Ryan Day Head Coach Of Buckeyes football, is Gone

Five Ohio State football players that stood out following spring practice
Watch out for these five Ohio State football players, as they could have a major impact on the team.
Written on May 14, 2024, by John Buhler
Inniss, Brandon; Ohio State Buckeyes
Facebook Twitter, and Reddit Facebook: Brandon Inniss, Ohio State Buckeyes | Justin Casterline/GettyImages

The Ohio State Buckeyes’ season truly seems to be either a national title or a washout this year. Well, of course it would be. Out of the Big Ten’s enlarged membership, the Buckeyes are the overwhelming favorite. Who else, outside Oregon (now in conference) and Georgia and Texas (in an expanded 16-team SEC), do you think has a realistic chance of winning the College Football Playoffs in the fall of next year? Indeed, Ohio State’s moment has come!

Despite losing a few players to the NFL this summer, most notably wide receiver extraordinaire Marvin Harrison Jr., the Buckeyes added a ton of guys through the gateway, including Quinshon Judkins from Ole Miss, Will Howard from Kansas State, and pretty much every player from Alabama. Additionally, Ohio State hired Chip Kelly, a former head coach of UCLA, to call plays for Ryan Day.

I’m going to examine five players today that, in my opinion, are a little bit underappreciated but have the potential to be excellent contributors to this national title contender. Even as we adore the Buckeyes’ offensive capabilities, Jim Knowles seems to have this defense clicking. All that’s preventing Ohio State from winning this game is a mix of Day, Michigan, and themselves.

After fantastic practices in the spring, I believe the following five players will have tremendous seasons for Ohio State.

5. LB for Ohio State Buckeyes, Sonny Styles
If you have been following the show, you are undoubtedly already familiar with linebacker Sonny Styles. This was a notable position group in Columbus when Ohio State was led by Jim Tressel. Though the Buckeyes defense is led by other front-seven players like Jack Sawyer and JT Tuimoloau, expect Styles to make plays at linebacker… in style.

Ultimately, Ohio State will need a playmaker at each of its three defensive position groups if it hopes to challenge for a national championship. In his junior year in the program, Styles might be a Butkus Award contender if everything goes as planned. Once more, Sawyer and Tuimoloau will be the defensive linemen that steal the show, but Styles should lead the team in tackles.

Look no further than Styles, the weak side linebacker for the Buckeyes this season, if tackling fuel excites you.

The G of Ohio State Buckeyes Luke Montgomery
Though the Ohio State receiving corps is highly praised for being under Brian Hartline’s direction, this year’s offense will likely be a little more ground-centric than even Ryan Day is likely to be ready for. This is due to the fact that his mentor, former UCLA head coach Chip Kelly, who enjoys pounding the rock, will be calling plays. Luke Montgomery, a guard, will undoubtedly face extreme pressure.

Montgomery will need to maintain the integrity of a clean pocket in addition to creating space for Quinshon Judkins and TreVeyon Henderson to run. This will be necessary to keep Will Howard upright. In the event that Howard is injured, the attack is expected to become even more ground-centric, with Devin Brown taking the starting position. Montgomery also has a wealthy sibling.

Luke Montgomery might take home the ring before Ryan Montgomery, who is devoted to Georgia.

3. Brandon Inniss, WR for the Ohio State Buckeyes
Emeka Egbuka and Carnell Tate are essential members of the Ohio State receiving corps, but someone else will need to step up to take their place since Marvin Harrison Jr. is going pro and Julian Fleming is moving to Penn State, a Big Ten foe. Brandon Inniss, a sophomore, would be a solid pick to click because he was a blue-chipper coming out of high school and played on the team the previous year.

Though his position in this scheme may not be a starting one, you have to keep in mind how strong the Buckeyes’ receiving corps is. In the end, Brian Hartline’s eagerness to stretch things out might prevail over Chip Kelly’s desire to keep it close to the numbers. To be honest, what are we even doing, bro, if Will Howard isn’t trying to throw the ball a lot in Inniss’ way this season? I’m not understanding…

If 2017 doesn’t turn out to be Inniss’ big breakthrough year, we may have some issues.