Jami Jurich
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From Underdog to Unleashed: Will Kacmarek is ready to prove himself on a national stage
Jami Jurich via our friends at Land-Grant Holy Land
Visit their fantastic blog and read the full article (and so much more) here
Photo by Jason Mowry/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images
After transferring from Ohio University, the tight end is poised to make a name for himself in his first year as a Buckeye.
Every day from now until the start of the season, Land-Grant Holy Land is highlighting Ohio State football players that you should be watching this season. Check out all of our ”Player to Watch” articles to get ready for the season opener against Akron.
When he takes the field on Saturday against Akron, tight end Will Kacmarek makes the jump from a non-Power 4 school to what many consider the top team in the country. For some, that pressure would feel overwhelming, but to Kacmarek? It’s a “dream come true.”
The senior spent three years playing at Ohio University but announced he was entering the transfer portal following the 2023 season. When the Buckeyes picked him up, it was their first transfer-portal addition in what went on to become a jackpot of an offseason for them.
The decision made sense for Kacmarek on a personal level too—he’s hoping to prove he’s good enough to play at the highest level of college football, and Ohio State should provide him plenty of opportunities to do so, given how much turnover they saw at the tight end position last year.
The Buckeyes’ star tight end, senior Cade Stover, finished his career at Ohio State in the 2023 Cotton Bowl loss at Missouri, while senior Joe Royer entered the transfer portal and will play at Cincinnati this season. That left behind Gee Scott Jr., a fifth-year senior, and redshirt freshman Jelani Thurman by way of experience, making Kacmarek’s experience all the more valuable, even though he wasn’t playing in a Power conference.
During his three seasons as a Bobcat, Kacmarek put up good numbers—he had 507 yards and two touchdowns on 42 receptions. While he’s dynamic both as a receiver and even more so as a blocker, it speaks volumes about how far he’s come that he’s a Player to Watch at Ohio State, given that, at the start of his career, he wasn’t really even a Player to Watch at Ohio.
My, how the tables have turned.
Kacmarek used spring camp as a springboard to get his sea legs at Ohio State, he transitioned quickly and was eager to face off with defenders like Jack Sawyer and J.T. Tuimoloau, something he credits with improving his game. Then he began to fine-tune his route running.
He knew he had work to do to catch up to his teammates, and he didn’t shy away from putting in the effort to do so. He’s as versatile as the role requires him to be on a team chasing a National Championship, and his coaches—both head coach Ryan Day and position coach Keenan Bailey—have taken notice.
Now, as the season approaches, Kacmarek is drawing comparisons to Stover himself.
Though the Buckeyes have not yet announced who will start at tight end against Akron, the job was largely presumed to be Scott’s, given his time with the program. It’s not so clear-cut anymore. Though both Scott and Kacmarek are expected to see a substantial number of reps this season, several reputable sports journalists are favoring Kacmarek as the starter.
That Kacmarek and Scott are both good enough to be in this conversation is great news for a Buckeye offense already overflowing with weapons. In Kacmarek’s case, having a physical tight end who blocks like an offensive lineman but still creates plays like a receiver adds to the treasure trove and opens up even more options for the offense.
Kacmarek’s constant drive to improve speaks to his admirable work ethic, though the full scope of his raw talent remains to be seen in a game setting. But Kacmarek has said he always believed he could play football at the same caliber as top teams like Ohio State—he just needed the opportunity to prove himself.
He’ll get that chance soon enough, and if he’s right, we’ll get the chance to see in Kacmarek what he’s known to be true all along—he belongs with the big dogs.
Continue reading...
Jami Jurich via our friends at Land-Grant Holy Land
Visit their fantastic blog and read the full article (and so much more) here
Photo by Jason Mowry/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images
After transferring from Ohio University, the tight end is poised to make a name for himself in his first year as a Buckeye.
Every day from now until the start of the season, Land-Grant Holy Land is highlighting Ohio State football players that you should be watching this season. Check out all of our ”Player to Watch” articles to get ready for the season opener against Akron.
When he takes the field on Saturday against Akron, tight end Will Kacmarek makes the jump from a non-Power 4 school to what many consider the top team in the country. For some, that pressure would feel overwhelming, but to Kacmarek? It’s a “dream come true.”
The senior spent three years playing at Ohio University but announced he was entering the transfer portal following the 2023 season. When the Buckeyes picked him up, it was their first transfer-portal addition in what went on to become a jackpot of an offseason for them.
The decision made sense for Kacmarek on a personal level too—he’s hoping to prove he’s good enough to play at the highest level of college football, and Ohio State should provide him plenty of opportunities to do so, given how much turnover they saw at the tight end position last year.
The Buckeyes’ star tight end, senior Cade Stover, finished his career at Ohio State in the 2023 Cotton Bowl loss at Missouri, while senior Joe Royer entered the transfer portal and will play at Cincinnati this season. That left behind Gee Scott Jr., a fifth-year senior, and redshirt freshman Jelani Thurman by way of experience, making Kacmarek’s experience all the more valuable, even though he wasn’t playing in a Power conference.
During his three seasons as a Bobcat, Kacmarek put up good numbers—he had 507 yards and two touchdowns on 42 receptions. While he’s dynamic both as a receiver and even more so as a blocker, it speaks volumes about how far he’s come that he’s a Player to Watch at Ohio State, given that, at the start of his career, he wasn’t really even a Player to Watch at Ohio.
My, how the tables have turned.
Kacmarek used spring camp as a springboard to get his sea legs at Ohio State, he transitioned quickly and was eager to face off with defenders like Jack Sawyer and J.T. Tuimoloau, something he credits with improving his game. Then he began to fine-tune his route running.
He knew he had work to do to catch up to his teammates, and he didn’t shy away from putting in the effort to do so. He’s as versatile as the role requires him to be on a team chasing a National Championship, and his coaches—both head coach Ryan Day and position coach Keenan Bailey—have taken notice.
Now, as the season approaches, Kacmarek is drawing comparisons to Stover himself.
Though the Buckeyes have not yet announced who will start at tight end against Akron, the job was largely presumed to be Scott’s, given his time with the program. It’s not so clear-cut anymore. Though both Scott and Kacmarek are expected to see a substantial number of reps this season, several reputable sports journalists are favoring Kacmarek as the starter.
That Kacmarek and Scott are both good enough to be in this conversation is great news for a Buckeye offense already overflowing with weapons. In Kacmarek’s case, having a physical tight end who blocks like an offensive lineman but still creates plays like a receiver adds to the treasure trove and opens up even more options for the offense.
Kacmarek’s constant drive to improve speaks to his admirable work ethic, though the full scope of his raw talent remains to be seen in a game setting. But Kacmarek has said he always believed he could play football at the same caliber as top teams like Ohio State—he just needed the opportunity to prove himself.
He’ll get that chance soon enough, and if he’s right, we’ll get the chance to see in Kacmarek what he’s known to be true all along—he belongs with the big dogs.
Continue reading...