Megan.Husslein
Guest
Player to Watch: Brandon Inniss is not to be overshadowed
Megan.Husslein via our friends at Land-Grant Holy Land
Visit their fantastic blog and read the full article (and so much more) here
Photo by Justin Casterline/Getty Images
Dont overlook the former five-star in this talented wide receiver room!
From now until preseason camp starts in August, Land-Grant Holy Land will be writing articles around a different theme every week. This week is all about the Buckeyes we expect to excel this season. You can catch up on all of the Theme Week content here and all our “Players to Watch” articles here.
Ah, the Buckeye wide receiver room. Perhaps everyone’s favorite position group on the team. However, it’s hard to definitively declare who in that group is going to be the best. I’m not saying that it is Brandon Inniss, but I’m definitely saying to keep your eye on him.
With the talent this unit has, I can see how Inniss was overshadowed last year. Obviously, anyone next to Marvin Harrison Jr. is dwarfed in the spotlight. Since he has now gone pro, that allows for the light to be shone on some others.
It does seem that light has shifted almost completely to freshman phenom Jeremiah Smith, and rightly so. Smith, along with veterans Emeka Egbuka and Carnell Tate, round out one of the most highly touted receiver trios in all of college football.
However, Inniss is in the same conversation as them. He was the lone five-star in the team’s 2023 recruiting class. Ryan Day spoke about the sophomore’s progress after just one year with the program a couple months ago:
“I think you’re seeing a different player. His body has changed completely from where it was last summer. When he’s in the right shape, he’s really talented. He’s got great short-area quickness, he’s got just a competitive fire in him. Just a fierce competitor. Football player. Tough. The guy you want on your team, that’s Brandon Inniss.”
/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_asset/file/25476457/1724235973.jpg "COLLEGE FOOTBALL: OCT 14 Ohio State at Purdue")
Photo by Brian Spurlock/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images
That is some pretty high praise from the Buckeyes’ head coach. Inniss’ freshman season was a lot of sitting back and learning from the great leaders ahead of him, including one of the greatest, if not the greatest, Ohio State receiver ever in Harrison Jr.
This could be extremely beneficial for him, as now he has had the time to truly absorb the playbook, get his body whipped into shape by strength and conditioning coach Mick Marotti and practice against one of the best defenses in the country.
However, he did have one catch last season, and it was for six points.
Now, he should be primed and ready to go for a great sophomore campaign. Along with his talent on the field, he also seems to be willing to take on a leadership role. Inniss has said multiple times how he is willing to do anything to help this team, including kick and punt returns, and how he is always wanting to learn from any of his teammates.
I am excited to see what Chip Kelly and Brian Hartline come up with for this receiver room. I’m very glad I’m not in their position, because I don’t know how I would split up playing time between all of these guys.
Inniss’ biggest competition in the slot is obviously Egbuka. But, who is to say that Inniss won’t be lined up next to him? Kelly and Hartline are going to have to get crafty, and I can’t wait to see it.
Continue reading...
Megan.Husslein via our friends at Land-Grant Holy Land
Visit their fantastic blog and read the full article (and so much more) here
Photo by Justin Casterline/Getty Images
Dont overlook the former five-star in this talented wide receiver room!
From now until preseason camp starts in August, Land-Grant Holy Land will be writing articles around a different theme every week. This week is all about the Buckeyes we expect to excel this season. You can catch up on all of the Theme Week content here and all our “Players to Watch” articles here.
Ah, the Buckeye wide receiver room. Perhaps everyone’s favorite position group on the team. However, it’s hard to definitively declare who in that group is going to be the best. I’m not saying that it is Brandon Inniss, but I’m definitely saying to keep your eye on him.
With the talent this unit has, I can see how Inniss was overshadowed last year. Obviously, anyone next to Marvin Harrison Jr. is dwarfed in the spotlight. Since he has now gone pro, that allows for the light to be shone on some others.
It does seem that light has shifted almost completely to freshman phenom Jeremiah Smith, and rightly so. Smith, along with veterans Emeka Egbuka and Carnell Tate, round out one of the most highly touted receiver trios in all of college football.
However, Inniss is in the same conversation as them. He was the lone five-star in the team’s 2023 recruiting class. Ryan Day spoke about the sophomore’s progress after just one year with the program a couple months ago:
“I think you’re seeing a different player. His body has changed completely from where it was last summer. When he’s in the right shape, he’s really talented. He’s got great short-area quickness, he’s got just a competitive fire in him. Just a fierce competitor. Football player. Tough. The guy you want on your team, that’s Brandon Inniss.”
That is some pretty high praise from the Buckeyes’ head coach. Inniss’ freshman season was a lot of sitting back and learning from the great leaders ahead of him, including one of the greatest, if not the greatest, Ohio State receiver ever in Harrison Jr.
This could be extremely beneficial for him, as now he has had the time to truly absorb the playbook, get his body whipped into shape by strength and conditioning coach Mick Marotti and practice against one of the best defenses in the country.
However, he did have one catch last season, and it was for six points.
Now, he should be primed and ready to go for a great sophomore campaign. Along with his talent on the field, he also seems to be willing to take on a leadership role. Inniss has said multiple times how he is willing to do anything to help this team, including kick and punt returns, and how he is always wanting to learn from any of his teammates.
I am excited to see what Chip Kelly and Brian Hartline come up with for this receiver room. I’m very glad I’m not in their position, because I don’t know how I would split up playing time between all of these guys.
Inniss’ biggest competition in the slot is obviously Egbuka. But, who is to say that Inniss won’t be lined up next to him? Kelly and Hartline are going to have to get crafty, and I can’t wait to see it.
Continue reading...