The Woody Hayes Athletic Center smells like turf pellets and high expectations right now. That’s just life in Columbus. If you aren't winning titles, you're failing, or at least that’s how the local chat boards make it feel. Ohio State spring practice isn't just a collection of drills; it’s a high-stakes laboratory where Ryan Day has to figure out how to stop the three-game slide against that team up north. Honestly, the pressure is different this year. It's heavier. With the 12-team playoff looming and a roster that looks more like an NFL developmental squad than a college team, the margin for "just okay" has completely vanished.
Everyone wants to talk about the quarterbacks. Of course they do. It’s the flashiest part of the program. But if you've been watching this team long enough, you know that the real drama is happening in the trenches and at the back end of the secondary.
The Will Howard Experiment and the Room Behind Him
Will Howard didn't come here to sit. After transferring from Kansas State, he’s basically been handed the "veteran leader" tag by default, but Ryan Day isn't just giving him the keys to the Ferrari without a driving test. During the early sessions of Ohio State spring practice, you can see Howard’s physical tools—he’s big, he can run, and he has a verticality to his passing game that we didn't always see from Kyle McCord. But he’s still learning the pace of Chip Kelly’s updated offense.
Wait, Chip Kelly? Yeah, that’s the real wild card.
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Having a former Power 5 head coach as an offensive coordinator changes the vibe of spring ball. It’s faster. There’s a lot more emphasis on making the defense thin through tempo and varied personnel groupings. While Howard is the presumed starter, Devin Brown is still there, scrambling and fighting for his life in the depth chart. Then you’ve got Julian Sayin, the freshman who looks like he was built in a lab to throw a football. Sayin’s release is remarkably quick—almost startling for a kid who should be at a senior prom.
If Howard struggles with the processing speed of this offense, the fans will start screaming for the freshman by the third week of April. That’s just the reality of Columbus.
The Defensive Front is Scarier Than You Think
Jack Sawyer and JT Tuimoloau coming back was the biggest recruiting win of the offseason. Period. Most guys with their draft grades would’ve dipped for the NFL money, but they stayed. Why? Because losing three years in a row to Michigan eats at you.
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Jim Knowles has these guys playing "downhill" more than we saw in his first year. In practice, the offensive line is having a rough go of it. Josh Simmons and Josh Fryar are the projected tackles, but they’ve been getting a heavy dose of Caden Curry and Kenyatta Jackson Jr. off the edges. The depth is actually terrifying. You’re looking at a rotation where the second-team defensive line would likely start for 10 other Big Ten teams.
- The Interior Stays Stout: Tyleik Williams is playing like a man who wants to be a top-15 pick. He’s eating up double teams, which is letting the linebackers roam free.
- The Sonny Styles Factor: Is he a safety? A linebacker? A "strike"? He’s everywhere. Watching him navigate the box during 7-on-7 drills shows a player who has finally found his permanent home in the scheme.
- The "Boren" Mentality: There's a noticeable shift in aggression. It's less about "contain" and more about "destroy."
Caleb Downs and the Secondary "No-Fly Zone"
If you want to see the best player on the field, look for number 2. Caleb Downs, the Alabama transfer, is a cheat code. He arrived and immediately started barking out adjustments like he’s been in the system for three years. It’s rare to see a guy with that much natural instinct. During a recent scrimmage, he baited a veteran receiver into a post route just to peel off and break up a shallow cross. It was pro-level stuff.
Pairing him with Lathan Ransom gives Ohio State the best safety duo in the country. It’s not even a debate. This allows Denzel Burke to play on an island at corner. Burke looks leaner, faster, and much more vocal. When the secondary is this tight, it gives the defensive line those extra two seconds to get home. That’s the "coverage sack" formula that Jim Knowles has been dreaming about since he left Oklahoma State.
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The Offensive Line Concerns Aren't Gone
We have to talk about the O-line because that’s where the season will be won or lost. Seth McLaughlin, the transfer center from Alabama, has brought some much-needed stability to the snap, but the guard spots are still a bit of a musical chairs situation. Donovan Jackson is a lock, obviously. He’s the anchor. But who steps up next to him?
The competition at right guard is fierce. Tegra Tshabola has the size—he's a massive human being—but he needs to show he can handle the lateral quickness of a Big Ten pass rush. Luke Montgomery is in the mix too. The coaching staff is rotated them heavily during the first few weeks of Ohio State spring practice, trying to find a combination that doesn't collapse when the pressure picks up.
If this unit doesn't gel by the spring game, all the talented wide receivers in the world won't matter. You can't throw a deep ball if you're lying on your back.
The Wide Receiver Factory Keeps Churning
Marvin Harrison Jr. is gone. That hurts. But then you watch Jeremiah Smith for five minutes and you realize the factory didn't close; it just rebranded. Smith is a true freshman who is already taking reps with the ones. He’s 6'3", runs like a deer, and catches everything within a three-mile radius. Emeka Egbuka is the steady hand, the veteran who knows every nuance of the route tree, but Smith is the highlight reel.
Carnell Tate is another one to watch. He’s gotten stronger. Last year he was a finesse guy; this year he’s playing through contact. Between Egbuka, Tate, and Smith, the Buckeyes have three players who can win one-on-one matchups against elite corners. Brandon Inniss is also carving out a role in the slot, showing a toughness that reminds people of a young Jaxon Smith-Njigba.
Why This Spring Feels Different
In years past, spring was about development. This year, it feels like an audition for a championship run. The "toughness" narrative that has dogged Ryan Day is being addressed head-on. There is more "good on good" tackling than we’ve seen in previous Marches. They aren't just running through bags; they are hitting.
The inclusion of the 12-team playoff changes the math, too. Before, one loss meant your season was a tightrope walk. Now, there’s a little more room to breathe, but the Buckeyes aren't playing like they have a safety net. They're playing like they’re angry.
Actionable Insights for the Upcoming Season
If you're tracking the progress of the Buckeyes, keep your eyes on these specific areas as we head toward the spring game and fall camp:
- Monitor the Right Guard Battle: This is the most vulnerable spot on the roster. If a clear winner doesn't emerge by the end of April, expect the staff to look at the portal again when it re-opens.
- Watch the "Wildcat" Packages: With Will Howard and Quinshon Judkins (the Ole Miss transfer RB), Chip Kelly has tools that Ryan Day hasn't really utilized before. Look for more creative run schemes than the standard "inside zone" we've seen lately.
- The Jeremiah Smith Hype is Real: Don't treat him like a typical freshman. He will be a starter. If you're into devy leagues or just want to impress your friends at the bar, bet on him having a 1,000-yard season immediately.
- Defensive Aggression: Notice how often the safeties are playing near the line of scrimmage. Jim Knowles is moving away from the "bend but don't break" philosophy and toward a "chaos" system designed to force turnovers.
The roster is top-heavy with NFL talent, but the chemistry between the new transfers and the returning veterans is what will define this window. Ohio State spring practice is the first real look at whether this "all-in" approach by the athletic department and NIL boosters will actually result in a trophy. It’s a lot of pressure, but then again, that’s why these guys chose Columbus.