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“Buckeye Nation, Take Notice!” Two Glenville Products & 6 More OSU Stars Ready to Shine!
COLUMBUS, Ohio — Ohio State football’s spring schedule officially begins today, using 15 practices to prepare for the 2025 season.
Practice No. 1 provides the first look at this year’s roster and a first reaction to what the depth chart could look like. Unlike last year, there are plenty of battles on a team that lost a ton of talent.
The offense only has one position group with an abundance of established stars. The defense only returns three starters altogether.
The intriguing players and storylines should keep the Buckeyes plenty busy heading into the spring. Headlining that is obviously the quarterback battle where Julian Sayin and Lincoln Kienholz fight to succeed Will Howard.
Is linebacker once again the defense’s new premier position?
Sometimes, it’s best to listen closely to who a coach names unprompted when discussing a roster. Especially a new coach who is in the midst of forming a first impression.
Here’s who new defensive coordinator Matt Patricia name-dropped during his first media availability:
“Sonny Styles, when you look at him and Arvell (Reese)‚” Patricia said. “We always had big backers (with the Patriots). I walked in and saw those guys and was like, ‘OK I’m home.‘ These guys are big, they’re long (and) they can move. They eat up a lot of space.”
Patricia’s brain started spinning the moment he looked at those two. That’s what makes this an interesting spring for what could be the most athletic linebacker tandem OSU’s had in a long time.
Who’s safety No. 2?
Caleb Downs Downs is the best safety in college football. But who’s his new running mate?
He and Lathan Ransom might’ve formed the nation’s best tandem last season. Replacing him means replacing a three-year starter who has been both reliable and productive throughout his career.
Three guys seem to be battling to be the next guy up: Malik Hartford, Jaylen McClain and Leroy Roker.
Hartford enters a pivotal Year 3 where the options are to tap into that potential he arrived with or risk being jumped by someone younger.
McClain got a start under his belt last season and took major strides behind the scenes. This spring is a chance to capitalize on all of that momentum.
Roker was a lower-rated guy who showed up in the summer. Maybe he takes a jump as he goes through his first full offseason as a guy drawing comparisons to Malik Hooker.
Did two position changes unlock new weapons?
C.J. Hicks is now a defensive end and Eddrick Houston transitioned to defensive tackle in the middle of the season. What does that mean for the 2025 defensive line?
Hicks as a pass rusher has always been intriguing even if his ability as a traditional linebacker left some things to be desired. Through him, we might be seeing OSU actively change philosophies with what its defensive front looks like. But how quickly can he pick up on everything else?
Houston looks like a guy straight from the tree of what Dre’Mont Jones was. Start him on the edge so he can master techniques, then move him inside and watch offensive lines fail to figure out how to deal with him.
A pair of freshman stars?
Bo Jackson’s going to have a lot of opportunities this spring. The running back room is deep with talent, but only four are available this spring. Fellow freshman Isaiah West is still rehabbing an injury and Turbo Rogers won’t get here until the summer.
The only real hierarchy right now is that James Peoples and West Virginia transfer CJ Donaldson are probably at the top. Even that isn’t set in stone. Carlos Locklyn is already infatuated with Jackson in a way that could open up a chance for him to play early and often as a true freshman.
The same can be said of Devin Sanchez, the nation’s top cornerback. Jeremiah Smith changed the way people think about what freshmen are capable of being around here. But did he change it too much?
Are we getting ahead of ourselves with Sanchez by expecting more of him than what might even be reasonable? Or did he just watch what Smith did and get inspired to want to repeat it?
Where is the depth at nickel?
Jordan Hancock spent his entire career being drastically overrated. He might’ve been the most valuable piece of Ohio State’s defense and it takes him leaving for us to realize that.
Where is the depth at nickel?
Jordan Hancock spent his entire career being drastically overrated. He might’ve been the most valuable piece of Ohio State’s defense and it takes him leaving for us to realize that.
Up next at nickel are questions that OSU has been driving to answer even before Hancock graduated. The safe Day 1 starter is Lorenzo Styles Jr., who is in his third year as a cornerback since transferring from Notre Dame. Behind him are talented youth, with Bryce West being a name to keep an eye on.
