Ohio State Just Put A Trusted Veteran At The Center Of 2025

Brandon Inniss's exemplary leadership and versatility earn him Ohio State's prestigious Block "O" jersey, cementing his role as a key player both on and off the field.

Brandon Inniss is the latest Ohio State player to get one of the program’s most recognizable honors.

The fourth-year senior wide receiver has been selected to wear the Block “O” jersey this season, with head coach Ryan Day making the announcement at practice. Inniss now joins a short list of Buckeyes who have been trusted with a tradition built around more than production.

“Brandon is the right choice to wear the Block 'O' this season,” Day said in an OSU release. “It is an honor that represents much more than what a player does on the field.

It represents toughness, accountability, and character, and Brandon has earned the respect of everyone in our building through the way he works, prepares and serves his teammates. He is now a two-time captain who understands what it means to wear the Scarlet and Gray and the responsibility that comes with this program.

Brandon continues to grow as a leader, and he will represent the legacy of Bill Willis and everything the Block 'O' stands for the right way.”

Inniss, a 6-foot, 197-pound native of Hollywood, Fla., and graduate of American Heritage High School, has become a steady presence in the program over the last three seasons. He has played in 38 games and made six starts, all of them coming in 2025. He also returns as a team captain after serving in that role in 2025.

His 2025 season showed just how much Ohio State leaned on him. Inniss logged 552 snaps at wide receiver and on special teams, finishing with 35 catches for 271 yards and three touchdowns.

He also handled kick and punt returns, posting five kick returns for 66 yards and 17 punt returns for 181 yards. That work helped him earn All-Big Ten Special Teams Honorable Mention.

Before that, he was part of Ohio State’s national championship team in 2024, appearing in all 16 games. That season, he caught 14 passes for 176 yards and a touchdown, while adding three kick returns for 47 yards and 14 punt returns for 107 yards.

As a freshman in 2023, Inniss saw action in eight games and made one catch - a 58-yard touchdown from Devin Brown against Purdue.

The Block “O” itself has become one of Ohio State’s signature acknowledgments since Day launched the tradition in 2020. The jersey is tied to Bill Willis, the legendary Buckeye defensive end from 1942-44 who was an All-American and national champion at Ohio State before breaking the color barrier in the NFL with the Cleveland Browns. Willis was later inducted into both the Pro Football Hall of Fame and the College Football Hall of Fame, and his No. 99 is retired in Columbus.

Ohio State has used the honor to spotlight players who embody the values Willis represented: toughness, accountability and character. The selections have generally gone to players in their fourth or fifth year of eligibility, and the list has included defensive end Jonathon Cooper in 2020, offensive lineman Thayer Munford in 2021, wide receiver Kamryn Babb in 2022, wide receiver Xavier Johnson in 2023, linebacker Cody Simon in 2024 and linebacker Sonny Styles last year.

Inniss also enters the season on the Paul Hornung Award watch list, which goes to the most versatile player in college football. He was one of four Ohio State players named Iron Buckeyes after the team’s offseason training program.

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