Ohio State Day 1 Spring Ball Thoughts

Quarterbacks Split Playing Time

Lincoln Keinholz and Julian Sayin both split the reps with the first and team offenses. This is not a surprising development because Ohio State is going to have a real quarterback competition. During the practice, Sayin displayed the quick delivery of the football that earned him praise last spring when he first arrived on campus. If Keinholz wins the job it will come down to his ability to throw the ball, because he is a good athlete that can run with the ball. The expectation is that this battle won't be settled until the fall camp.

Malik Hartfod Gets First Team Reps

Malik Hartford was starting at the safety position opposite Caleb Downs. He is in a battle with Jaylen McClain for the safety position opposite Downs. I expect this battle to go back and forth throughout the spring, but it was a significant development that Harford is the starter as of now.

Expected starters on Defense Took Expected Starting Spots

As expected, Arvell Reese is the starting linebacker opposite Sonny Styles . Reese has a chance to be an excellent player opposite Styles as he got in several games last year when they needed a third linebacker. The defensive line also featured expected starters. Kenyatta Jackson and Caden Curry are at the defensive ends. Plus, Eddrick Houston and Kayden McDonald at defensive tackles. Recent transfer Logan George was second team defensive end along with CJ Hicks, the former linebacker. Finally, Lorenzo Styles has stepped into the nickel back position after rotating last year. Also starting opposite starting cornerback  Davison Igbinosun is Jermaine Matthew Jr. which isn't a shocker considering he rotated in a lot last year at cornerback last season. 

CJ Hicks Is Officially an Edge

A former five-star prospect, Hicks could never start and make an impact at linebacker, so he is officially a defensive end for the Buckeyes now. He is a great athlete and when he was in spot duty and rushed the pass, he excelled. He has a chance to make an impact next year as a situational pass rusher.

Offensive Line Shuffle

Austin Siereveld was the starting left tackle for Ohio State instead of left tackle transfer Ethan Onianwa who was on the second team. Nothing to read into as the Buckeyes coaches wanting Onianwa to earn it. The left guard was Luke Montgomery, the center was Carson Hinzman and the right guard was Tegra Teshbola. All three are returning starters along with Siereveld, who started and rotated in at both guard positions. The right tackle position was similar in Phillip Daniels who transferred in from Minnesota and was on the second team, while Ian Moore played right tackle on the first team. 

RBs, WRs, TEs 

James Peoples took the first team reps at running back. West Virginia transfer CJ Donaldson should rotate in at some point and have a specific role of short-yardage and goal-line because of the size advantage he has over Peoples. The wide receiver positions are what you expected would be with Jeremiah Smith and Carnell Tate  as both the starting wide receivers. I expect Tate to be a breakout star next year. Brandon Innis and Bryson Rodgers rotated at the third wide receiver position. Finally at the tight end, Will Kacmarek and Bennet Christian split playing time with the first team. Purdue transfer Max Klare was with the third team offense.