Ohio State head coach Ryan Day named Kyle McCord the starting quarterback to start the season but said Devin Brown will also play against Indiana.
The two quarterbacks will have plenty of talented backs and receivers to help ease them into their new roles.
Ohio State once again will have one of the best receiving units in the country, and coach Tony Alford has quite a stable of running backs. I’ll take a look at the backs first because the running game may be emphasized early in the season to take some pressure off the new quarterbacks.
After an injury-plagued sophomore season, TreVeyon Henderson is said to be 100 percent now and looking to get back to his freshman form when he rushed for 1,248 yards and 15 touchdowns. Even though Miyan Williams also dealt with an injury situation last season, he rushed for 825 yards and 14 touchdowns. There is plenty of depth behind these two backs also.
Dallan Hayden was pressed into service as a true freshman in 2022 and rushed for 553 yards and five touchdowns. Chip Trayanum was moved back to the offensive side of the ball and played well. Now, if Evan Pryor has completely healed from the knee injury he suffered last year, he would give coach Alford another change of pace out of the backfield.
Coach Brian Hartline will have two of the best receivers in the country in Marvin Harrison Jr. (77 receptions for 1,263 and 14 TDs) and Emeka Egbuka (74 receptions for 1,151 yards and 10 TDs). Julian Fleming was finally healthy and became a solid third receiver with 34 receptions for 533 yards and six scores. Jayden Ballard caught eight passes for 155 yards and a TD, and more is expected of him this season. There will be talented young receivers who should get their chances, also.
The leading tight end last season was Cade Stover, who had 36 receptions for 406 yards and five scores. Other tight ends to keep your eye on are Gee Scott Jr. and Joe Royer. Xavier Johnson is an all-purpose hybrid back-receiver who makes big plays carrying the ball and catching passes. The weapons chest in Columbus is the deepest and most talented in the country.
Having so many weapons around Kyle McCord and Devin Brown will make it easier for the new quarterbacks to settle in.
Read More: Predicting Ohio State’s season game-by-game
