Ohio State’s transfer haul brought plenty of new names to Columbus this offseason, but not every addition is lined up for a major role in 2026.
Two of the Buckeyes’ newcomers, running back Jackson and cornerback Cameron Calhoun, look like they may have a hard time breaking through crowded depth charts once the season gets rolling.
Jackson arrives after a long road through college football. He began at Coahoma Community College in 2020 and spent three seasons there before transferring to Florida in 2023.
That year turned into a redshirt season, but he finally got on the field in 2024 and made it count, rushing for 509 yards and seven touchdowns on 95 carries. His 2025 season, however, was interrupted by an upper-body injury and ended up being another redshirt year.
Ohio State’s interest in Jackson makes sense on paper, especially when viewed alongside last season’s addition of West Virginia running back CJ Donaldson Jr. The difference is that Donaldson walked into a much clearer opening in Columbus.
At the time, Ohio State had just lost TreVeyon Henderson and Quinshon Judkins to the NFL, which made Donaldson and James Peoples look like the top two backs. That picture didn’t last long.
True freshmen Bo Jackson and Isaiah West moved into the lead spots, and both are expected to be the Buckeyes’ No. 1 and No. 2 running backs this season. That leaves Jackson with a difficult path to meaningful touches.
Calhoun’s situation is similar in that talent alone may not be enough to crack the rotation right away. Ohio State brought him in from Alabama, and he has also spent time at Michigan and Utah, giving him a decent amount of college experience.
Even so, the cornerback room is already crowded. Devin Sanchez and Jermaine Mathews Jr. are ahead of him, and Dominick Kelly - another offseason addition, this one from Georgia - earned first-team reps on the first day of fall camp.
True freshman Jay Timmons also looks like a player who could carve out significant time this season.
That doesn’t mean Calhoun is without value. He may not be asked to carry a huge load, but he could end up being a useful depth piece if Ohio State’s corners start getting nicked up. And in a season where teams always need reinforcements, having an experienced option like Calhoun around could matter more than it first appears.
In Other News...
Ohio State Freshman Is Pushing For A Receiver Role Sooner Than Expected
Ohio States freshman receiver room is already drawing attention in camp, and Brock Boyd has been one of the early names to watch. He and Chris Henry Jr. both had their black stripes removed, a small but meaningful sign that each is moving forward in the program, and Boyd in particular has earned praise from coaches and observers for how he has looked in early training camp work and scrimmage settings.
The timing matters for a Buckeyes offense that has room for young wideouts to carve out roles sooner than expected. With roster changes opening up playing time and multiple freshmen in the mix, Boyd has a real path to getting on the field this season if his early momentum continues, giving Ohio State another option as it reshapes the receiver rotation. [Read more 🡒]
Bo Jackson Gives Ohio State A New Reason To Trust The Run Game
Bo Jackson is already giving Ohio State a familiar kind of confidence in the backfield, and the latest sign came with his inclusion on the 2026 Doak Walker Award preseason watch list. The honor puts him among the nations top running backs entering the season, a fitting nod after a freshman year in which he rushed for 1,090 yards and scored six touchdowns while carving out a place in program history.
For a Buckeyes offense that always wants the ground game to travel, Jacksons rise matters beyond the individual recognition. He became one of the few true freshmen in Ohio State history to top 1,000 rushing yards, and now the question is how much farther he can push his role as the season unfolds, with semifinalists and finalists still to be sorted out before the award is handed out in December 2026. [Read more 🡒]
Ohio State Faces A Big QB Question Behind Julian Sayin
Ohio States quarterback room has a familiar kind of intrigue to it, the sort that comes with a program that expects every passer to be measured against the greats who came before him. Julian Sayin is set as the starter for 2026, but the more immediate question is who settles in behind him and positions himself as the next name in line. Tavien St. Clair, a highly rated sophomore, entered the conversation as the clear-looking backup and future successor, and his spring game showing only reinforced why the Buckeyes have been so high on his upside.
Preseason camp, though, has kept that pecking order from feeling settled. St. Clair is still regarded as a strong prospect, but the battle for the No. 2 job remains alive, with the staff getting a closer look before the season begins. For Ohio State, it is more than a depth-chart footnote. In a quarterback room that is always under a spotlight, the backup spot can say a lot about how the next chapter is taking shape. [Read more 🡒]