Ohio State’s depth chart solidifies a little more after their 2025 Spring Game

I projected Buckeye starters for 2025 shortly after they completed their 2024 National Championship season. Now, after completing their Spring Game, with the Scarlet beating the Gray 50-31, Ohio State doesn’t have many changes from January, but things are looking clearer. Quarterback Julian Sayin, wide receiver Mylan Graham, and cornerback Aaron Scott stood out the most for Ohio State.

Offense
QB: Julian Sayin OR Lincoln Kienholz
RB: CJ Donaldson
RB: James Peoples
TE: Max Klare
WR: Jeremiah Smith
WR: Carnell Tate
WR: Brandon Iniss
LT: Ethan Onianwa
LG: Luke Montgomery
C: Carson Hinzman
RG: Tegra Tshabola
RT: Phillip Daniels

Defense
DE: Caden Curry
DT: Eddrick Houston
DT: Kayden McDonald
DE: Kenyatta Jackson OR C.J. Hicks
LB: Arvell Reese
LB: Sonny Styles
DB: Davison Igbinosun
DB: Jermaine Matthews Jr.
DB: Caleb Downs
DB: Malik Hartford
DB: Aaron Scott Jr. or Devin Sanchez

Special Teams
K: Jayden Fielding
P: Joey McGuire
R: Caleb Downs

Quarterbacks

Lincoln Kienholz was the first quarterback to take snaps after he did really well at the Student Appreciation Day in the Woody Hayes Athletic Center. He didn’t play poorly but was a little overshadowed by Julian Sayin, who looked sharp from his first snap. Kienholz started a little rusty but settled in late in the first half with some great throws to Graham and Iniss. I don’t envy the decision Ryan Day will eventually have to make between Kienholz and Sayin. I believe he'll go with Julian Sayin.

Tavien St. Clair had a couple of bad interceptions, but the highly touted true freshman is young, and his struggles only show why Ryan Day will hope to keep Kienholz and Sayin on the roster through the year, no matter who the starter is. St. Clair did show that he wouldn’t quit and showed his athleticism and sheer raw potential after early struggles. He can run, and he threw a dime to fellow five-star freshman Quincy Porter toward the end of the third quarter.

Running backs

CJ Donaldson looked good early and was the first running back to see action. Sam Williams-Dixon got in before James Peoples, but it’s still Donaldson’s and Peoples’ to lose. They’ll look to be a tandem like Quinshon Judkins and TreVeyon Henderson. Williams-Dixon and Bo Jackson will be right behind them, though, as Jackson showed some flashes of brilliance today.

Wide Receivers

We know it goes Smith, Tate, and Iniss with Klare at tight end. Mylan Graham is going to make some plays, though. He made some really good catches and ran some good routes today. He’ll push for playing time. Ohio State is just so loaded with pass catchers. Max Klare looked great, and Jelani Thurman backed him up and pushed him as well.

Offensive Line

The first-team players looked great. They gave Julian Sayin all kinds of time. Carson Hinzman and Ethan Onianwa looked particularly good. The line was great last year, especially down the stretch and in the face of injuries to two possible early draft picks, Seth McLaughlin and Josh Simmons. This year, it feels like the Bucks have a little more depth there (like Austin Siereveld at guard) and that Tyler Bowen’s unit could be a strong, reliable key to this team.

Defensive Line

No unit has more to replace than the defensive line, but they’ve got a lot of depth still here. Caden Curry, Eddrick Houston, Kayden McDonald, and Kenyatta Jackson look to start. The depth will be provided by Logan George, C.J. Hicks, Eric Mensah, Tywone Malone Jr., and Will Smith Jr. George and Hicks will provide depth in rushing the passer, and Mensah, Malone, and Smith will help in the interior. Mensah provides some youth, while Malone and Smith bring plenty of experience.

Linebackers

Sonny Styles looked great, as expected. Arvell Reese looks to start at linebacker alongside him as they look to pick up where Cody Simon and Styles left off last season as a pair of linebackers with 100 tackles each.

Defensive Backs

Aaron Scott Jr. looked good. The competition between him and Devin Sanchez is shaping up to be a great one. Malik Hartford looked good today in his efforts to fill in for Lathan Ransom. Lorenzo Styles Jr. will look to try and join his brother as a starter on the back seven of the defense. They’ll all have the luxury of veteran stars like Caleb Downs, Jermaine Mathews Jr., and Davison Igbinosun to lean on and help them.

Special Teams

Jayden Fielding looked a lot better. That is to be expected after finding out the injury he battled through all last year. The punting game still has room for improvement, mainly in finding consistency.

The defending national champions have the power; they have great players and coaches, and in 140 days, they will kick off their quest to go back-to-back for the first time in Ohio State history. When you factor in them being led on both sides of the ball by the best two players in college football, you like their chances.