Ohio State’s transfer haul was built to help replace 10 starters, and a few of those newcomers are already lined up to play right away. Terry Moore and Christian Alliegro are expected to be Week 1 starters, but not every high-profile addition is walking into camp with a clear path.
For three Buckeyes, this month matters a lot. They arrived with real expectations, but each one still has to win a job before the season starts.
At defensive end, Russaw brings the kind of résumé that gets attention fast. The Alabama transfer posted 36 tackles and two interceptions as a sophomore, then saw his junior-year role shrink, with action in four fewer games and about half the snaps he played before. That was enough to spark plenty of excitement when he landed in Columbus, especially with Buckeye fans seeing him as a possible replacement for NFL Draft pick Caden Curry.
The problem is the room he walked into. Ohio State’s defensive end group is crowded, and Russaw is not just competing with one obvious challenger.
He’ll have to fight off North Carolina transfer from last season Beau Atkinson and incoming sophomore Zion Grady for the spot next to returning starter Kenyatta Jackson Jr. If Russaw doesn’t separate himself early, he could slide into more of a rotational role once the games begin.
Walker’s path is just as unsettled, even if the position group is different. The former UCF contributor earned a spot on the True Freshman All-American Team in 2023 after finishing with 24 tackles and five tackles for loss, but his sophomore season didn’t bring the jump many expected. He added 16 tackles and had three fewer tackles for loss.
Ohio State’s interior defensive line only brings back one starter in Eddrick Houston, which opens the door. But it also means Walker has real competition, with Alabama transfer James Smith and returning Buckeye Will Smith Jr. both in the mix. Smith looks like the current favorite after putting up 6.5 tackles for loss and 2.5 sacks last season for the Crimson Tide.
Walker does have one trait working in his favor: size. He stands an inch taller than Smith and could offer more of a threat to knock down passes next to Houston, who also checks in at 6 '3".
If he can show the same kind of backfield disruption Smith brings, he can make this a real battle. Right now, though, he appears headed for a backup role.
Parker may be the most overlooked of the group at the moment. He joined late in the portal process, and after showing redzone ability for LSU last season, he looked like a useful depth piece for the Ohio State offense. But the buzz around him has been quiet compared with some of the other receivers in camp.
Chris Henry Jr., UTSA transfer Devin McCuin, and even freshman Brock Boyd have drawn praise for making plays, while Parker has not produced the kind of standout moment that changes the conversation. He is still expected to be part of the rotation, but if he can’t match the explosive plays others have made, his role may end up smaller than originally expected.
In Other News...
Jeremiah Smith Just Put Serious Weight Behind One Buckeyes Freshman
Big Ten Media Days usually bring the usual summer polish, but Jeremiah Smith gave Ohio State a little more than a canned answer when the conversation turned to freshman receiver Brock Boyd. Smith made it clear he has noticed Boyds playmaking already, and the praise carried extra weight coming from the Buckeyes top returning wideout, who knows what it looks like when a young receiver starts earning trust quickly.
Boyds path into the lineup is part of a broader competition that is still taking shape, with five receivers battling for three steady spots behind Smith. Brandon Inniss, Devin McCuin, Kyle Parker and Chris Henry Jr. are all in that mix, and Boyds emergence only adds another layer to a group that is trying to sort itself out before the season gets rolling. [Read more 🡒]
Ryan Day Just Hinted At An Ohio State Line Shakeup
Ohio States offensive line is still in the middle of a reset after last seasons uneven play, and Ryan Day made it clear the staff is not treating the coming weeks as a formality. With four starters back and a vacancy at right guard after Tegra Tshabolas departure, the Buckeyes are trying to sort out a group that can give the offense more stability and help quarterback Julian Sayin settle in with a cleaner picture up front.
Day pointed to Phillip Daniels as one of the players whose practice work could help determine the best five, and that kind of flexibility matters because the staff is still weighing how the pieces fit. The right guard competition is part of it, but so is the broader question of whether Ohio State can lock in a lineup early enough to avoid another season of shuffling, especially with Day saying this is the deepest the line has been since he took over. [Read more 🡒]
National Buzz Is Building Around Ohio States Next Receiver Threat
National attention is starting to follow Chris Henry Jr., and for good reason. Pete Nakos recently put the Ohio State freshman on his list of true freshmen who could make an immediate impact this season, a sign that the buzz around the receiver room is already reaching beyond Columbus. With Jeremiah Smith established as the headliner, the Buckeyes are still sorting out who else can step into meaningful snaps, and Henry Jr. has the kind of talent that keeps him in that conversation.
The opportunity is real because the depth chart behind Smith is still unsettled, leaving several young receivers to battle for limited spots. If Henry Jr. keeps flashing in camp, he could put himself in position to matter right away, which is exactly why his name is drawing so much interest before the season even starts. For Ohio State, the appeal is obvious: another high-end receiver threat emerging early would only deepen a room that already carries plenty of intrigue. [Read more 🡒]