Ohio State Football returns today. Let's take a deeper dive into what we can expect to see from the Buckeyes this season.
Quarterbacks
Starting from the top, the QB position has been a significant question mark for the Buckeyes heading into this season, especially with the departure of now-Houston Texans QB, CJ Stroud. Head Coach Ryan Day was tasked with naming a starter, which he did this past Tuesday. Junior QB Kyle McCord got the starting nod over redshirt freshman Devin Brown. McCord, a former 4-star prospect, was also high school teammates with WR Marvin Harrison Jr. at St. Joseph’s Prep in Philadelphia. His first challenge as the starting QB for the Buckeyes comes at 3:30 PM ET when the Buckeyes travel to Bloomington to face the Indiana Hoosiers.
Running Backs
For the running backs, we can expect to see much of the same from the Buckeyes. "Tote Nation" returns all of their running backs, including junior Treveyon Henderson, who looks to reclaim his spot as one of the premier backs in college football after having his sophomore season cut short due to injury. Archbishop Hoban graduate Chip Trayanum will join the running back room this season as well. Trayanum originally signed with Arizona State as a running back but entered the transfer portal prior to the 2022 season, where he signed with Ohio State to play linebacker. Trayanum was forced to step back into the running back role in last year’s matchup against Michigan due to a multitude of injuries at the position. Despite this, he showcased his ability, finishing with 14 carries for 83 yards, with his longest rush going for 24 yards. The Buckeyes also return Miyan Williams and Dallan Hayden, who Buckeye fans saw plenty of last season. Evan Pryor will also look to make a splash in his third season as a Buckeye. Pryor is a former 4-star recruit hailing from North Carolina.
Wide Receivers
The receiving room for Ohio State is once again loaded. Most would consider the Buckeyes' receiving corps the strongest position group in the country. Led by Heisman candidate Marvin Harrison Jr., the Buckeyes' receivers will look to make the transition to starter a smooth process for QB Kyle McCord. The Buckeyes return all of their weapons from last season, including both 1,000-yard receivers Marvin Harrison Jr. and Emeka Egbuka. The receiving corps also returns Julian Fleming, who is poised to have the breakout season he has long awaited. As for some of the new faces Buckeye fans can expect to see, Jayden Ballard, a Massillon-Washington graduate, looks to make his mark in his third season with the Buckeyes. Ballard has shown flashes of his ability, highlighted by a 100-yard performance last year against Toledo. True freshman wideout Carnell Tate has been a top performer this offseason, becoming the first player in this year’s class to lose their black stripe. He will also likely see significant playing time this season.
Tight Ends
At tight end, Cade Stover returns for a fifth season, backed up by Gee Scott Jr. Stover tallied an impressive 406 yards and five touchdowns last season for the Buckeyes in his first season at the tight end position, having made the switch from linebacker. As for Scott, he looks to burst onto the scene in what could possibly be his final season in a Buckeye uniform.
Offensive Line
The Buckeyes' starting offensive line was announced by Head Coach Ryan Day and will feature Josh Fryar starting at right tackle, Josh Simmons at left tackle, Matthew Jones at right guard, Donavan Jackson at left guard, and Carson Hinzmann rounding out the group at center.
Defensive Line
The defensive line is headlined by star defensive end J.T. Tuimoloau, who burst onto the scene after putting up video-game-like numbers in last year’s matchup with Penn State. He finished with three tackles for loss, 2.5 sacks, two interceptions, one forced fumble, and capped off his performance with a touchdown. On the other side, there is Pickerington North graduate Jack Sawyer. Buckeye fans have seen flashes of excellence from Sawyer throughout the past few years, and now is the time for him to put it on full display. Tyleik Williams and Michael Hall Jr. look to lead the way for the Buckeyes in the interior, along with Pickerington Central graduate Ty Hamilton.
Linebackers
The Ohio State linebacking group returns both of last season’s starting linebackers, Tommy Eichenburg and Steele Chambers. These two will lead the way for a very deep but inexperienced linebacking corps. Behind these two are senior Cody Simon and sophomore C.J. Hicks, hailing from Archbishop Alter.
Secondary
The Buckeyes' secondary will be the biggest question mark heading into this season. This group looks to return to their once-dominant identity. Fans can expect to see some familiar faces, along with some new ones this year in the secondary. Denzel Burke headlines the Buckeyes' cornerback position. Jyaire Brown and Jordan Hancock will also see increased roles this season in the Buckeyes' secondary, along with Ole Miss transfer Davison Igbinosun. At safety, Lathan Ransom returns for his senior season with the team, along with Cameron Martinez, a redshirt junior, and Josh Proctor, a sixth-year senior. As for the new faces in the Ohio State safety group, expect to see Pickerington Central graduate Sonny Styles take a huge leap in his second year with the team. Styles is a 6'5", 230 lb sophomore, whose freakish athleticism leads many to believe he will be a cornerstone in this year's defense. Lakota West graduate Malik Hartford should also be in the mix to see the field as a true freshman. The Buckeyes also added Syracuse transfer JaHad Carter to round out the position.
As the Buckeyes' 2023 season kicks off today, the expectation remains the same: Beat Michigan, win the Big Ten, and win the National Championship. For Ohio State, anything less than that is considered a failure. Ohio State can expect to see their toughest matchups come on the road at (13) Notre Dame, at home against (7) Penn State, on the road at (19) Wisconsin, and on the road versus "That Team Up North," the (2) Michigan Wolverines.
The pressure is on this year for the Buckeyes. The entire country will be keeping a close eye on the team donning the scarlet and gray, especially with the many question marks surrounding the team heading into this season. However, as stated prior, in Columbus, the expectation remains the same.