We are less than a month away from Big Ten football media days, and less than two months away from the start of the 2025 college football season, meaning you’ll get to watch YOUR Ohio State Buckeyes defend their College Football Playoff national title very soon.
To do it, though, Ohio State will have to replace several key starters off of a team that saw 14 players selected in the 2025 NFL draft. There’s never a talent shortage in Columbus, but breaking in a new starting quarterback, some key skill position players on offense, and a slew of defensive veterans will be no easy task.
There isn’t time either for a slow boil development this coming fall, because the Buckeyes host what will most likely be a top-three ranked Texas Longhorns team to break the seal on the season. At a place like Ohio State, simply reloading and having grace for the program to rebuild after an all-timer of a team won’t cut it because of the expectations the fanbase, alumni, and administration heap on broad Scarlet and Gray shoulders.
Here at Buckeyes Wire, we like to take a stab at projecting the starting two-deep depth chart, and now that we’re getting closer and closer to the season with spring ball and the Spring Game past us, we have a decent idea of what the depth chart will look like. Yes, there are still key position battles to hammer out, but here’s how we see things looking when Ohio State runs out of the tunnel on Aug. 30 to get things crankin’ again this fall.
We start on the offensive side of the ball with defense and special teams to follow in the coming days.
Quarterback
Starter | Julian Sayin
Backup | Lincoln Kienholz
Where Things Stand
Ryan Day is still holding to the notion that this is a close competition between the former 5-star Alabama transfer in Julian Sayin, and Kineholz, who is about as athletic as they come and can provide the Buckeyes with a little more when it comes to dual-threat ability. Ultimately, it’ll come down to which quarterback gives Ohio State the best chance to move the ball. With guys like Jeremiah Smith and Carnell Tate on the outside, we like Sayin to get the nod with his accuracy, command, and release.
Running Back
Starter | James Peoples
Backup | CJ Donaldson
Where Things Stand
You can bet that Day and staff will try to replicate a two-back backfield going forward with this new model. To try and accomplish that, Ohio State went out and got veteran running back CJ Donaldson from West Virginia to pair with Peoples. This could go either way, with Donaldson being a bigger back and Peoples being more of the shifty option, with both getting significant playing time barring any surprises.
Wide Receiver (X)
Starter | Jeremiah Smith
Backup | Quincy Porter
Where Things Stand
Smith has this position locked down on any football team — including maybe NFL clubs until he moves on. The best player in college football will be a problem again for defenses. Behind him aren’t options with a lot of experience, but Porter has the skill to spell Smith when he isn’t in the game. He had a great spring and we should see him on the field, it just remains to be seen how much.
Wide Receiver (Z)
Starter | Carnell Tate
Backup | Mylan Graham
Where Things Stand
Much like Smith is locked in as the No. 1 option on the outside, Tate will be written in ink on the other outside position. He showed off his skill set and upside last year in several spots, and now that Emeka Egbuka is off to the NFL, he’ll be the next man up. With all the attention Smith will command, Tate could have a very big year. Behind him, depending on where the coaching staff wants to slide him, Mylan Graham has to also see the field with what we saw from him in the spring.
Wide Receiver (Slot)
Starter | Brandon Inniss
Backup | Bryson Rodgers
Where Things Stand
While Smith and Tate have things nailed down on the outside, the slot position is a little more open. While Bryson Rodgers will push for playing time, Inniss has the best combination of skill and experience to round out the starting rotation. Don’t be surprised if Rodgers starts to cut into some of the snaps as the season goes on.
Tight End
Starter | Max Klare
Backup | Will Kacmarek
Where Things Stand
Kacmarek and Jelani Thurman would have been a very good one/two combination at the position, but then Ohio State went out and got one of the best tight ends in the country when it lured Max Klare to Columbus from Purdue. He should immediately be a playmaker in an offense that already has a wealth of options in the passing game. He’ll get many more opportunities as the starter, but the other two guys will also rotate in from time to time.
Center
Starter | Carson Hinzman
Backup | Joshua Padilla
Where Things Stand
Hinzman was the starter here before Alabama transfer Seth McLaughlin showed up and took the spot over to start last season. Karma was kind to Hinzman after perhaps being in the doghouse, though, when McLaughlin was lost for the year because of injury. He stepped back in and was an anchor on a line that continued to improve through the memorable CFP title run. There’s little doubt that he’ll be the man in the middle again in 2025. Padilla is a talent waiting for his turn, and he will be ready to provide relief when needed. It gets pretty thin beyond that without shuffling the deck.
Left Tackle
Starter | Ethan Onianwa
Backup | Ian Moore
Where Things Stand
Ohio State went out and got Onianwa out of the transfer portal from Rice for a reason. His experience will be counted on to be penciled in as the starter to protect the quarterback’s blind side. Behind him, Ian Moore showed very well in the spring and could even push for a starting spot somewhere else on the line, but right now, he’s waiting in the wings should Onianwa go down.
Right Tackle
Starter | Austin Siereveld
Backup | Philip Daniels
Where Things Stand
The coaching staff has already come out and awarded Siereveld a starting spot, and right tackle looks and feels like the option he’ll land at. His development and steady play is being rewarded and he should be solid option to help lock down the right side of the line. Daniels could really flash in the fall and push for time here or guard, but there’s not much time for that to happen. He’ll be a big part of things in future years.
Left Guard
Starter | Luke Montgomery
Backup | Devontae Armstrong
Coming off a strong late-season performance, including more and more excellent play as the postseason wore on, look for Luke Montgomery to be the answer here. Behind him is a little more unknown. For now, we’ll pencil in Devontae Armstrong, but don’t be surprised if there is shuffling up and down the line as needed, especially with the depth positions.
Right Guard
Starter | Tegra Tshabola
Backup | Gabe VanSickle
Where Things Stand
This is the position less locked in than the rest on the line. Tshabola got the bulk of the reps in spring, so unless someone else jumps out in the fall, he’ll probably run out as the guy in Week 1. However, look out for Ian Moore to through a wrench in all of this if he flashes in preseason camp and pushes Tshabola out by moving here as the coaches try to get the best five in the lineup. VanSickle got a decent amount of time in the spring and could be the answer here if depth is needed.
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This article originally appeared on Buckeyes Wire: Ohio State football 2025 projected depth chart on offense, summer edition
Reporting by Phil Harrison, Buckeyes Wire / Buckeyes Wire
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