Depth Chart For Ohio State Football In Opening Game Of 2025 Season
This article will cover the depth chart for Ohio State’s football game on Saturday. The team no longer releases depth charts before the games, but this is a good guess based on training camp practice sessions. Because this is such a high-profile game, the depth chart for it is important.
It will not take long to figure out who Ohio State views as its best players entering the 2025 season when the Buckeyes play Texas on Saturday. The smart money is on Jeremiah Smith and Caleb Downs. It will be the first game at quarterback for Julian Sayin. It is essentially the first game for Texas wonderkid Arch Manning. Which team do you think will win the game?
Ohio State Offensive Depth Chart For Texas
The projected depth chart reflects what is expected to be on the field for Ohio State’s season opener vs. Texas. The offensive and defensive positions included on the depth chart are based on OSU’s primary offensive and defensive formations from last season, though there will likely be changes with new coordinators.
Quarterback
1. Julian Sayin
2. Lincoln Kienholz
3. Tavien St. Clair
Ohio State’s preseason quarterback competition officially ended last Monday when Head Coach Ryan Day announced Sayin would start against Texas. Keinholz may play some snaps, according to Day. St. Clair is a talented true freshman.
Running Back
1. James Peoples
2. CJ Donaldson
3. Bo Jackson
Peoples seems likely to be the first running back on the field against his home-state Longhorns, but it is expected to be a 1A/1B situation at the top of the running back depth chart with Peoples and Donaldson splitting the workload throughout the year, just as TreVeyon Henderson and Quinshon Judkins did last season. Jackson is a freshman and has a great name.
X Wide Receiver
1. Jeremiah Smith
2. Quincy Porter
3. David Adolph
Z Wide Receiver
1. Carnell Tate
2. Mylan Graham
3. Phillip Bell
Slot Wide Receiver
1. Brandon Inniss
2. Bryson Rodgers
3. De’zie Jones
The wide receivers at Ohio State are great. Jeremiah Smith might be the best football player in the nation. Carnall Tate might be the best number two wide receiver in the nation. With all of that, the third option, Brandon Inniss, is a team captain. Porter is a freshman, and keep an eye on Mylan Graham.
Tight End
1. Max Klare
2. Will Kacmarek
3. Bennett Christian
4. Jelani Thurman
Ohio State’s tight end room is probably the best in the country. Klare is one of college football’s top receiving tight ends, and Kacmarek is one of college football’s top blocking tight ends. It will be difficult for the others to get on the field, though they are the incumbents. Ohio State has historically not thrown to tight ends, expect that to change this season. Though with so many great wide receivers, there may not be that many balls to go around.
Left Tackle
1. Austin Sierveld
2. Ian Moore
3. Carter Lowe
Left Guard
1. Luke Montgomery
2. Jake Cook
3. Devontae Armstrong
Center
1. Carson Hinzman
2. Joshua Padilla
3. Isaiah Kema
Right Guard
1. Tegra Tshabola
2. Gabe VanSickle
3. Jayvon McFadden
Right Tackle
1. Phillip Daniels
2. Ethan Onianwa
3. Deontae Armstrong
The Ohio State offensive line is probably the deepest it has ever been, despite losing two members to the National Football League. That said, the biggest changes on the depth chart come at offensive tackle. Siereveld will be Ohio State’s starting left tackle after switching sides in the second week of camp. He was the right tackle at the beginning of training camp.
Daniels, who started camp as the second-team right tackle, now looks likely to start. Onianwa, who was projected to be Ohio State’s starting left tackle entering camp, now appears likely to be the sixth man on the offensive line. There is significant talent on the offensive line.
Ohio State’s Defense Against Texas
The biggest questions for Ohio State in 2025 are on the defensive side of the ball. That said, Ohio State has much defensive talent, and the Buckeyes probably have the second-best player in college football on defense. Here is the full depth chart.
Defensive End
1. Kenyatta Jackson Jr.
2. C.J. Hicks
3. Logan George
Defensive End
1. Caden Curry
2. Beau Atkinson
3. Zion Grady
Curry and Jackson are very skilled, and Atkinson might be the most skilled transfer on the defensive side of the ball. However, he is unlikely to start. Depth here is a question for the Buckeyes. Defensive Line Coach Larry Johnson likes to rotate people. So, the second and third players will get significant playing time. Hicks is interesting. He was a linebacker and will play on the defensive line. Look for them to play four defensive ends simultaneously in the so-called “Rushman” package.
3-Tech Defensive Tackle
1. Eddrick Houston
2. Tywone Malone Jr.
3. Jarquez Carter
Nose Defensive Tackle
1. Kayden McDonald
2. Will Smith Jr.
3. Jason Moore
Houston, who was injured on the first day of preseason, is a star. McDonald will be the other starting defensive tackle. Smith, the son of Ohio State legend Will Smith, emerged as Ohio State’s top backup defensive tackle with a strong offseason.
Linebacker (Will)
1. Sonny Styles
2. Riley Pettijohn
3. Tarvos Alford
Linebacker (Mike)
1. Arvell Reese
2. Payton Pierce
3. Garrett Stover
Ohio State only plays two linebackers, so playing time there is prized. Reese is an athletic freak who will be OSU’s new starting Mike linebacker. Pettijohn is a freshman who could see lots of playing time.
Cornerback
1. Davison Igbinosun
2. Devin Sanchez
3. Brenten “Inky” Jones
Cornerback
1. Jermaine Mathews Jr.
2. Aaron Scott Jr.
3. Jordyn Woods
Nickelback
1. Lorenzo Styles Jr.
2. Bryce West
3. Miles Lockhart
Free Safety
1. Caleb Downs
2. Malik Hartford
3. Leroy Roker III
Strong Safety
1. Jaylen McClain
2. Faheem Delane
The Ohio State secondary may be the best in the nation. It will be very difficult to throw the ball against the Buckeyes. It all starts and ends with Downs. McClain will be the primary second safety. Styles was given the block “O” to wear. Matthews Jr. is a star in the making, and Igbinosun will play opposite him. There is much hype surrounding Sanchez as a top-10 overall prospect in the 2025 recruiting class. Delane is another talented freshman.
Kicker
1. Jayden Fielding
2. Jackson Courville
Fielding is expected to remain the Buckeyes’ top kicker this year after finishing last season strong in the College Football Playoff.
Punter
1. Joe McGuire
2. Nick McLarty
Day said last week that the punting competition between McGuire and McLarty remained close and that he would be comfortable with either of them being the punter. Given that McGuire was steady as the starting punter last season, a tie likely goes to the incumbent.
Long Snapper
1. John Ferlmann
2. Grant Mills
3. Collin Johnson
Ferlmann, the only scholarship long snapper on the roster, will be Ohio State’s starting long snapper for the third straight year. Mills, who played in two games with one start for North Carolina last season, projects as the top backup.
Kick Returner
1. Mylan Graham
2. Carnell Tate
3. Anthony “Turbo” Rogers
Punt Returner
1. Brandon Inniss
2. Caleb Downs
3. Bryson Rodgers
Ohio State could have any of its stable of athletes field kicks, though these seem to be the most likely kick returners. Inniss is electric, and Downs returned a punt for a 79-yard touchdown against Indiana last season.
Conclusion
Ohio State does not release its depth chart any longer before games, so these are best guesses. The guesses are based on how things have gone in preseason camp. The Buckeyes are deep, talented, and ready for their marquee matchup with Texas on Saturday.
