Julian Sayin or Lincoln Kienholz? Projecting Ohio State's post-spring depth chart

New York Times

16-04-2025

Let's dive into our first post-spring Ohio State projected two-deep depth chart.
The spring game settled some position battles but also showed that some competitions are closer than we thought.
This is how I see the depth chart shaking out when the team returns to practice in August.
Starter: Julian Sayin
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Backup: Lincoln Kienholz
This has changed a lot this spring.
A week before the spring game — even the day before — I would've put Kienholz slightly ahead of Sayin. Kienholz was better during the student appreciation day scrimmage and was also the better of the two on the Friday practice, though neither was particularly sharp that day.
But on Saturday, Sayin was the better of the two. Kienholz came out slow, going three-and-out on his first drive. He recovered, finishing 12-for-18 for 158 yards and two touchdowns in the game. But Sayin was better from start to finish. He completed 17 of 24 passes for 175 yards and one touchdown, but what was really impressive was his movement around the pocket. Sayin is short, just 6-foot-1, the shortest potential starting quarterback in the Ryan Day era, so he has to find throwing lanes. He did that on Saturday.
The defense didn't do much to confuse the quarterbacks or pressure them up front.
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Sayin has the slight lead, but this competition is going to come down to preseason camp, and it'll be the months between now and then. Last year, Will Howard left the spring game with a slight lead, but his work in May, June and July put him in a position to increase the gap ahead of Devin Brown quickly in camp. That has to be the focus of Kienholz and Sayin, duplicating how Howard prepared for camp and trying to shut the door in August.
Ohio State needs a starting quarterback for the Texas game, it can't still have a competition like it did in 2023 between Kyle McCord and Brown. A top-10 matchup is up first for the Buckeyes, and Sayin and Kienholz need to be ready.
Starter: James Peoples
Backup: CJ Donaldson
It's hard to gauge running backs in the spring because they don't get hit, so I'll stick with Peoples as the starter. The staff loves his potential and Day said he could be a special back, but Donaldson was impressive on Saturday, as well. This could be a fun competition in preseason camp.
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Freshman Bo Jackson was impressive as well and should be the third running back, getting reps in garbage time like Peoples did last year.
This is a good room, probably better than many people think right now.
Starter: Jeremiah Smith, Carnell Tate, Brandon Inniss
Backup: Mylan Graham, Quincy Porter and Bryson Rodgers
There's so much talent here, it doesn't make sense what Brian Hartline has accomplished on the recruiting trail.
As much as people want to push Graham above Inniss as the starter, I don't think that's the case right now. Graham was fantastic on Saturday, putting up four catches for 104 yards and one touchdown. He's a smooth runner after the catch, as you saw on his 51-yard touchdown, running by the entire defense after Aaron Scott fell on the route. He also runs a crisp route, which you can see below. His release off the line and ability to get upfield right away are impressive.
Still, don't forget who Inniss is. Ohio State didn't do a lot with its starters on Saturday, and we've been seeing strong play from Inniss going back to last season. He had 14 catches for 176 yards and one touchdown as the fourth receiver and was made for that slot role left vacant by Emeka Egbuka.
Ohio State will likely throw the ball more this year, so there will be room for Graham to make an impact, similar to how Tate did in his freshman year. He might not be a starter right away, but Hartline will find a way to get him on the field.
Starter: Max Klare
Backup: Jelani Thurman and Will Kacamarek
The wide receiver room is the best on the team, but the tight end group might be my favorite.
Klare is a problem. The 6-foot-4 transfer from Purdue really is a receiver playing tight end, yet he also has good hands in the blocking game. He's going to be tough to stop and will open things up for the receivers.
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But this room is so deep, it's scary. Thurman has improved and should be in line for more reps. Kacamarek missed the spring game with a foot injury but will be fine by the summer. Freshman Nate Roberts impressed me as well in the spring game. He tied for a team-high four receptions, catching every target he got on Saturday for 41 yards.
Tight end coach Keenan Bailey doesn't get enough credit for the job he's done, not just putting this room together but also keeping them out of the portal. If he can keep them together through the spring window, Ohio State is going to have a versatile group here next season.
Starter: Ethan Onianwa
Backup: Ian Moore
Ohio State's winter transfer class wasn't flashy, but it was impactful, and Onianwa might've been the biggest move. Ohio State had to find an impact left tackle and got exactly that in Onianwa, who was getting NFL Draft interest before that. He's done a nice job adjusting to the Buckeyes and settling in at left tackle.
The presence of the Rice transfer also gives Moore time to develop for another year.
If Onianwa turns himself into a first-round pick next year, Ohio State is going to have the perfect recruiting pitch to offensive tackles in the portal after its success with Josh Simmons as well.
Starter: Luke Montgomery
Backup: Jake Cook
This was obvious all spring. Montgomery stepped in last year and did a great job at guard when Carson Hinzman moved back to center. It's not changing now. The interior of the offensive line is as strong as it's been since the 2022 season, when it was Donovan Jackson, Luke Wypler and Matt Jones next to each other.
Starter: Carson Hinzman
Backup: Joshua Padilla
After a rough 2023 season, Hinzman took a big step forward, showing he could play both guard and center. He should have a strong 2025, and Padilla might be the best backup on the line.
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Starter: Tegra Tshabola
Backup: Gabe VanSickle
Tshabola did a nice job this spring laying claim to the right guard position. Now an established starter, his growth will be crucial for the Buckeyes, as he'll get all of the right guard snaps, barring any injuries.
Starter: Austin Siereveld
Backup: Philip Daniels
Siereveld was arguably the most improved player this spring. He started the spring at offensive tackle, but it was unclear if he would stay there with the transfers and his flexibility. He's done a nice job of taking that position over and pushing Daniels at the same time.
Daniels, the transfer from Minnesota, will be the backup for now, providing the most depth Ohio State has had at tackle in a few years.
Starter: Caden Curry and Kenyatta Jackson Jr.
Backup: CJ Hicks and Logan George
Replacing J.T. Tuimoloau and Jack Sawyer won't be easy, but this group of defensive ends is solid. There is a lot of talent here, with Jackson and Curry finally stepping into full-time starter roles. They've shown flashes of their potential, but the question is whether they can handle the extra snaps that come as a starter.
George, the transfer from Idaho State, had a good offseason and showcased his talent in the spring. Hicks is a question mark, for me. He has all the physical tools to be a talented edge rusher but needs experience. Preseason camp is going to be important for the former five-star linebacker because he needs high-level reps at the position. I'm not sure how impactful he'll be right away this season, but the ceiling is high for Hicks.
Starter: Kayden McDonald and Eddrick Houston
Backup: Tywone Malone and Jason Moore
This is the biggest question mark on the defense right now. The loss of Hero Kanu can't be understated. He was going to be a big part of this defensive tackle rotation before he transferred to Texas. His departure happened after the national championship, so Ohio State couldn't fill his spot with the portal closed to every team other than them and Notre Dame.
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Ohio State will likely add some depth in the spring portal window, but for now, the starters are McDonald and Houston, and it's not even close. Moore and Malone have shown flashes as backups, but they need to be more consistent as a group.
Starter: Sonny Styles and Arvell Reese
Backup: Payton Pierce and Riley Pettijohn
This is an extremely talented and athletic linebacker corps. Styles and Reese are locked in as starters, especially after Reese's strong 2024 season. Pierce has had a good spring, and Ohio State likes him as the third linebacker in the group, but don't look past Pettijohn either. He had a good spring game and made a nice play in the backfield on a toss play, shedding a block and then making a tackle along the sideline.
Ohio State can do a lot with this group — as blitzers or even in coverage — and Styles will be the leader of the group.
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Starters: Davison Igbinosun, Jermaine Mathews Jr. and Lorenzo Styles
Backup: Aaron Scott, Devin Sanchez and Bryce West
This continues to be a competitive battle, mainly because of the nickel position.
Igbinosun will be one of the starters on the outside, but I think there's a world in which Ohio State moves Mathews inside to utilize his physicality and plays either Scott or Sanchez outside. For now, though, I think Styles has the upper hand at nickel, and Mathews is going to play outside.
Scott was tested a lot on Saturday and had some good moments, breaking up a fade route in the end zone to Graham. Preseason camp will be interesting because Ohio State has the depth to play five corners in a dime package. Who those five will be is still up in the air, though.
Starters: Malik Hartford and Caleb Downs
Backup: Jaylen McClain and Leroy Roker
This position seems set with Hartford and Downs. The biggest question for me is how Ohio State uses Downs this year and whether that means McClain gets playing time when the Buckeyes want to get an extra defensive back on the field.
There's some exciting depth behind those three, too, with Roker and freshman Faheem Delane.