Ohio State opened fall camp last Thursday, and the early signs out of Columbus point to a roster with a few players already pushing for bigger roles.
With younger Buckeyes settling in and incoming talent picking up the scheme, Ryan Day and his staff are trying to sort out who can help right away. That task matters more than usual this year, with Ohio State needing to replace 10 starters from last season and aiming to get back to the College Football Playoff for the third straight season.
A few names have already started to separate themselves.
On offense, Devin McCuin is making a strong case that he can fill the void left by Carnell Tate after Tate went to the draft last season. Ohio State needed another option alongside Jeremiah Smith and Brandon Inniss, and McCuin has been one of the early answers.
He stood out in team drills when camp began, flashing big-play speed and a knack for finding space over the middle. He’s been a frequent target for Julian Sayin, and while he was initially viewed as a slot rotation piece with Inniss, his camp work could push him into an every-down role.
The senior brings real production too, with nearly 1,700 yards and 16 touchdowns at UTSA over three seasons.
The defensive line has its own early surge, and Houston is right in the middle of it. He was expected to have a big season next to second-round NFL draft pick Kayden McDonald last year before a right knee injury derailed things.
Now, he looks poised for the breakout many around the program have been waiting on from the former top-50 recruit. Houston has shown flashes as both a run stopper and a pass rusher, and with five of the seven starters in the defensive front gone to the NFL last season, his emergence has become a major development for Matt Patricia.
Paired with Alabama transfer James Smith, he could help form one of the most intimidating defensive tackle duos in the country.
Then there’s the backfield, where Bo Jackson’s huge freshman season in 2025 had plenty of people ready to hand him the job as the clear lead runner this fall. Isaiah West has complicated that picture.
West finished with five games of over 40 yards rushing behind Jackson last season, and he’s looked good in the new offensive setup under Arthur Smith. He’s currently splitting first-team reps with Jackson, bringing speed and a real threat as a receiver out of the backfield.
That fits what Smith has done before, too: during his last two years as offensive coordinator of the Pittsburgh Steelers, his running back room produced more than 600 yards receiving in each season. If that trend carries over to Columbus, West could carve out a major role on passing downs.
In Other News...
Ohio States Quarterback Pipeline Looks Dangerous For Years To Come
Christopher Vargas commitment gives Ohio State another layer to its quarterback picture, and it only adds to a room that already includes Julian Sayin and Tavien St. Clair. With Sayin expected to finish this season and St. Clair projected to follow for another year or two, the Buckeyes now have the kind of depth that lets them think about succession far beyond one recruiting cycle.
Vargas brings a different style and skill set than the quarterbacks already in place, which is part of what makes the whole setup so intriguing for Ohio State. If the pieces line up the way the Buckeyes hope, they could keep a five-star-caliber quarterback at the center of the offense for years, with each passer bringing something a little different before the next one takes over. [Read more 🡒]
Jalen McCuin Is Giving Ohio State Fans A New Reason To Watch
Early fall camp is giving Ohio State a better sense of what its receiving room might look like beyond Jeremiah Smith, and Jalen McCuin has quickly become part of that conversation. The transfer has drawn notice for the way he has settled in and positioned himself as a player worth watching as the Buckeyes sort out who can handle a larger workload once the season begins.
McCuins rise matters because Ohio State is not just looking for bodies at the position, it is looking for reliable separation behind its top target. The early impression around camp is that he has put himself in the mix for a meaningful role, which adds another layer to a receiver battle that already has plenty at stake for players trying to earn trust before the real games arrive. [Read more 🡒]
Ohio State Freshman Is Suddenly Changing The Buckeyes Secondary Battle
Ohio States secondary has been one of the cleaner little battles to watch in fall camp, and freshman cornerback Jay Timmons has quickly forced his way into the conversation. The Buckeyes have given him plenty of work at the nickel spot, and the early returns have been strong enough to get the attention of both teammates and coaches as the team sorts through roles before the season begins.
Timmons rise matters because nickel is one of those spots where trust can matter as much as talent, and a freshman suddenly pushing for meaningful snaps changes the shape of the depth chart. If his camp momentum keeps building, Ohio State may have to make some difficult decisions about how it wants to divide playing time among the rest of its defensive backs. [Read more 🡒]