2025 tOSU Offense Discussion

[shetuck]

I like both podcasts because between my commute or exercise, I can pretty much count on at least a hour of entertainment that is OSU centered.

Smith is bombastic for sure. Drew is funny.

I know what you are saying about Barton's breathing. I think he mentioned that he starts the pod following his afternoon stairmaster exercise routine. Lol

i don’t listen much to scoop, but they were the first ones to mention the tempestuous meeting between day and the players after the loss to ttun. they said they had “sources”. it was less than two weeks after the loss.

i don’t remember anyone else reporting for at least another two weeks. i would have imagined that at least carpenter and/or schlegel would have mentioned something about it, but they didn’t.

 

[RB07OSU]

Bruh, Stroud was here only 2 years ago. His release/arm strength combo was about as good as it gets

I know how good he is and yes, he had the best of those attributes of any QB we've had. But Sayin might be ahead of him, though CJ did have 2-3 inches on him from what I can tell. I just think his release, arm strength and angles will overcome any perceived issues with his size.

 

[MGMT]

For whatever reason, the thumbnail titles on Barton’s podcast annoys me more than any noises he makes during the show.

MASSIVE traffic citation coming for key plaher

BUZZ about MASSIVE implications

Stop with the fucking click bait titles or double down on it:

“You would NOT believe what these 3 assistance coaches said about anal porn.”

 

[Jaxbuck]

For whatever reason, the thumbnail titles on Barton’s podcast annoys me more than any noises he makes during the show.

MASSIVE traffic citation coming for key plaher

BUZZ about MASSIVE implications

Stop with the fucking click bait titles or double down on it:

“You would NOT believe what these 3 assistance coaches said about anal porn.”

Hahah

(What did they say?)

 

[buckeyemania11]

I know how good he is and yes, he had the best of those attributes of any QB we've had. But Sayin might be ahead of him, though CJ did have 2-3 inches on him from what I can tell. I just think his release, arm strength and angles will overcome any perceived issues with his size.

I'm not gonna say Sayin is going to throw for 4,400 yards and 44 TDs like Stroud did his first year as a starter. But the people acting like he's gonna be McCord are ridiculous.

 

[ScriptOhio]

Just sayin': Here's what "Our Lads" currently projects as the offense next year:

WR-X	4	Smith, Jeremiah SO	.	Porter, Quincy FR	82	Adolph, David RS JR
WR-Z	17	Tate, Carnell JR	13	Rodgers, Bryson RS SO
WR-Y	11	Inniss, Brandon JR	5	Graham, Mylan RS FR
LT	.	Onianwa, Ethan RS SR/TR	72	Armstrong, Deontae RS FR
LG	51	Montgomery, Luke JR	67	Siereveld, Austin RS SO	58	VanSickle, Gabe RS FR
C	75	Hinzman, Carson RS JR	62	Padilla, Joshua RS SO
RG	77	Tshabola, Tegra RS JR	73	Armstrong, Devontae RS FR	54	Wilson, Toby RS SR
RT	.	Daniels, Phillip RS SO/TR	69	Moore, Ian RS FR
TE	.	Klare, Max RS JR/TR	89	Kacmarek, Will RS SR/TR	15	Thurman, Jelani RS SO	85	Christian, Bennett RS JR
QB	10	Sayin, Julian RS FR/TR	3	Kienholz, Lincoln RS SO	.	St. Clair, Tavien FR
RB	.	Donaldson Jr., CJ SR/TR	20	Peoples, James SO	.	Rogers, Anthony FR	28	Caffey, TC RS JR

* The chart may not have been updated for the return of RB Williams-Dixon, unless they project him as 5th string.

Obviously transfers, injuries, and/or the play of incoming Freshman could effect the depth chart by 30 Aug 25 (vs Texas). Regardless the loss of Judkins, Egbuka, Simmons, Jackson, McLaughlin, Fryer, Scott, Howard, and Henderson leave some "big shoes" to fill for 2025.

 

[ScriptOhio]

How about discussing QB ? Just Sayin..

ESPN Predicts Ohio State Buckeyes' 2025 Starting QB

The Ohio State Buckeyes are gearing up for their national championship game matchup against the Notre Dame Fighting Irish in just under a week. After what has b

www.si.com

ESPN Predicts Ohio State Buckeyes' 2025 Starting QB​

ESPN has made their prediction for who will start at quarterback for the Ohio State Buckeyes in 2025.

The Ohio State Buckeyes are gearing up for their national championship game matchup against the Notre Dame Fighting Irish in just under a week. After what has been a rollercoaster of a season, they have a chance to end up on top.

Looking ahead to the 2025 season, Ohio State looks like a team that should be a top-tier contender to compete for another national championship. However, there have been some questions about their quarterback situation.

Will Howard will be leaving this offseason after graduating, which leaves two quarterbacks expected to battle it out for the starting job.

Both Julian Sayin and Tavien St. Clair are young and inexperienced quarterbacks. They are both also extremely talented and could end up being being stars.

With that being said, ESPN has made their projection for who will end up starting under center.

"The former five-star prospect landed at Ohio State only after enrolling at Alabama and entering the transfer portal after Nick Saban's retirement last January. Now, with Will Howard (NFL draft), Devin Brown (Cal) and Air Noland (South Carolina) all elsewhere, the path is clear for Sayin to step into the Buckeyes' starting role. Sayin got into only four games during his freshman season, but he impressed Ohio State's coaching staff with his development behind the scenes. In 2025, the pressure of the Buckeyes' quarterback job will fall on Sayin's shoulders as Ohio State turns to its youngest starter since C.J. Stroud took the reins in 2021."
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continued

Ryan Day says Ohio State's QB1 competition is 'wide open'

Head coach Ryan Day says the next Ohio State quarterback hasn't been determined.

fansided.com

Ryan Day says Ohio State's QB competition is still 'wide open'​

Exiting the 2024 season, pundits guessed backup passer Julian Sayin (an Alabama transfer) had the clearest path to the starting job. Day told reporters that isn't necessarily the case and that he expects a "fierce" quarterback competition.

"We’re excited to see those guys compete," Day told WBNS-TV. "This is an opportunity now for these guys to take it and run."

Sayin will have to compete with fellow backup Lincoln Kienholz and incoming freshman Tavien St. Clair during spring practices. He was the No. 8 overall player from the 2024 cycle according to On3 Industry Ranking. St. Clair was the No. 4 overall player (No. 3 QB) in 2025 and should offer some stiff competition to Sayin and Kienholz who already have a year of experience on the bench.

"I feel like there will be a lot of growth coming out of the spring and an opportunity for these guys to take it and run," Day continued. "It’s one thing when you’re a backup. It’s another thing when you’re actually running it."

Just sayin':

1. I guess Day has to say that to keep Lincoln Kienholz from transferring too. Obviously the 2023 Cotton Bowl wasn't an impressive showing by Kienholz and he never got a chance in 2024 (in an actual game) to show that he could do any better. In addition, I put much of the blame on Kienholz's poor Cotton Bowl performance on the coaches, i.e. lack of preparation/actual game experience. It appeared to me that after McCord elected to transfer the coaches put "all their chips on Brown" (who then got injured early in the game).
2. I just hope that Sayin becomes the 2025 QB1 and lives up to all the hype.
3. 2025 is yet another year that we could use probably use an experienced QB transfer like Gunnar Hoak (who didn't come in as the presumed starter) as a "backup QB insurance policy".

 

[RugbyBuck]

I think this is exactly what everyone needs to hear at this time of year. There’s plenty of time to settle in on a starter and neither of these guys (my undying bitch about Day) has gotten significant snaps. Let them compete and see who balls out. Throw TSC in there, too, to push them, at least from an athletic perspective as he’s not had time in the system.

I think Howard proved that you don’t have to be Stroud to win at tOSU. Lincoln could still be that guy, if he is that guy.

By all accounts, Sayin has had the right attitude to go with the arm and the processing speed, but he needs to go out and win it, if he’s our guy.

 

[pnuts34]

Just sayin': Here's what "Our Lads" currently projects as the offense next year:

WR-X	4	Smith, Jeremiah SO	.	Porter, Quincy FR	82	Adolph, David RS JR
WR-Z	17	Tate, Carnell JR	13	Rodgers, Bryson RS SO
WR-Y	11	Inniss, Brandon JR	5	Graham, Mylan RS FR
LT	.	Onianwa, Ethan RS SR/TR	72	Armstrong, Deontae RS FR
LG	51	Montgomery, Luke JR	67	Siereveld, Austin RS SO	58	VanSickle, Gabe RS FR
C	75	Hinzman, Carson RS JR	62	Padilla, Joshua RS SO
RG	77	Tshabola, Tegra RS JR	73	Armstrong, Devontae RS FR	54	Wilson, Toby RS SR
RT	.	Daniels, Phillip RS SO/TR	69	Moore, Ian RS FR
TE	.	Klare, Max RS JR/TR	89	Kacmarek, Will RS SR/TR	15	Thurman, Jelani RS SO	85	Christian, Bennett RS JR
QB	10	Sayin, Julian RS FR/TR	3	Kienholz, Lincoln RS SO	.	St. Clair, Tavien FR
RB	.	Donaldson Jr., CJ SR/TR	20	Peoples, James SO	.	Rogers, Anthony FR	28	Caffey, TC RS JR

* The chart may not have been updated for the return of RB Williams-Dixon, unless they project him as 5th string.

Obviously transfers, injuries, and/or the play of incoming Freshman could effect the depth chart by 30 Aug 25 (vs Texas). Regardless the loss of Judkins, Egbuka, Simmons, Jackson, McLaughlin, Fryer, Scott, Howard, and Henderson leave some "big shoes" to fill for 2025.

I know it's an early depth chart. But my only disagreements are, I see Peoples starting, I think Siereveld beats out Tshabola(though i still think they rotate), and Graham and Rodgers switch back up roles

 

[Captain Buckeye]

I know it's an early depth chart. But my only disagreements are, I see Peoples starting, I think Siereveld beats out Tshabola(though i still think they rotate), and Graham and Rodgers switch back up roles

Agreed.

Either way that’s a very good Offense. We’ll have one of the better OL, best WRs and best TEs. If the RBs produce (and I think peoples will) and the QB plays well (that I don’t have a beat on) then it’ll be a top offense

 

[pnuts34]

That may be too high praise for Klare. I'd be happy to be wrong though

 

[ScriptOhio]

Spring Position Preview: James Peoples, Bo Jackson Bring High Upside to Ohio State Running Back Room Alongside Transfer CJ Donaldson​

In line to start: James Peoples, CJ Donaldson​

Donaldson is much easier to project than Peoples. The West Virginia transfer has a multi-year track record as he comes to Ohio State.

In 2023, Donaldson had 171 carries for 798 yards (4.7 yards per carry) and 11 touchdowns. In 2024, Donaldson had 163 carries for 734 yards (4.5 per carry) and 11 touchdowns. The 6-foot-2, 238-pound bull has never fumbled in 421 career carries and will be a consistent downhill and short-yardage option.

Peoples is where the highest upside of the duo lies. Players often make a big jump from year one to year two and the Texas product entered Columbus with plenty of recruiting pedigree as the No. 115 overall prospect and No. 8 running back in the 247Sports composite.

After the transfer of former Ohio State running back Dallan Hayden to Colorado, he quickly emerged as the team’s No. 3 back last season and was the fifth member of his recruiting class to shed his black stripe. After impressing in preseason camp practices open to the media, Peoples collected 197 yards on 49 carries (four per carry) and two touchdowns while taking off his training wheels.

“I didn’t redshirt, they let me get the experience under my belt and I’m very grateful for that,” Peoples told Eleven Warriors at Ohio State’s CFP media day. “That’s going to be big to help get me ready for this upcoming year. There’s a lot of things ahead of me and a lot of things to come. But I’m staying patient and when that time comes, I’m going to take it.”

The 5-foot-10 Peoples has burst and agility in his running style but has shown an ability to keep his legs churning through contact, too. He’s got the potential to break out as a star for Ohio State, but that starts with a great set of spring practices.

The depth​

Things were looking a touch thin for Ohio State at running back, where it dodged the injury bug in 2024 after injuries hindered the position room during swaths of the 2022 and 2023 seasons. Then redshirt freshman Sam Williams-Dixon withdrew from the transfer portal 10 days ago and suddenly the Buckeyes were back to six scholarship running backs, including five for spring practice.

The three-star Ohio product will try to compete for carries alongside Donaldson and Peoples. The versatility in Williams-Dixon’s game could aid his chances of earning playing time, as his high school receiving track record was almost as impressive as his rushing one. He scored 41 touchdowns as a junior for West Holmes before missing significant time with Pickerington North as a senior.

Ohio State will also have three freshman running backs on scholarship this year. Four-star prospect Bo Jackson and three-star Isaiah West will get their feet wet this spring as midyear enrollees while four-star Anthony “Turbo” Rogers arrives in the summer.

 

[ScriptOhio]

Julian Sayin may be the luckiest person to ever play organized sports. 1st year starter gets to throw to...well whomever comes out of that WR room as a starter. Hopefully we are capable of just whipping that ball all over the place

Any thought that Kienholz will push him?

Certainly possible. I'm of the opinion that when it comes to QBs, Day is the best at evaluating talent. Whomever he chooses will have the weapons to set records

Just sayin': The only thing for sure is that Day won't name a QB1 until sometime late in the Fall Camp again in 2025. He doesn't want any of the 3 QBs to enter the transfer portal and (even though Travien St. Clair is already in school) he wants to give St. Clair (who would need time to learn the offense, etc.) every opportunity to compete for QB1 too.

 

[scarletngray]

Whoever wins the QB battle is going to have a great surrounding cast. A really good OL, perhaps the best TE room in CFB with a great pass catching TE, the best WR corp in CFB and a solid RB tandem in Peoples and Donaldson. Peoples should have a breakout year imho. All the QB needs to do is get the ball to the playmakers.

 

[ScriptOhio]

Way-too-early 2025 Ohio State depth chart projection: Offense

Jeremiah Smith highlights the Buckeyes’ returnees on offense in 2025.

www.landgrantholyland.com

Way-too-early 2025 Ohio State depth chart projection: Offense​

Jeremiah Smith highlights the Buckeyes’ returnees on offense in 2025.

While we still have a long ways to go before the first depth charts are put together, here is how we think the starting lineup will look as we project ahead to Aug. 30.

QB1: Julian Sayin​

RB1: James Peoples
RB2: CJ Donaldson

WR1: Jeremiah Smith
WR2: Carnell Tate
WR3: Brandon Inniss
Depth: Mylan Graham, Bryson Rodgers, Quincy Porter

TE1: Max Klare
TE2: Will Kacmarek OR Jelani Thurman

LT: Ethan Onianwa
LG: Luke Montgomery
C: Carson Hinzman
RG: Austin Siereveld OR Tegra Tshabola
RT: Phillip Daniels