July is here, which means Ohio State’s offseason clock is almost up and the real sorting starts soon. The Buckeyes have work to do before the opener, and a few of the biggest questions aren’t about who will play - they’re about where those players will line up.
That matters more this year than usual after Ohio State lost four first-round picks. The roster still has plenty of talent, but Ryan Day has some real decisions ahead once practice begins. Among the spots worth watching, three stand out above the rest.
The most obvious one is at receiver. Jeremiah Smith is locked in as the top option and, as the source put it, “He's the best receiver in the country and will be the best weapon in the country.” The real debate is who lines up opposite him after Carnell Tate was the fourth overall pick in the NFL Draft in April.
Chris Henry Jr. looks like the leading candidate. The true freshman arrived as a five-star recruit and flashed during the Spring Game, but he’s still an unknown at the college level, even with the obvious talent.
Brandon Inniss and Kyle Parker are also in the mix. Inniss may have two years of eligibility left under the new NCAA rules, but neither he nor Parker has done enough in a Buckeyes uniform to make this feel settled.
That second receiver spot is going to draw plenty of attention.
Safety is another spot with a clear opening. Caleb Downs is now with the Dallas Cowboys, leaving one starting job available.
Jaylen McClain is set at one safety spot, and Terry Moore appears to be the front-runner to join him. Moore transferred from Duke but missed all of last season with a knee injury.
Ohio State has also heard Moore described as the perfect replacement for Downs, though that still has to be proven on the field. Malik Hartford is the main challenger, while true freshman Blaine Bradford could make a run at the job. LeRoy Roker is also in the conversation.
The third battle may end up affecting the whole offense: right guard. Austin Siereveld started at left tackle last season and handled it well, which would normally suggest keeping him there. But with no clear answer at right guard, the Buckeyes may need to reshuffle.
If Siereveld moves inside, Ian Moore could end up at left tackle. If Siereveld stays put, then Josh Padilla or Gabe VanSickle would likely be the answer at right guard. Neither player was consistent in stretches late last season, which is why this decision carries so much weight.
Those are the three spots Ohio State fans should be tracking closely once practice gets rolling.
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The difficult part of McMillans story was always the attrition, with injuries repeatedly interrupting his momentum and forcing him to keep rebuilding from scratch. After spending last season without a team, his latest post closed the book on a career that had plenty of stops but never quite the clean ending players and fans usually hope for. [Read more 🡒]