Ohio State’s annual tradition of awarding its coveted Block O jersey to a player will continue this Fall. Here are three likely candidates to receive the honor. 

Each year, one Buckeye is fortunate enough to be chosen to wear the Block O jersey number. The tradition, which began in 2020 after the NCAA permitted athletes to wear the number 0, pays homage to former Buckeyes middle guard Bill Willis. As a Columbus native, Willis began his Buckeyes football career as a sophomore in 1942, the year the program won its first national championship.

Willis would ultimately become not only one of the most important figures in Ohio State history but also in American Football history. It was at Ohio State that he would earn an All-American selection, becoming the first black player to do so. He then went on to play 8 seasons for the Cleveland Browns, breaking the team’s color barrier and earning All-Pro selections in each season he played. Willis retired from the game of football in 1953 at the age of 32.

The Block O Award is a reflection of Bill Willis’s courage, strength, and everything it means to be an Ohio State Buckeye. The honor has been given to six Buckeyes, including Jonathon Cooper, Thayer Munford, Kamryn Babb, Xavier Johnson, Cody Simon, and Sonny Styles. With that being said, let’s take a look at which Buckeyes could be in the running for the coveted Block O in 2026.

Brandon Inniss

Brandon Inniss comes into his senior season with hopes of joining a growing list of elite Ohio State receivers. “My focus this year, I’ve got one year left, and I’m going to do everything I can to be the first-round pick,” he told Bucknuts in March. A former 5-star recruit out of Florida, Inniss has struggled to meet the expectations set out before him since joining the team. Still, after hard work and dedication, Inniss proved himself to the coaches and his teammates and became an Iron Buckeye in the winter. Now, Inniss could be the third Buckeye wideout to earn the Block O.

Jermaine Mathews

Jermaine Mathews announced his intention to return to Ohio State in January of this year in hopes of polishing his game before heading to the NFL Draft. Now in his fourth year with the program, Mathews has seen all sorts of ups and downs. The Ohio native first emerged as a sophomore, appearing in all 16 games and winning a national title in 2024.

While his play during that season didn’t appear on the stat sheet, his impact could be felt on the dominant defense that helped earn the Buckeyes a place in college football immortality. After a somewhat disappointing junior season, Mathews looks to turn things around. Mathews has been a vocal leader since joining the program and has earned the respect of his coaches and teammates. Now, Mathews could be one of the few to wear the Block O.

Austin Siereveld

Austin Siereveld is now in his fourth year with the program. After redshirting his freshman season in 2023, Siereveld burst onto the scene in 2024, appearing in 16 games and making seven starts. The Ohio native and Lakota East alum started 14 games last season and has become one of the most dependable offensive linemen in the nation.

Siereveld has waited his turn and done everything the coaches asked of him. His ability to adapt and play multiple positions represents what the Block O award is all about, and Siereveld would be the perfect candidate to wear the patch.

The Block O is a tremendous honor. Since its inception in 2020, numerous well-respected Buckeyes have gotten the chance to forever associate themselves with Buckeyes history and football history. Each of these Buckeyes meet the qualifications and it will be exciting to see which one of these men get to wear the coveted jersey number.