Ohio State fans are already counting down the days to the 2025 season as spring practice reaches its midpoint, and these Buckeyes are impressing early. Although many players deserve mention, one name that cannot be ignored is Brandon Inniss.
The 6-foot, 203-pound Florida product has been turning heads throughout his career in practice, but with veteran leader Emeka Egbuka moving on to the NFL, it is his time to shine. Based on videos of practice released by various media outlets, it appears he is shedding pounds and flashing the kind of quickness and polish that draws inevitable comparisons to not only one of my favorite receivers of all time but also a recent Buckeye legend: Jaxon Smith-Njigba.
While not a perfect comparison, the similarities are evident and will soon generate excitement among fans and analysts alike. Inniss won’t start at Ohio State as quickly as Smith-Njigba did, primarily due to the competition in the receiver room, but even last year, Inniss’ effort and determination demonstrated that he will be ready to play significant snaps in 2025.
Inniss, a former four-star recruit from American Heritage High School, arrived at Ohio State as another Florida wide receiver that Buckeye fans have come to expect from wide receivers coach Brian Hartline. He came in with high expectations but had limited opportunities during his first two seasons.
In 2023, he played six games as a freshman, snagging a 58-yard touchdown from Devin Brown that immediately sparked excitement. His role continued to grow in his sophomore year of 2024, with 14 receptions for 176 yards and a touchdown across nine games.
Two of his biggest plays of the year were a 21-yard touchdown catch and run against Penn State and a crucial catch on 3rd-and-7 in the national championship that kept the chains moving on an eventual scoring drive. Inniss was also an incredible blocker last year, displaying intelligence, tenacity, and determination.
Spring practice in 2025 seems to be yet another opportunity for Inniss to improve and become an even bigger contributor this year. He looks quicker and faster and appears to have an even better release than he did last year. He seems to have slimmed down while remaining powerfully built.
Moreover, Ohio State entrusted Inniss to be one of the wide receivers for Will Howard to throw to at the Ohio State Pro Day. This role requires not only the confidence of the coaches to make the quarterback look good but also the trust of the quarterback himself.
Now, regarding my Jaxon Smith-Njigba comparison: it isn’t just hype or the fact that Inniss plays in the slot often. It’s so much more than that. Both players thrive in the interior, with their quick feet, reliable hands, and route-running savvy reigning supreme.
Smith-Njigba, a 2023 first-round pick by the Seattle Seahawks, had a historic year in 2021, breaking records with 95 receptions and 1,606 yards. In workouts prior to the draft, he showcased elite agility (a 3.93-second shuttle and 6.57-second 3-cone) and soft hands that made him a quarterback’s dream.
One notable difference, however, is that Inniss might possess superior straight-line speed compared to Smith-Njigba, with NFL Draft Buzz estimating he could run a 4.38-second 40-yard dash. That kind of speed could bring a different flavor to the slot position in the Ohio State offense.
The most striking similarity between Inniss and Smith-Njigba lies in their route running and post-catch elusiveness. Inniss has displayed crafty footwork getting in and out of his breaks, much like Smith-Njigba, creating windows for his quarterback to throw into while also picking up extra yards along the way.
This stems from quick feet and excellent body control. Additionally, the strong hands I’ve observed in both players help Inniss excel in traffic and even incorporate more of a vertical threat. They both possess smooth hips and a quarterback-friendly presence.
However, fans should note that their similarities will not translate to identical production. In 2021, Smith-Njigba was part of one of the best wide receiver rooms college football has ever seen, alongside Garrett Wilson, Chris Olave, Marvin Harrison Jr., and Emeka Egbuka.
In that group, Smith-Njigba might have been the best receiver of them all. This year, Brandon Inniss will share the room with Jeremiah Smith, Carnell Tate, and several other highly touted underclassmen. It’s not a knock on Inniss, but Jeremiah Smith will likely be the top receiver in that group. Perhaps this will create more opportunities for Inniss to receive targets, though I don’t anticipate it will result in over 1,600 receiving yards and nearly 100 receptions.
What excites people most about Inniss isn’t the prospect of replicating Jaxon Smith-Njigba’s production. It’s that he brings similar skills to an Ohio State receiver room already stacked with talent. Could this be the next great receiver room we look back on, as we do with the 2021 group? If Inniss continues to perform this well, we very well might.
Get excited about Brandon Inniss. He’s not quite Smith-Njigba yet, but he’s close enough to inspire big dreams.