Ohio State Buckeyes receiver and captain Brandon Inniss is hoping to have the ninth 1,000-yard season for a WR in the Ryan Day era, and the sixth player to achieve that this fall. More than likely, if he gets it done, Jeremiah Smith will have done the same.
Inniss revealed as much during an interview with 10TV. Jaxon Smith-Njigba, Garrett Wilson, Marvin Harrison Jr., Emeka Egbuka, and Smith have all been 1,000-yard receivers at least once. Harrison Jr., Egbuka, and Smith all did it twice. 20 players across college football achieved that mark last season.
That's rarified air. Inniss' high so far during his three years on the Buckeyes is 271 yards on 36 receptions, with 181 punt return yards and 66 kick return yards for the special teams. It'd be a massive jump this fall, and it'd take a notable passing performance and increased attention from quarterback Julian Sayin to get it done.
How likely is it to happen?
Arthur Smith's offense will focus on the run
First-year offensive coordinator Arthur Smith comes to Columbus with the intention of pounding the football into the ground. Smith's offense relies on heavy personnel groupings, with multiple tight ends on the field to create more gaps and slow down the game for incremental gains on the field.
That's not to say Smith's offenses don't air it out. Still, the best receiver performance from a receiver in a Smith offense came during the 2020 NFL season, when A.J. Brown had 1,075 receiving yards and 11 touchdowns for the Tennessee Titans. Obviously, the passing game played a secondary role to Derrick Henry's brilliance in Nashville.
If you're looking for the kind of play-caller whose philosophy is to air it out early and often, Smith isn't your guy. You might need that kind of play-caller for Inniss to have a 1,000-yard season, even factoring in punt and kickoff returns.
Brandon Inniss' value doesn't always show up on the stat sheet
Inniss shared a bold prediction for 2026 because he's a competitor playing for one of the most prestigious brands in all of college sports. While he may not hit those lofty marks, the fact that he has them is proof of what he brings to the program off the field.
Inniss, one of the team's elder statesmen, is one of the most important leaders in the locker room. He's been a model example for over a year now and is one of the few returning players from the championship team from two years ago.
Smith is going to be the likely only 1,000-yard receiver in the offense. That doesn't mean that Inniss' value won't be evident in other ways. A well-timed special teams touchdown could be just as important as a historic receiving effort. Legend Bey will more than likely cut into some of Inniss' workload, but that doesn't mean it won't be Inniss who proves to be the most clutch special teams player at first-year special teams coordinator Robby Discher's disposal.
Whether or not he reaches his own extravagant benchmark, Inniss will be a critical member of OSU's roster in 2026.
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