Ohio State vs Ball State is approaching fast, meaning the Ohio State Buckeyes will soon start their campaign to rule the College Football world once again. If you’re an Ohio State fan, this is the place to be. We will be introducing you to the guys that will lead the Buckeyes through this seasonFrom the top tier talent on offense, to their stifling defense, we have got it all covered! Let’s jump into the 2026-2027 Ohio State Buckeyes!

Note: On offense, we will only be looking at starters and in some positions, second stringers. On defense, we will just be looking at projected starters. 

Quarterback

Julian Sayin: Julian is back for his second season as the Buckeyes’ starting QB. He brings many winning traits to Columbus. To start, his accuracy is elite. He set an Ohio State and Big Ten single-season record last season, completing 77% of his passes. Julian also brings extreme poise that reverberates through the entire offense. His decision-making is a strength, highlighted at times by his quick trigger and high-level anticipation. However, this still is something he is developing as he has started some games making poor decisions, throwing early interceptions against Michigan, Indiana, and Miami last year. If he can clean that up, Julian is a Heisman contender. On top of Julian’s individual talent, he is throwing to arguably the best WR in the country, Jeremiah Smith.

Tavien St. Clair: Tavien is heading into his Sophomore season at OSU, and is backing up Sayin for the second year in a row. This is a great opportunity for him to continue to develop and learn behind an elite QB. Once Sayin has moved to the next level, the path will be clear for Tavien. He will be prepared and ready for the highest level of College Football.

Running Back

Bo Jackson: Bo is back for his sophomore year at Ohio State after an impressive freshman season. He rushed for 1,090 yards and six touchdowns in 2025. He brings elite ground production, averaging 6.1 yards per carry. Jackson is also not afraid to get downhill, bringing an extremely physical presence to Ohio State. He will look to make a jump this season, however, he has already shown his potential to be one of the top RBs in the nation during his freshman year. Bo bulked up this off-season, adding muscle in order to improve his ability to shed tackles and burst through contact. He jumped from 210 pounds to 220. He is also a reliable pass-catcher out of the backfield, putting up 19 catches for 200 yards last season. Jackson will be a key for the Buckeyes success this year.

Isaiah West: Isaiah is the second string RB for the Buckeyes this year. He has a very different run style than Jackson. West is patient and tactical, forcing missed tackles with his quick feet and sharp vision. He is a reliable pass-blocker, keeping Julian Sayin out of danger. Along with Jackson, he is a reliable pass-catcher. West has a three-down skill set, meaning he can certainly fill in for Jackson. Expect Isaiah to take on an increasing role this season despite being a second-stringer.

Wide Receiver

Jeremiah Smith: Everyone knows Jeremiah Smith, the WR is absolutely phenomenal. He is a bonafied Heisman contender, looking to go for it all this year. His raw talent and athleticism are deadly by themselves. On top of that, his route-running is on another level. Jeremiah will be the best WR in the nation this year. He’s bulked up this offseason and is looking like a unit, jumping from 215 pounds to 225. To add fuel to the fire, despite being at the top of all college WRs during his tenure, he has not won the Biletnikoff award for best WR in college football. He was seen looking at the Biletnikoff plaque during Big 10 Media Day. This shows his hunger and extra motivation this year.

Chris Henry Jr: Chris was a huge focus for Ohio State when recruiting, and they were able to grab him. The freshman is a pure athlete, playing WR and DB in high school. On top of that, he is a whopping 6′ 5″ and 205 pounds. In his Spring Game debut, he put up four receptions, 96 yards, and a touchdown. He showcased his ability to create explosive plays and catch tough balls. Chris was the top WR in the 2026 class, showing the true value he will bring to The Shoe.

Brandon Inniss: The senior is a leader for the Buckeyes this year, as he was voted by his peers to be a team captain. He constantly gets high praise for his work ethic and team-first attitude. His main purpose is to provide a consistent opposite side option for star Jeremiah Smith. He forces defenses to respect the perimeter, preventing double teams on other players. He is extremely talented at adding explosive runs after the catch. Brandon is a glue guy who helps round out an amazing WR room.

Devin McCuin: Devin is a transfer from UTSA, where he dominated. He brings proven veteran experience, explosive speed, and vital depth to an already loaded WR room. He has proven that he can produce at a high level, putting up 65 catches for 726 yards and eight touchdowns in 2025 alone. Devin has a strong IQ and is great at finding open space. He is a great additional opposite side complement to phenom Jeremiah Smith.

Tight End

Nate Roberts: Nate is the current favorite to take the TE1 spot for the Buckeyes. He brings versatility to an extremely athletic offense. Nate was able to function as more than a route-runner last year, blocking all around the line of scrimmage and in the backfield. He takes on an extremely high usage rate. The Buckeyes don’t need anymore star-studded pass catchers, they need nitty-gritty guys to create opportunities for their stars. Nate is exactly that. He stretches the seam, operates well with open space, and transitions from blocker to receiver within the same design with ease.

Hunter Welcing: Hunter is a transfer from Northwestern and is entering his seventh year of College Football. His experience is a key aspect of his game. He may be able to cover or fill for Roberts in some situations. His experience should help guide Nate as he continues to develop. Despite being a complementary piece, he has shown that he can produce at a high level in the Big Ten. Last season, he put up 28 catches, 296 yards, and two TDs. Welcing and Roberts bounce off each other really well and will be a complementary duo this season.

Offensive Line

Luke Montgomery: Luke is returning for his senior year. Last season, he started all 14 games (870 snaps) and was voted on Second Team All-Big Ten.

Carson Hinzman: Carson is also returning for his senior year at OSU. He started all 14 games last season with 841 total snaps. He was a Third Team All-Big Ten honoree.

Austin Siereveld: Austin is back for his junior year with the Buckeyes. He also started all 14 games last season (810 snaps). Austin was a member of the Second Team All-Big Ten.

Phillip Daniels: Phillip is also returning for his junior year and started in 13 games last season. He played a total of 761 snaps. Daniels was also on the Third Team All-Big Ten.

Ian Moore: Ian is a redshirt sophomore who appeared in all 14 games last season. He totaled 230 snaps this year and is stepping up into a big-time role. The rest of the OL will have his back.

If you haven’t picked up on a theme yet, this OL has a lot of continuity and talent on the roster. Last year’s squad only let up 16 sacks. However, 10 of them were in OSU’s two postseason matchups. This means they let up a mere six in 12 regular season games. Julian Sayin is in good hands. 

Defensive Line

Kenyatta Jackson Jr: Kenyatta will be a star for the Buckeyes’ defense this season. Last year, he put up 6.5 sacks and 11 tackles for loss. He serves as the anchor and primary face of OSU’s defensive front. His explosive speed off the edge is deadly, disrupting backfields and taking over games. He is also extremely versatile moving across the line on different defensive fronts, which can confuse opponents. 

John Walker: John’s best trait is his physical frame. He sits at a whopping 6′ 4″ , 324 pounds. On top of that, he brings proven interior line experience from his time at UCF. Walker is extremely talented at shutting down run games up the middle. He plugs gaps using his wingspan and frees up LBs in the process. He started all 12 games for UCF last season, putting up 40 tackles and 3.0 TFLs.

James Smith: James is a 4* transfer (per 24/7) from Alabama, starting 12 games for the Crimson Tide. Last season, he put up 28 tackles, 4.5 TFLs, and 2.5 sacks. He brings an extremely high athletic upside, showing explosive flashes and high-level agility that OSU wants to maximize this season.

Beau Atkinson: Beau was a solid piece for the Buckeyes last year, now he steps into a starting role. He had 11 tackles, 2.5 TFLs, and a sack last season. He will look to expand on those numbers this year and take on a “top-dog” role. In 2024, he played for UNC and put up 12.0 TFLs and 7.5 sacks. This shows that he has the potential to put up elite numbers at the P4 level.

Linebackers

Christian Alliegro: Christian brings veteran Big Ten experience, large size, and proven pass-rushing skills. He stands at 6′ 4″, 247 pounds. Christian transferred from Wisconsin, where he put up 8.0 TFLs and 4.0 sacks in his final season with the Badgers. He brings toughness and grit to the squad, as he demonstrated last year by playing against Ohio State with a broken arm. 

Payton Pierce: Payton is coming off an honorable mention for the All-Big Ten team last season. He put up 43 tackles, 1.5 TFLs, an interception (INT) and a forced fumble (FF). Pierce has a relentless “hard-hat motor.” He brings great vocal leadership to the squad. He is also excellent at stuffing the run, shedding blocks, and diagnosing plays at a quick rate.

Secondary

Jermaine Matthews Jr: Jermaine is the leader of the Secondary this season after making Third Team All-Big Ten last year. He started all 14 games, putting up 26 tackles, two INTs, and one FF. His football IQ and raw talent is at a high level, as shown by his ability to lock down any area where he is needed. He also brings high-level energy and swagger to this OSU squad.

Jaylen McClain: Jaylen brings physical play to OSU this year, as he is well-known for his explosive tackling at the line of scrimmage. He will also serve as the primary signal-caller for the defense, meaning he has to keep the Secondary organized at all times. McClain combines his range as a safety with his movement and flexibility of a cornerback. He was a Third Team All-Big Ten member last season.

Terry Moore: Terry is an interesting piece on this roster; he missed all of last year due to a torn ACL. However, in 2024, he put up 71 tackles, 7.0 TFLs, four INTs, two FF, and six pass deflections at Duke. He was Second Team-All ACC. Moore is expected to start at DB. However, there is uncertainty on how well he will perform after a whole season off. He was a lockdown corner at Duke, putting up some of the best coverage in the nation.

Devin Sanchez: Devin played in 13 games as a true freshman for OSU last season. He was a 5* recruit in the Class of 2025. He has elite size and physicality, standing at 6′ 2″, almost 200 pounds. Sanchez is extremely talented at staying tight on defenders. He has extremely high levels of confidence and swagger for a sophomore. Last year, he logged major minutes against elite teams like Miami. That experience will help him feel comfortable taking on a bigger role this season. 

Earl Little Jr: Earl is a transfer from Florida State, leading them with 76 tackles, four INTs, and two FFs. He has positional versatility, as he is able to play safety and cornerback. He is expected to come in and jump right into the starting lineup, helping to lead the team. During Spring practice, he was the first newcomer to shed his black stripe, earning respect quickly. The black stripe signifies that a freshman, transfer, or walk-on has not yet earned the full right to be considered a legitimate member of the team

Next up is Special Teams!

Special Teams

Connor Hawkins: Placekicker

Joe McGuire: Punter

Dalton Riggs: Longsnapper

Brandon Inniss: Kick Returner

Wrap-Up

There you have it, the Ohio State Buckeyes. These guys are extremely talented and have the potential to win it all this year. If they do, it will be thanks to the immense level of talent spread throughout the team. From the pure athleticism of Jeremiah Smith to the lock down coverage of Jermaine Matthews Jr, the Buckeyes have it all. Ryan Day has done the recruiting half of the job extremely well. Now, can he produce a high-quality product on the field? Below, I will put a list of goals for this team. How many will the Buckeyes achieve under Day in year eight?

Beat Michigan

12-0

Big 10 Champions

National Champions

Jeremiah Smith or Julian Sayin Heisman

Links

Contact me on X/Twitter @SSM_CL with any questions!

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