Ohio State’s spring practice is only just beginning, but we’ve already gotten a first glimpse at what the Buckeyes have at each position group for the 2026 season.
Ohio State opened the first hour of each of its first two practices to the media last week, Ryan Day met with the media for his first press conference of the year and one returning star on each side of the ball – Julian Sayin and Kenyatta Jackson Jr. – also met with reporters last week, giving us some insight into where things stand on both sides of the ball as spring ramps up.
With the Buckeyes on spring break this week before they return to the field for the first of their remaining 13 spring practices on Tuesday, we’re recapping what we’ve seen and heard so far about each position group, starting on the offensive side of the ball.
Quarterback
There’s not much drama at quarterback this spring, as Julian Sayin returns to lead the offense after leading the nation in completion percentage and finishing fourth in last year’s Heisman Trophy vote. That said, there are multiple areas of emphasis for Sayin this spring as he works to improve entering his second year as a starter. He’ll have more responsibility to change plays at the line of scrimmage this season, while Ryan Day believes it’s crucial for Sayin to become more of a threat in the running game this year.
“Making an impact with his legs when appropriate, we know that that's the X-factor that has to show up this year,” Day said last week. “And he's aware of that and been working hard in the offseason.”
Tavien St. Clair looks more comfortable than a year ago and is the clear frontrunner to be Ohio State’s No. 2 quarterback this season. That said, Justyn Martin also looks like a capable backup with a higher ceiling than other veteran transfers the Buckeyes have brought in as backup quarterbacks in recent years, so he’s the early favorite to be the No. 3 quarterback above true freshman Luke Fahey.
Running Back
With Bo Jackson and Isaiah West sidelined as they recover from shoulder surgeries, Ohio State’s entire running back contingent this spring is players who weren’t on the team last spring: Florida transfer Ja’Kobi Jackson, true freshmen Legend Bey and Favour Akih, redshirt freshman Anthony “Turbo” Rogers and walk-on Stanley Jackson Jr. (the latter two joined the team last summer).
Given that, it probably shouldn’t come as a surprise that the first day of spring was “a little rough” for that position group, according to Day.
“We've got work to do there,” Day said with a laugh.
That comment would suggest Jackson and West remain in line to be Ohio State’s top two running backs this fall. But Bey is drawing a lot of early buzz as a player who could be a versatile weapon for the Buckeyes – he practiced at both running back and wide receiver during the first week of spring – while Rogers and Ja’Kobi Jackson also looked explosive during the portions of practice that the media were able to watch.
Jackson’s experience likely gives him the early leg up to be Ohio State’s No. 3 running back, but Bey and Rogers will be players to watch all spring as all three of them will have plenty of chances this spring to show they should be in the rotation this fall.
Wide Receiver
To the surprise of absolutely no one, Jeremiah Smith looked like the best player on the field during the first week of spring. Already called an “alien” (in complimentary fashion), Smith looks even bigger, faster and stronger than ever before this spring as he prepares for his likely final season as a Buckeye before a top-five selection in the 2027 NFL draft.
Fellow Iron Buckeye Brandon Inniss looks poised to be Ohio State’s No. 2 receiver this season – though he’ll remain primarily in the slot, at least in three-receiver lineups – with Day saying Inniss is “right there” with Smith as a leader of the position group.
Offseason transfer additions Kyle Parker and Devin McCuin look like the early frontrunners to start at Z receiver. Both took plenty of first-team reps during the first week of practice, and Day said both of them had “really good practices” on day one and are “pros already.” But highly touted five-star freshman Chris Henry Jr. is also a major contender to start or at least play regularly right away, and he flashed during his first week of collegiate practices.
“He's been making great plays,” Sayin said of Henry after the second practice. “I'm excited about him.”
Day said second-year receivers Phillip Bell and De’Zie Jones are also “pushing” for playing time, while freshmen Jerquaden Guilford and Brock Boyd flashed during their first week of practice, as well.
There are no sure things outside of Smith at wide receiver right now, leaving more uncertainty around the position group this spring than there’s been in most recent years. But early impressions suggest the Buckeyes could have stronger depth at receiver than they did last year with as many as nine wideouts making early cases for playing time.
“We're as deep as we've been in a while there,” Day said.
Tight End
With Bennett Christian out for the spring with an undisclosed injury, the tight ends splitting most of the first-team reps this March and April will be sophomore Nate Roberts and offseason transfer additions Hunter Welcing and Mason Williams. There’s been no clear indication of a pecking order among them through one week, but Roberts looks ready to contend for a starting role in year two while Welcing and Williams are both expected to be significant contributors. Christian, who’s played regularly in multi-tight end sets as a blocker the last two seasons, will also likely factor into the rotation this fall.
Day also singled out Max LeBlanc as someone who’s “had a really good offseason,” making the redshirt sophomore from Canada a possible sleeper to watch at the position. Day said true freshman Nick Lautar has also “done a nice job in the weight room so far, but it's hard to play as a young tight end,” suggesting that Lautar is likely in line for a redshirt in his first year as a Buckeye.
Offensive Line
The most interesting revelation from the first week of spring at any position came along the offensive line, as Day revealed that Phillip Daniels is only practicing at tackle right now despite offseason speculation that he could move to right guard. Austin Siereveld is also mostly practicing at tackle, Day said, while Ian Moore – who has been viewed as a candidate to take over at tackle if either Siereveld or Daniels moved inside – will cross-train at guard this spring.
Through one week, Gabe VanSickle appears to be getting the first look to be Ohio State’s new starting right guard after Tegra Tshabola’s transfer to Kentucky. Joshua Padilla is also a candidate for that spot, but Day said Padilla – who’s also cross-training at center – is “probably going to be limited for a decent amount of the spring,” giving VanSickle an early chance to pull ahead in that competition.
Siereveld appears likely to remain Ohio State’s starting left tackle, with Luke Montgomery and Carson Hinzman locked in at left guard and center. Daniels remains the Buckeyes’ top right tackle for now, though that will remain a position to monitor if Moore can make a surge this spring after Daniels struggled down the stretch of last season.
Ryan Day said it’s “worth a discussion for sure” whether Phillip Daniels can play guard, but he’s still only practicing at tackle for now.
Day specifically named Carter Lowe as a young guy the Buckeyes are eager to get more reps this spring, so he’s another tackle to watch, at least in terms of competing for a spot on the two-deep. True freshman Sam Greer could factor into that competition, as he’s already listed at 6-foot-7 and 335 pounds and looks the part of someone who will earn early playing time as a Buckeye.
Jake Cook and Deontae Armstrong – the other returning offensive linemen from last season – are leading candidates to round out the two-deep on the interior offensive line. Armstrong, a reserve tackle for his first two years as a Buckeye, was seen taking reps at guard during the first week of practice and has a likelier path to playing time inside than he would have outside.
While there’s work to be done for Ohio State to figure out its best five up front as it looks to bounce back from a rough end to last season on the offensive line, Day is excited about the Buckeyes’ depth in the trenches, calling the offensive line “as deep as we've been, just in terms of being able to put guys on the field.”
