Two weeks into Ohio State’s fall camp, the Buckeyes are already sorting out which players are forcing their way into bigger jobs and which ones may have a tougher path to keep the same level of volume this season.
A few of the most revealing developments have come in the backfield, where Isaiah West has made a real push. West has split first-team reps with Bo Jackson, and his skill set looks tailor-made for what new offensive coordinator Arthur Smith wants to do.
Jackson is still expected to handle the bulk of the carries and remains the steady option on running downs after winning the starting job midseason in 2025. But West’s speed and hands have stood out in passing situations, and that could matter a lot in an offense that figures to throw to its backs more than Ohio State has in recent years.
That also creates a tougher outlook for Jackson than many expected. He’s still projected to lead the rushing workload, but West’s fit in the passing game and his ability to take advantage of a hot hand could chip away at the total touches Jackson was supposed to get. West also showed he can run the ball effectively on limited work last season, and Smith has a history of leaning into whichever back is rolling in a given matchup.
On the defensive line, Beau Atkinson has put himself in position to grab the starting end spot next to Kenyatta Jackson Jr. in Matt Patricia’s defense. After a disappointing 2025 season, Atkinson opened eyes in Ohio State’s spring game with an interception and a sack, looking a lot more like the player who produced 7.5 sacks as a sophomore at North Carolina in 2024. He’s still battling Alabama transfer Qua Russaw, but his comfort in the scheme and overall familiarity seem to have given him the early edge.
Not every transfer addition has popped the same way. There was plenty of buzz around Hero Kanu and James Smith when they arrived, but camp has made it look like Kanu may be the one on the outside looking in for now.
Eddrick Houston and Smith have been two of the biggest winners up front, and both have shown enough to suggest Ohio State may not treat that spot like a simple rotation. Instead, Houston and Smith could become a steady one-two punch in the middle.
Kanu still should see the field after flashing major upside at UCF, but his role may end up smaller than it seemed when he first committed to Columbus earlier this year.
Julian Sayin has looked sharp, and he’s still expected to be in the Heisman conversation, but the real reason he lands among the winners is the support around him. Ryan Day wanted the offensive line settled early, and that appears to be happening with four returning starters from last year plus Ian Moore at left tackle.
That kind of continuity is a big deal, and it should keep Sayin cleaner than most quarterbacks get. Add in the early production from Devin McCuin, Chris Henry Jr., and Brock Boyd at receiver, and Sayin suddenly has a lot more to work with.
On the other side of the ball, the cornerback room is giving Matt Patricia more options than he may have expected. That depth is part of why Davison Igbinosun ends up in the loser column here, even though his play hasn’t defined the issue.
He struggled in coverage last Thursday, and the rise of sophomore Devin Sanchez and Georgia transfer Dominick Kelly could make the position more rotational. Freshman Jay Timmons has also impressed early enough to lose his black stripe earlier this week.
Igbinosun still comes into the season as the clear top corner after earning third-team All-Big Ten honors last year. But if Kelly keeps pushing for snaps and Sanchez makes the jump many around the program expect, Ohio State may find it harder to keep all of those defensive backs off the field.
In Other News...
Ohio State May Already Have Another Freshman Receiver Fans Need To Watch
Even with the Buckeyes already carrying the usual buzz around their receiver room, Chris Henry Jr. has become one of the early freshman names worth tracking as the program looks ahead to 2026. The profile around him is part of a broader look at five incoming wideouts around college football, but Henry stands out for Ohio State because the expectations are already high before he has played a snap in earnest.
Early practice impressions have only added to the attention, and the appeal here is obvious for Buckeyes fans who know how often Ohio State has turned receiver recruiting into an offensive advantage. Henry is projected to be part of a deeper wave of freshmen who could matter right away for their teams, and the next question is how quickly that promise turns into a defined role once the competition inside the room really starts to sort itself out. [Read more 🡒]
Arthur Smith Could Be Ryan Days Biggest Ohio State Win Yet
Ryan Days latest staff move gives Ohio State a new look on offense, and it comes at a moment when the Buckeyes are trying to keep their standard high after Brian Hartline left for South Florida. Day turned to Arthur Smith, the former Steelers offensive coordinator, to fill the vacancy, and Smiths arrival brings an NFL rsum and a different kind of credibility to a room that has long been central to Ohio States identity.
What makes the hire interesting is that Smith passed on other opportunities to take the job in Columbus, drawn by the chance to work with young players and make a broader impact. With returning starters in place, the Buckeyes now have a coordinator whose style could help push the offense forward, and the real question is how quickly Smith can translate that background into results in his first season in charge. [Read more 🡒]
Former Ohio State DE Adds To A Frustrating Transfer Pattern
Omari Abors path has become another reminder of how unpredictable the transfer market can be for former Ohio State players looking for a fresh start. After leaving the Buckeyes following the 2023 season, the former defensive end spent 2024 at SMU and finished with just two tackles, a brief stop for a player who arrived in college with plenty of pedigree and expectations.
Abor now appears on Akrons roster for 2026 after not playing in 2025, taking advantage of an NCAA eligibility extension in the process. For Ohio State, it adds one more entry to a long-running conversation about how often transfers find the roles they wanted after leaving Columbus, and how quickly a change of scenery can turn into another detour instead of a reset. [Read more 🡒]