Veteran Ohio State wide receiver Brandon Inniss will wear the Block O jersey for the Buckeyes in 2026, following a post-practice announcement on Saturday.
Ohio State head coach Ryan Day presented Brandon Inniss with the Block O jersey following practice Saturday, officially making the two-time captain the Buckeyes’ recipient for the 2026 season. Inniss will trade his No. 1 jersey for No. 0, taking on one of the most recognizable honors in the program.
“Brandon is the right choice to wear the Block ‘O’ this season. It is an honor that represents much more than what a player does on the field. It represents toughness, accountability, and character, and Brandon has earned the respect of everyone in our building through the way he works, prepares and serves his teammates. He is now a two-time captain who understands what it means to wear the Scarlet and Gray and the responsibility that comes with this program. Brandon continues to grow as a leader, and he will represent the legacy of Bill Willis and everything the Block ‘O’ stands for the right way,” said Ryan Day of Inniss.
The timing is fitting because everything about Inniss entering his final season in Columbus has pointed toward this moment. He has been a leader for Ohio State as a captain. But now, the Buckeyes are asking him to become a bigger part of the offense, too.
Inniss has been locked in this offseason, preparing for his closeout season in the Scarlet and Gray. In the winter, I asked him to describe the 2026 Ohio State team in one word; he didn’t hesitate. “Elite,” he said. When I followed up and asked him to describe his own 2026 season, his answer was even more telling. Inniss said, “Unstoppable.”
Working Hard This Offseason
Brandon Inniss has spent the offseason transforming his body and working to become more explosive, with an emphasis on making the most of every opportunity that comes his way. He told reporters in the spring that he wanted to catch everything and maximize his chances to elevate both his team and his NFL Draft stock.
Ohio State’s wide receiver room looks different in 2026. For years, Inniss has been surrounded by elite talent yet remained patient as Carnell Tate, Jeremiah Smith, and Emeka Egbuka occupied prominent roles. But instead of leaving Columbus to be featured elsewhere, he stayed. Now, in 2026, he’s looking to make his winter predictions a reality.
His patience is now being rewarded. Inniss is competing with Devin McCuin and a deep WR room for an expanded role and has continued to work with the first-team offense during fall camp. He is expected to operate primarily from the slot again, where his ability to work underneath and across the middle will become valuable in Arthur Smith’s new offense.
Smith’s offense is built around creating mismatches, utilizing different personnel groupings and establishing the run. That will create opportunities for a player like Inniss to find space and make plays after the catch.
Yards after the catch is another area where Ohio State has emphasized development. Since the spring, wide receivers coach Cortez Hankton, Jeremiah Smith, and the rest of the receiver room have placed a significant emphasis on improving from last year, when the Buckeyes ranked 95th nationally.
Taking the Next Step
For Brandon Inniss, that could be the next step. He has never been the type of player who needs to flash on every snap. Instead, his value has often been found in the details of consistency and his leadership.
Ohio State needs more from the veteran wideout, though. The Buckeyes need him to be dynamic, especially in space, turning underneath opportunities into explosive plays. Inniss must also transform from a reliable piece of the offense into one of its featured weapons. So far in fall camp, he looks faster.
Ryan Day has also shared how highly he views Inniss as a leader. When assessing Ohio State’s leadership heading into spring ball, he put Inniss “right there with Jeremiah Smith.” For Coach Day to say Inniss is right there with Jeremiah Smith when it comes to leadership speaks to what Inniss has become inside the program.
Block O Jersey
Those traits are what the Block O jersey represents. It is about embodying what it means to be a Buckeye on and off the field. Inniss has done that through patience, preparation, and leadership. He became a captain and embraced the standard in Columbus. Now, he gets to wear No. 0.
Ohio State lost Carnell Tate to the NFL and has significant turnover across its roster. The Buckeyes have 51 new faces and a new offensive coordinator in Arthur Smith, yet the expectation has not changed.
Beat Michigan, Win the Big Ten, and Win the National Championship. Those are Ohio State’s three team goals every year, and Inniss is one of the players entrusted with leading the charge. Public scrutiny will remain, along with questions about his production and whether he can finally become the receiver many expected him to be.
He said his 2026 season would be “unstoppable, ” but receiving the Block O jersey won’t make that happen. However, it is a pretty good indication that the Buckeyes believe he is ready for the opportunity.
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Join us at DICK’s House of Sport in Polaris, OH, on Saturday, August 29, from 12-3 pm for a Tailgate Takeover to kick off football season! TSB LIVE returns for an on-site show with special guests previewing Ohio State’s 2026 season. You do not want to miss this event! Register here
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Blake Biscardi serves as Co-Founder, Lead Reporter, and Senior Editor of The Silver Bulletin. He hosts the Buckeye Cadence podcast, where he breaks down Ohio State football and basketball with an inside look into the programs. Covering Julian Sayin in New York City in 2025 was his Heisman moment, which became a viral moment in its own right. Biscardi is a member of the Football Writers Association of America (FWAA) and has degrees in Business Administration and Strategic Communication & Leadership.