Latest news with #Kienholz
New York Times
4 days ago
- Sport
- New York Times
Five early Ohio State predictions for 2025: Will Michigan, Big Ten droughts end?
Ohio State opens the 2025 college football season against Texas just 12 short weeks from Saturday. Why not make some early predictions? Looking back at my early 2024 predictions last June, I went three-for-five. I was right about Ohio State getting 14 draft picks, Will Howard winning the quarterback battle and the Buckeyes finishing with the nation's top total defense for the first time since 2019. Advertisement Let's try to improve this year. Does this seem obvious? Maybe. But this quarterback competition is more of a battle than last year between Will Howard and Devin Brown, so don't underestimate the uncertainty this summer. I would give Sayin, a five-star recruit in the Class of 2024, a slim lead over Lincoln Kienholz, a four-star recruit in 2023, because of his strong spring game. The Alabama transfer completed 17 of 24 passes for 175 yards and one touchdown in the spring game, while Kienholz struggled in the first half but finished strong with 158 yards and two touchdowns. This could go either way in preseason camp, but I think Sayin has the bigger upside and will end up edging Kienholz. If this was any other season, and the Buckeyes weren't starting with a top-five game against Texas, Ryan Day could run both quarterbacks out there like he did in 2023 with Kyle McCord and Brown. But this year, he has to name one and run with him. I wouldn't be surprised if Day waits all the way up to game week. Regardless, I think Sayin is the guy. He's accurate, has a quick release and moves well in the pocket, which are all important traits for a 6-foot-1 quarterback. Sayin will have some first-year struggles taking care of the ball, but if he can cut those down in camp, he'll win the competition. Ohio State has had some good tight ends in its history, but the Purdue transfer Klare may be the most talented in recent memory. The 6-foot-4, 238-pound junior from Cincinnati is a versatile player who can make a difference in the passing game, whether on the line of scrimmage or split out as a slot receiver. He's going to give the new starting quarterback a reliable and large target on any down and especially in the red zone. Advertisement There's two records he should be on watch for this season: Ohio State's single-season touchdowns and receiving yards records for tight ends Ohio State's receiving yards by a tight end record was set in 1966 by Billy Anders, who had 671 yards and averaged 74.6 yards per game in nine games. Klare can beat that, especially when you take into account the probability of at least one Playoff game. Last year at Purdue, Klare was the top option and finished with 51 catches for 685 yards and four touchdowns, averaging 57.1 yards in 12 games. If I'm going to predict a Big Ten title game appearance and at least one Playoff game, then Klare has to average just 50 yards per game in 14 games — quite doable, even if he's competing for targets with standouts like receivers Jeremiah Smith and Carnell Tate. Ohio State's tight end receiving touchdowns record is seven, shared by Ricky Dudley (1995) and Jake Stoneburner (2011). What makes Klare a scoring threat isn't just the touches he'll get in the red zone, but also the fact that he's a threat after the catch. With Ohio State's receiver talent, he's going to get more 1-on-1 options than he did last year, which should lead to more opportunities after the catch. His biggest issue might be targets, but young quarterbacks love big and reliable options, which Klare is. I like his upside no matter the quarterback. Styles returning for his senior season was a good decision for him and the Buckeyes. The Columbus native moved to linebacker last year from safety and looked like a natural. He's athletic enough to excel in coverage and he had 100 tackles last season, looking more and more comfortable at the line of scrimmage against the run as the season progressed. With Cody Simon gone, he's the leader in the linebacking corps and will be able to build off his success last year, when he was a second-team All-Big Ten pick. Advertisement Styles returns as one of the nation's top linebackers and can be in the mix for greater honors as a senior, especially as a leader on a defense that is going to rely on him to make plays behind four new starters on the defensive line. He was a semifinalist for the Butkus Award last season, and I think he takes a step up and has a chance to join his position coach James Laurinaitis and Andy Katzenmoyer on Ohio State's list of winners — although I'll pick Texas' Anthony Hill to beat him out. Ohio State is coming off a national title but hasn't won the Big Ten in the past four seasons. If I keep predicting a Big Ten championship, it's bound to happen one season, right? Well this year is slightly different, because I think Ohio State will lose two games in the regular season again but this time make it to Indianapolis. The prediction here is that Ohio State will lose to open the season against Texas, which has no impact on the Big Ten race. It will beat Penn State. And it will lose for the fifth consecutive time to Michigan. I think Ohio State will be the better team, but without seeing the revamped defense and new quarterback, it's hard for me to pick Ohio State outright on the road after what's happened the past four seasons in The Game. I could see an 11-1 season, but for now let's go with the assumption that the Buckeyes' rivalry misery continues in a loss to Michigan. If it's their only Big Ten loss, there's still a good path to the conference title. Oregon and Penn State are the two other biggest contenders, and they play each other on Sept. 27. A guaranteed loss for one of them opens up a path for a one-conference-loss Ohio State to get in if the Buckeyes can beat the Nittany Lions at home. I think Ohio State has the team capable of beating Penn State at home, although the defensive line will need to take a step before that November matchup. I like the potential of this year's Ohio State's team. It's OK for the Buckeyes to not be at their peak in the first week of the season, but there's a real possibility that they reach that later, stumble again against Michigan, and win their first Big Ten championship since 2020 anyway. The Buckeyes have had a receiver drafted in the first round in each of the past four years. It began with Garrett Wilson and Chris Olave in 2022 and continued with Jaxon Smith-Njigba in 2023, Marvin Harrison Jr. in 2024 and Emeka Egbuka in 2025. Jeremiah Smith will be a first-round pick in 2027, but if Ohio State is going to carry on that streak in 2026, it'll have to be Tate. Advertisement From a pure physical standpoint, Tate has the tools to be a successful NFL receiver. He's a 6-foot-3, 191-pound receiver who runs crisp routes and has good hands. He's dropped just five passes in two seasons, according to TruMedia, totaling 70 catches for 997 yards and five touchdowns. Tate has been overshadowed on the Ohio State roster for the past two seasons, first as a freshman by Harrison and Egbuka and then last year by Smith and Egbuka. This is the former five-star recruit's chance to get more snaps and put his talent on full display. He's already one of the top draft-eligible receivers coming into the season, but a potential breakout season could solidify him as a first-round pick. If that's the case, how long does Ohio State's streak go? If Smith is drafted in 2027, there's a host of other five-star receivers coming in who could keep it going in 2028 and beyond. (Photo of Carnell Tate: Joseph Maiorana / Imagn Images)
New York Times
16-04-2025
- Sport
- New York Times
Julian Sayin or Lincoln Kienholz? Projecting Ohio State's post-spring depth chart
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 Advertisement 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. Nothing like Buckeye Football in The Shoe. — Ohio State Football (@OhioStateFB) April 12, 2025 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. Advertisement 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. Advertisement 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. Advertisement 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. Advertisement 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. Spring practice is over. The transfer portal opens Wednesday. What's on your mind? Submit your Ohio State questions below. 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.
New York Times
12-04-2025
- Sport
- New York Times
Ohio State spring game notes: Julian Sayin has QB battle edge, WR depth on full display
The last time Ohio State played in Ohio Stadium, it beat Tennessee 42-17 to start its national championship run. Now, the Buckeyes are in the process of trying to move on and defend their title. Saturday's spring game was the next step in that pursuit. With over 40,000 people in attendance at Ohio Stadium, the offense won 50-31, a more convincing win from the 1-point victory last season. Advertisement In the midst of a quarterback battle, Julian Sayin and Lincoln Kienholz continued more of what we saw throughout the spring, some highs and some lows, in a competition that will continue into the summer. Sayin finished the day 17-of-24 with 175 yards and one touchdown. Kienholz completed 12 of 18 passes for 158 yards and two touchdowns. Another Spring Game in the books! Nothing better than a football Saturday in the 'Shoe. 🏈🏟️ #GoBucks 📸: @OhioStAthletics, @OhioStateFB — Ohio State (@OhioState) April 12, 2025 Ohio State rested most of its standout starters after the first few drives, but here are thoughts from the game. Ohio State's quarterback battle was never going to be finished by the end of the spring, but Sayin did a nice job of positioning himself in the lead going into the summer. This spring has had a lot of ups and downs for both quarterbacks, with Kienholz looking like the better of the two in last week's scrimmage, and even slightly better in Friday's practice. But Saturday, Sayin was definitely the better of the two. The redshirt freshman led touchdown drives on his first three drives and threw a nice ball to tight end Max Klare, splitting the safeties in the first quarter. He didn't throw an interception, looked poised in the pocket and on time with his throws. Sayin, the No. 1 quarterback in the 2024 class, has always been praised for his quick release, but it seems like his decision making is picking up to the speed of the game, as well. Kienholz had a fairly good day as well. He struggled early, going three-and-out on his first drive, and missing a few passes like a curl to Jeremiah Smith on the opening drive. He seemed to settle down in the second half, though, with 88 yards and two of his touchdowns coming in the second frame. Advertisement Neither quarterback was perfect, but that's not what the spring game is about, especially in a quarterback battle. It's about progress. The version of Will Howard that showed up for preseason camp looked nothing like the one who finished the spring in April last year. The offseason improvement can tilt this thing one direction, but for now, the spring game has to be the best outcome for the Buckeyes when it comes to the quarterbacks. Ohio State can go into the summer knowing that Sayin might have the lead, but Kienholz is close enough to push him throughout the offseason. And when the team returns in preseason camp, both will have a chance to close the door and seize the job. If they can't, that's a problem for a later date, but for now, with how inconsistent the spring was, this was as good of a day as the Buckeyes could've asked for. 'We talked about this as the spring went on, we need more 11-on-11 football,' Day said. 'You saw the growth. We had the ability to watch them every day and I wish I could say we need to get better at one, two and three but we just need to play football with these guys. We're young, we have a lot to work on, but I will say there was growth today.' One thing we definitely learned was that the Buckeyes have an abundance of playmakers that would make every coach in the country jealous. Everybody knows about star receiver Smith, the second-team All-American as a freshman. Carnell Tate is back for a bigger role. They were both five-star recruits out of high school. Five-star junior Brandon Inniss started in the slot and tallied two catches for 35 yards in the game, but the star of the spring game was five-star Mylan Graham. Graham wasn't on campus last spring — he arrived in the summer — but the coaching staff has raved about his growth and it was on full display Saturday. He had four catches for 104 yards, which included a 51-yard touchdown catch that came off of a slant and featured him making safety Malik Hartford miss in the open field. Advertisement 'The biggest thing with Mylan is just finishing the catches which you saw him do some today,' Day said. 'That's his emphasis, finish contested catches, catch it clean and then put it away. He had the run after the catch, that was loose, but he has a bright future here. He has the tools it takes to be the next great one.' Beyond the receivers, Saturday was the first chance the public got to see Klare, the transfer TE from Purdue. He has the potential to be one of the best tight ends in the country. Ohio State is already getting creative with him, as his touchdown catch came with Klare lined up in the slot as he streaked right down the middle of the defense. The entire tight end room had a good day, too. Will Kacmarek was out on Saturday, and was seen at Friday's practice on a scooter, but he will have a full summer, Day said. Aside from him, Jelani Thurman, Nate Roberts and Bennett Christian all showed enough to Day to make him think Ohio State may need to play with two tight ends more, at times, next season. As for the running backs, Day said it's hard to judge them until they start getting hit, but the top two guys, James Peoples and C.J. Donaldson, looked good, but the most impressive player was freshman Bo Jackson. The Cleveland native had 13 carries for 88 yards and a touchdown, while adding another touchdown through the air. This was a big spring for him after the injury that ended his senior year early. If he can stay healthy and continue to grow this offseason, he could give the Buckeyes the depth they need. It was hard to truly judge what new defensive coordinator Matt Patricia's plans are as the Buckeyes kept things pretty basic both up front and in the secondary, which isn't uncommon for spring games. It just makes it difficult to judge on that side of the ball. It is obvious, though, that the Buckeyes have to get more impact from the defensive line. The pass rush was all simple one-on-one moves, so nobody really did too much. Transfer Logan George had two sacks, a decent game with limited stunts called up front. Advertisement The problem was in the run game, where Day said he saw more knockbacks from the offensive line. 'We have to take a hard outlook at it,' Day said. 'I don't have the answer right now. … I don't want to make any judgments until we watch the film.' Ohio State will likely dip into the portal when it opens April 16, the question will be how many impact players go into the portal. The Buckeyes lost five defensive linemen from last year's roster: Jack Sawyer, J.T. Tuimoloau, Ty Hamilton, Tyleik Williams and Hero Kanu, who transferred to Texas. Because of the national championship run, Ohio State didn't get into the portal much to replace all those bodies, especially Kanu. The problem right now isn't so much the top-end talent, though. Kenyatta Jackson Jr. and Caden Curry are talented edge rushers, Eddrick Houston and Kayden McDonald are good defensive tackles, as well, but it's about the depth. Those players are stepping into starting roles for the first time, so there's a question of how much impact they can have playing 40-50 snaps, especially if the depth behind them isn't there. Depth questions come when elite players leave and the team doesn't replace them on the back end, so expect Ohio State to be very active in the portal this time around. For the first time in a few years, Ohio State's offensive line talent and depth look good coming out of spring practice. Barring any crazy portal movement, the starting group when they open against Texas will likely be Austin Siereveld at right tackle, Tegra Tshabola at right guard, Carson Hinzman at center, Luke Montgomery at left guard and Ethan Onianwa at left tackle. Behind them, though, Day feels good about his depth. Preseason camp will still be important for the Buckeyes, as they want to go into the season with four tackles, but between last year and this offseason, their position flexibility is helping in a massive way right now.
New York Times
10-04-2025
- Sport
- New York Times
What we've learned about Ohio State football, what will it mean in Buckeyes' spring game
COLUMBUS, Ohio — Ohio State's condensed spring practice is nearly finished. The Buckeyes will conclude the four-week session with their spring game on Saturday. Although it was originally called a 'spring showcase' when the schedule was released, Buckeyes coach Ryan Day said it'll be more of a traditional game, despite other programs around the country choosing to move away from a formal spring game. Advertisement Saturday's game will start with a 'thud' period, which will feature the established veterans and starters in a no-tackling period for the first few drives, before opening the game up the rest of the way. A lot still needs to be worked out for the Buckeyes, including some position battles, but there are a few things we learned this spring that will be important to watch in Saturday's game. For the third straight offseason, Ohio State entered the spring with a quarterback battle and likely will leave the spring game with it continuing into preseason practice. Quarterbacks Lincoln Kienholz and Julian Sayin have been 'neck-and-neck' this spring, Day said. Kienholz, a sophomore who played in the 2023 Cotton Bowl, has the most experience of the three quarterbacks on the roster, which includes true freshman Tavien St. Clair. Still, Sayin, the No. 1 QB in the 2024 class, jumped him on the depth chart last season — taking over as the No. 3 QB — and completed 5-of-12 passes for 84 yards and a touchdown in five games. This offseason, Day wiped both slates clean and gave the quarterbacks a chance to fight for the starting spot. 'They're learning,' Day said. 'There's nobody that's much further ahead of the other one right now, so they're going to continue to compete.' Saturday is an important day for both quarterbacks because it's the closest to game action either will get before the season opener against Texas. Texas, which likely will be a top-10 team to open the season, will give either quarterback an immediate test and limit the room for error. Last year, Ohio State didn't play a Power 4 team until the fourth game of the season. In 2023, Ohio State opened at Indiana but then played two Group of 5 teams after that before playing Notre Dame. Both years gave first-year starters Kyle McCord and Will Howard some time to get acclimated to the offense. Advertisement Texas will be the team's biggest challenge to open a season since 2022, when the Buckeyes beat Notre Dame at home. Due to the expanded College Football Playoff, Ohio State will have time to grow into the team it wants to be at the end of the season, but that early-season test only amplifies the importance of Saturday. A starter doesn't have to be named by the end of the spring game, but seeing how far both Sayin and Kienholz have grown will be a good start for the rest of the offseason. The Buckeyes entered this spring with some questions on the offensive line, albeit fewer than they had a year ago. This year's questions mainly centered around what the best lineup would be, as it looked like Ohio State has about seven players fighting for a starting spot. One player who seemed lost without a true position was Austin Sierveld. Many expected transfers Ethan Onianwa and Philip Daniels to jump into the starting spots at tackle with Luke Montgomery and Tegra Tshabola holding down the guard positions. Siereveld, however, seems to have made an impression on new offensive line coach Tyler Bowen, offensive coordinator Brian Hartline and Day. Reports from Ohio State's fan appreciation day scrimmage were that Siereveld was one of the starting tackles. He was also named an 'Iron Buckeye' along with Jeremiah Smith and linebacker Sonny Styles, an honor given by the strength and conditioning staff made to recognize players who exhibited leadership, toughness and shined during winter workouts. It might be time to buy into the Siereveld stock. 'He's getting to the point where he could start at either guard or tackle,' Day said. Ohio State is still in the process of figuring out its starting offensive line, and Saturday will be a step toward finishing that process. A good spring game from Siereveld could put him in a position to start when the season opens on Aug. 30, leaving Ohio State with just two questions: Should he start at guard or tackle? And who will take the other tackle position? Advertisement Wide receiver was never a position of concern for the Buckeyes, who return two five-star starters from last year's national championship team: Smith, arguably the best player in the country, and Carnell Tate. The expectation was that five-star prospect Brandon Inniss would step into the slot position, left by Emeka Egbuka, with five-star redshirt freshman Mylan Graham and four-star prospect Bryson Rodgers filling some key depth positions. That's a talented receiving corps by itself, especially considering the good reviews surrounding Graham this spring. He said he's more confident this spring and is finally not behind schedule after arriving on campus last summer, instead of the spring. A welcome addition has been true freshman Quincy Porter. The 6-foot-4 five-star prospect from New Jersey has made an immediate impact this spring. He was the first 2025 freshman to lose his black stripe, and his ability to high-point the ball and make contested catches has him poised to make an impact next season. 'If he can keep playing like that, he's gonna find himself playing a lot of football this year,' Day said. If Porter does push for more playing time, this spring game could provide a glimpse at one of the most talented receiver groups in the country. Ohio State may be six deep going into the preseason, a problem that Hartline is happy to have. One of the most intriguing battles of the spring, and one that will likely continue into the preseason, is at cornerback. Saturday will give people a live look at one of the most competitive position groups on the roster. With Davison Igbinosun back, along with Jermaine Mathews Jr., Lorenzo Styles and former five-star prospect Aaron Scott and incoming five-star prospect Devin Sanchez, the Buckeyes have a lot of options. They are still trying to figure out who will be the starting three and have played both Mathews and Styles at nickel this spring, looking to fill the void left by Jordan Hancock. Advertisement A lot still needs to be sorted out with this position, so don't expect it to be solved after the spring game, especially with Igbinosun likely only playing in the 'thud' portion. Still, Saturday will show what everybody at Ohio State already knows: This is a competitive group that is deep, much like the receiving corps. It should make for a fun battle, especially as Scott and Sanchez get more time to compete on the outside. Cornerbacks coach Tim Walton has done a nice job rebuilding the culture and talent at the position. It should be on full display on Saturday. A key part of Ohio State's national championship run was its dominance along the defensive line. Defensive ends Jack Sawyer and JT Tuimoloau were superstars, but the Buckeyes also lost both starting defensive tackles in Tyliek Williams and Ty Hamilton. Replacing them hasn't been easy for Ohio State, but it has been a priority. Eddrick Houston and Kayden McDonald are the leaders there, but Day wants to see more from the entire group. There have been flashes of good play but not enough consistency. 'For us to play defense like we did last year, we're going to need those guys to step up more than they have,' Day said. 'There's ability there, but consistently playing at a certain level is a challenge and is something Coach Johnson will be pushing for over and over again. Guys have gotten better, but in order to be where we need to be next year there needs to be more growth.' Ohio State could hit the transfer portal if it feels like it needs more depth there, but Saturday will be its last chance to put its roster to the test. And for many, it will be a first look at what the Buckeyes' new-look defensive line can do on a major stage. (Top photo of Julian Sayin, center: Adam Cairns / USA Today Network via Imagn Images)
USA Today
08-04-2025
- Sport
- USA Today
Ryan Day gives telling thoughts on Ohio State quarterback competition
Ryan Day gives telling thoughts on Ohio State quarterback competition Shortly after winning the College Football Playoff national championship, the Ohio State coaching staff turned their attention to the next season. That's the world we live in, where staying in the past will get you left behind. As the Buckeyes are in the thick of spring practice that will culminate with the annual Spring Game this Saturday, it looks like we have a full-on quarterback battle. With Will Howard exhausting his last year of eligibility, most presumed five-star prospect Julian Sayin would slide in and seamlessly take the reins. But that doesn't seem to be the absolute lock it was once thought to be. At Saturday's Student Appreciation practice at Ohio State, it was reported by several outlets that quarterback Lincoln Kienholz held his own and even outplayed Sayin in a scrimmage. Leading up to the Spring Game, Ryan Day gave some telling comments. When asked if Kienholz was still in the competition, Dan Hope of Eleven Warriors shared that Day replied "Oh yeah, absolutely." and went on to say that Saying and Kienholz are "pretty much neck-and-neck right now." It's doubtful that anyone will make a move by the end of spring practice. Day said that "somebody would have to make a significant move" this week to win the starting quarterback role out of spring, but didn't rule it out. Of course, anyone feeling nervous about Kienholz and basing their opinion on the 2023 Cotton Bowl game against Missouri may be overthinking things. The young man was put in a spot that would have been difficult for any quarterback to succeed. He is a talented kid who has the potential to lead this team. The battle is going to be fierce... may the best QB win!
