The Ohio State football team's title defense will start at the end of the month when Fall camp officially starts. They have their eyes on winning a national championship for the second straight year, becoming the first program since Georgia to do so.
There are three names that fans of the Ohio State Buckeyes should keep an eye on during camp, excluding the qtwo quarterbacks fighting for the starting job. These three players all have to be key contributors to the Buckeyes if they want to win a national title for the second straight year.
1. James Peoples
While Ohio State went out and got running back CJ Donaldson from the Transfer Portal, it's James Peoples who will likely be the starter for the team in the backfield this year. The coaching staff really likes what Peoples gives to the team, especially with the kind of shape he's in now.
The Buckeyes use the ground game as a very important part of their offense. If Peoples can help keep the run game as an elite unit, even without TreVeyon Henderson or Quinshon Judkins. Peoples is still a very solid back, but he needs to prove in camp that he can earn the starting job.
2. Max Klare
The top-rated tight end out of the portal, Max Klare will give the Buckeyes a dimension in the passing game that they haven't had in several years. He might be the most talented tight end that Ryan Day has ever had as a head coach, and he's familiar with the Big Ten after coming in from Purdue.
Klare is going to give whichever quarterback emerges as the starter a huge target down the middle of the field. He's going to be a security blanket who can also take it to the house on a seam route. He's a weapon that Ohio State hasn't had at their disposal.
3. Beau Atkinson
Beau Atkinson was by far the biggest addition addition that Ohio State made during the Spring portal window. He becomes the only proven pass rusher that the Buckeyes have up front, especially at the defensive end position. Adding someone who had 7.5 sacks a year ago is exactly what they needed.
Atkinson should be able to get after the quarterback at a high level, which should really help a defense playing with a new defensive coordinator. If Atkinson can produce at an even higher level, Ohio State should be on a great track to win another title.