Ohio State football depth chart: Who emerged as starters this spring?

Let’s dive into our first post-spring Ohio State projected two-deep depth chart. There are still a few battles that can change in the summer and with some additions in the transfer portal. For now, though, this is how I see the depth chart shaking out on Week 1 against Akron.

Quarterbacks

Starter: Will Howard
Backup: Devin Brown

Another spring down, another quarterback battle yet to be finalized. Much like last year, Ohio State is leaving spring practice without a decision on who will be its quarterback. This year, though, it involves graduate transfer Will Howard and Devin Brown, once again. It was a back-and-forth spring for them and this will carry into the summer and fall camp. I tend to lean toward Howard as the starter right now because of his experience, pocket presence and vision down the field. Still, it’s going to be a close battle. I wouldn’t be surprised if it carries into the season either.

As for the young trio behind them, if everybody stays, I’d say Julian Sayin will end up being the third quarterback with Lincoln Kienholz behind him and Air Noland rounding out the group. Kienholz seems to have the lead for third-stringer right now, but I expect Sayin will snag that before the season starts. How Ryan Day juggles their in-game reps in late-game situations will be something to watch this season. They all need snaps, but there are only so many to go around.

Running back

Starter: TreVeyon Henderson
Backup: Quinshon Judkins

The best running back duo in the country is hardly a starter-backup situation, but the Buckeyes have to run somebody out there for the first drive of the season. That will be Henderson, but don’t get it confused this, is a shared backfield. Judkins and Henderson will share carries and be used often in this offense, even together at times. After them, Ohio State has a talented freshman duo with James Peoples and Sam Williams-Dixon. The fifth running back in the group is TC Caffey, a walk-on who Ohio State has raved about this offseason. As good as the wide receivers group is, the running backs excite me the most about the offense this season.

Wide receivers

Starters: Emeka Egbuka, Carnell Tate, Jeremiah Smith
Backups: Jayden Ballard, Brandon Inniss, Bryson Rodgers

Ohio State doesn’t rebuild at receiver, it just reloads. Marvin Harrison Jr. is going to be a top-five draft pick on Thursday night, yet the Buckeyes have as talented of a room as you can ask for. It’s also set up perfectly. They have a talented leader in Egbuka, who knows what it takes to be great on and off the field. Then you have a wealth of young talent behind him who will get great experience this season. Tate, Smith and Inniss are a dream trio and will be difference-makers. Tate is the oldest, a sophomore who had 18 catches for 264 yards and one touchdown his freshman year. Then you have another five-star Inniss, who is ready to jump into the lineup and the No. 1 recruit in the country in Smith. Mix in Ballard, who may finally be ready to contribute and Rodgers who has had a good spring, and you have an extremely deep room.

Tight ends

Starter: Gee Scott Jr.
Backups: Jelani Thurman, Will Kacmarek

This continues to be an interesting room. With Cade Stover gone, the Buckeyes will be looking to replace 597 snaps from their standout from a year ago. There’s no single player that can replace Stover, but Scott is the leader in the room. Tight ends coach Keenan Bailey has talked a lot about depth and playing multiple players. Ohio State is going to use two tight end sets this season, again, and often. You might see games when Scott isn’t the first one out on the field, because of situational things. Thurman has made strides since his freshman year and had a good spring, especially in team and 7-on-7 periods. He’s a natural pass catcher and can be a threat in the red zone this year. Kacmarek is coming on strong after transferring in from Ohio University and expects to be a strong blocker, which will help disguise heavier sets if he can be a reliable pass catcher too. Another name to watch is Patrick Gurd filling in the Mitch Rossi role at full back.

Left tackle

Starter: Josh Simmons
Backup: George Fitzpatrick

Simmons is the guy here. Ohio State is hoping that a full year in the program will make a difference on the field. He struggled early last season, but got better at the end of the year, with the exception of the Cotton Bowl. He had a good spring. He wasn’t perfect — nobody will be against Ohio State’s defensive line — but there was growth. If Fitzpatrick can be a strong backup that’ll be good for Ohio State.

Left guard

Starter: Donovan Jackson
Backup: Enokk Vimahi

Jackson has this locked up, barring any injury. He’ll be preparing to get drafted at this time next year. The question for him will be whether he can make the jump into an All-American and be a consistent force for Ohio State on the left side of the line. Vimahi could still transfer before the window closes on April 30, but if he stays he’ll be a backup to Jackson. It would be in Ohio State’s best interest that Vimahi becomes a contributor who can work his way into Ohio State’s top six-eight linemen. It’ll help the depth this season and provide more confidence in him as he steps into the starter role next year.

Center

Starter: Seth McLaughlin
Backup: Carson Hinzman

McLaughlin had a good spring after transferring from Alabama and will take over this spot for the Buckeyes. He didn’t have any snap issues this spring, either, which I know was a concern for some after watching Alabama’s loss to Michigan in the Rose Bowl. Hinzman will be his backup, but as you’ll see next, I think Hinzman will be in the starting lineup, as well.

Right guard

Starter: Carson Hinzman
Backup: Luke Montgomery

This is the most competitive position on the offensive side. Montgomery played much of the spring with the starters, but towards the end got moved out to the second team with Hinzman and Tegra Tshabola taking over first-team reps. Hinzman started in the spring game and though he wasn’t perfect, I think he might be the best answer here, with Montgomery backing him up. There’s still time for a change to come through the transfer portal, too.

Right tackle

Starter: Josh Fryar
Backup: Tegra Tshabola

Unless Ohio State goes to the portal and gets a tackle, it’ll be Fryar at right tackle instead of guard. He has improved this spring and should have a much better season this year. Behind him will likely be Tshabola, who played some guard during the spring, but seems better suited for tackle.

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Defensive end

Starters: J.T. Tuimoloau, Jack Sawyer
Backups: Caden Curry, Kenyatta Jackson Jr., Mitchell Melton

This group is as good as any in the country. I’d be willing to bet most schools would love to start any of these five on their rosters. Instead, they all have chosen to stay at Ohio State and build an incredibly deep defensive end room. Freshman Eddrick Houston is also a name to watch, he’ll likely get playing time early this season in hopes of preparing him for next year. Melton is the X-factor here. If he stays healthy he could be in for a breakthrough year. He’s that good when his body holds up.

Defensive tackle

Starters: Ty Hamilton, Tyleik Williams
Backups: Hero Kanu, Jason Moore

Defensive line coaches dream of rooms like the one Larry Johnson has right now. The interior line lost Michael Hall Jr. to the draft, but still returns a wealth of talent. Williams is a potential All-American and Hamilton is an under-the-radar player ready to emerge onto the national scene. Kanu and Moore both had strong spring practices, along with Kayden McDonald. This is a really good group that has Ohio State excited about the things they can do upfront.

Linebacker

Starters: Cody Simon, C.J. Hicks
Backups: Sonny Styles, Gabe Powers

We’ll see Simon at Mike linebacker and Hicks at Will linebacker when the season begins. Hicks was really good this spring, but sometimes it’s hard to see just how good linebackers are in spring practice when they aren’t getting too complicated on either side of the ball. You can see Hicks’ nose for the ball, though, when he’s blitzing or attacking the run. Styles is probably the most talented “backup” in the country. He’ll see the field plenty this year, but it might look different from snap to snap. This is a talented room, albeit one with little experience outside of Simon.

Cornerbacks

Starters: Davison Igbinosun, Denzel Burke, Jordan Hancock
Backups: Jermaine Mathews, Calvin Simpson-Hunt, Lorenzo Styles Jr.

This room is so, so good. One could argue it’s the best position group on the roster. Igbinosun was terrific this spring and showed it in the spring game, too. Burke returns with a chance to up his draft stock and turn into an All-American and Hancock should be an all-Big Ten honoree after being snubbed last year. This isn’t just the best cornerback room in the Big Ten, but potentially the best in the country. The entire group is back just one year after helping Ohio State reach the No. 1 spot in pass defense, including standout sophomore Mathews who will find his way onto the field despite the starters above him. Simpson-Hunt and Styles are at the top of the list for second-team reps this year and will benefit from the playing time even if it’s in blowout games.

Safety

Starters: Lathan Ransom, Caleb Downs
Backups: Malik Hartford, Jayden Bonsu

This depth chart is a little different than a year ago. Jim Knowles’ defense has forever been thought of as a three-safety defense. But the 4-2-5 scheme, which means five defensive backs are on the field, doesn’t have to represent a safety in the nickel spot when there are enough talented cornerbacks to play. In this case, I’m sticking with two safeties because between Hancock, Styles and Mathews there’s enough talent to fill the nickel position.

In that case, Ransom and Downs make up one of the best one-two safety combos in the country. Downs is ready to build on his freshman All-American season and looked like the best player on defense during the spring. He’s the real deal. Ransom needs to stay healthy, but he’s a major contributor when he returns. Because of Ransom’s health, though, you need some depth at the position and that’s where Hartford and Bonsu come in. With Ransom and Ja’Had Carter out of the spring game with injuries, Bonsu earned the start alongside Downs and held his own. They were both part of the 2023 class, Hartford a top-100 recruit and Bonsu an under-the-radar three-star defensive back. They have a lot of potential and I expect Ohio State will get them playing time this year to help build on that. Carter is a name to watch if he can stay healthy this season and come back strong in camp.

(Top photo: Barbara J. Perenic / Columbus Dispatch / USA Today)