiver room culturally. He drives it. He helps run it. Carnell has taken a big role in that as well this year. Frankly, all of those guys are stepping up. I mean, Carnell, JJ, David Adolph, you know, these are guys that have made progressions from a leadership standpoint.”
- On the areas Smith can improve in 2025: “You can’t put him on a pedestal. He does not want that. So, him being held accountable, you know, there have been opportunities (for him) to maybe finish more without the ball in his hands, turn up the field. I identify it; he applies it.”
- Hartline brought the wide receiver room to the Kinsale Golf and Fitness Club pool last month. He said the water basketball games were as competitive as can be. “We were literally trying to drown each other to win. … There were no fouls. We just wanted to know who could execute and make the plays, coaches included. … It was a lot of fun.”
Matt Patricia
“I think that pressure is on them. I think they feel it. Coach Johnson is the best there is, and he’s got them going in the direction we need them to. We need to see that tomorrow when we put the pads on.”– Matt Patricia on Ohio State’s defensive tackle depth
- Patricia said Caleb Downs’ versatility has allowed him to evaluate more players in the safety room. “Caleb is such a versatile player. … You can move him into different spots to give other guys the chance to get on the field. … I feel like that room is really working. I feel like there are some good, young guys who have an opportunity to step up and contribute. Having (Caleb) move around is good for us to be able to evaluate those guys.”
- Patricia is excited to see Ohio State’s defensive ends in action this fall. “You can never have enough pass rush. I think that’s always a great theory as a defensive coach. Certainly, the best coverage is a pass rush. We want to get there as much as we can. Those guys have some position flex. … The more of those guys you can get on the field, the faster you can become in the pass rush game.”
- On Ohio State’s defensive tackle depth: “It goes back to the spring and then really the summer. In the summer, those guys had a different mindset to come in and work. Coach Mick (Marotti) really pushed their bodies to work on getting stronger and use the leverage they have. That’s what we’re looking for now. It’s hard without pads on to get a good judge on that. We’ll get a good look at it as we put them on tomorrow.”
Jeremiah Smith
“I'm definitely hyped about this one, especially with how things went last year — things people saying about me, about that game I had last year. … I'm definitely hungry for this one.”– Jeremiah Smith on facing Texas in the season opener
- On Tez Johnson’s comments about Jeremiah Smith’s performance in Ohio State vs. Oregon Rose Bowl: “I just laughed at it. … I’ve had people sending it to me, tagging me on Instagram and social media and stuff like that. I really just laughed at it. Nothing too personal.”
- Smith said it’s been hard for him to adjust to being a superstar. “I’m still young, so I’m still trying to figure it out.” Smith shared that he used to always go to the grocery store with his parents growing up, but now he can’t do that in Columbus. “It’s been pretty hard for me to adjust to that type of stuff.”
- Smith said there were games last season in which he "hesitated" and didn't always play as fast as he's capable of playing. Entering 2025, he has complete confidence in himself and wants to show what he can do at full speed. "It's gonna be scary this year," he said.
Carnell Tate
“This is not last year’s team. We got a lot of young guys. We got to grow up as a team, become more mature and take that next step.”– Carnell Tate on where the 2025 Buckeyes can grow
- Tate said he first recognized his need to fill a leadership role during spring practice: “Emeka (Egbuka) was gone, Jack (Sawyer) was gone, JT (Tuimoloau) was gone, the entire voice of the team was gone. … We always need someone to encourage us, somebody to pick us up when the energy is low. We always need that guy.”
- Tate sees greatness in five-star freshman Quincy Porter: “Quincy is a dog. He’s getting his feet settled in, making plays out there. He’s gonna be really good.”
- On Brandon Inniss’ leadership and impact on the receiver room: “He’s a very important guy. His energy is off the charts. You can see on the catch that JJ made (against Notre Dame) on third down, you look on the sideline and BI was damn near 10 feet in the air jumping up and down celebrating. He’s tremendous to all of us. Whenever someone makes a play, he’s always there to support us.”
Brandon Inniss
“I feel like my time is finally here. I know what I can do and I know my teammates believe in me. I’m ready for the moment.”– Brandon Inniss on being a projected starter for Ohio State’s offense this year
- Inniss said his first two years at Ohio State were very informative for him because he had never been a backup his entire life and had the opportunity to watch, learn and grow after playing with several talented wideouts.
- During Caleb Downs’ punt return touchdown last season, Inniss says you can see him sprinting down the sideline in celebration of Ohio State’s first special teams touchdown since 2014. Inniss said many of his friends still send him that clip to this day.
- Inniss says Ohio State’s wide receiver room often depends on him to be a vocal leader considering that Carnell Tate and Jeremiah Smith are more on the quiet side typically.
- Inniss pushes Tate and Smith hard because he “knows how great they can be.”
- Caleb Downs called out OSU’s offensive play in a scrimmage setting pre-snap on Friday, and Inniss shook his head and said “Damn, it’s not gonna work.” Inniss called Downs a defensive coordinator on the field.
Mylan Graham
“I’ve been in the program a year now, so I kind of know how things go. I’m just looking to help out the team.” – Mylan Graham and how he’s approaching fall camp
- Graham says realistic expectations for himself for 2025 are to help out the team however he can, whether that be on offense or special teams.
- Most of Graham’s learning curve came from last fall, but by the time he got to spring practice, he said everything had become second nature to him.
- Graham said he learned how to be a pro from Emeka Egbuka in Ohio State’s championship season and hopes to return the favor for younger receivers as he gets older.
- According to Graham, Brian Hartline spends more time with the offense as a whole in practice rather than just with the wide receivers and loves how creative he is in his play calling.
David Adolph
“I think it’s just the coaching staff and the players around you. It’s tough to leave that group of guys. Each year I’m learning so much and am enhancing my game.”– David Adolph on Returning to Ohio State despite potential opportunities to play at other schools
- Ryan Day says in order to get on the field, you need to play special teams, and Adolph takes that message to heart and works hard at that skillset. “The best players play on special teams. That drew into me ever since I got here.”
- Helping the team any way he can is Adolph’s primary goals for the 2025 season.
- Adolph says Jeremiah Smith has become more vocal from year one to year two, is learning the game at a higher level and is combining his actions on the field with a vocal leadership style.
Bryson Rodgers
“I’m very comfortable and know the offense well. I have a better connection with coach Hartline and especially now that he’s the offensive coordinator. You get to talk ball and learn more ball. I’m a little louder in that room as well being an older guy and setting that leadership role for my young guys.”– Bryson Rodgers on what’s different for him entering his third season at Ohio State
- Rodgers says he keeps receipts that “will make the story legendary” whenever he sees people doubt his ability on social media or discuss the wide receiver corps without including him in that group.
- Rodgers says both Julian Sayin and Lincoln Kienholz are “dawgs” and that he loves both Ohio State signal callers and either would give the Buckeyes a good chance to win.
- Ohio State’s wide receiver room is “really good” according to Rodgers and he looks forward to showing the country they’re the best receiving group in America.
- Rodgers is looking forward to OSU’s heavyweight matchup with Texas in Week 1, saying it will be an interesting non-conference matchup because the two teams faced in the postseason and each has a good understanding of what the other does.
