Ohio State football 2024 depth chart projection 2.0: What is the post-spring outlook?

Ohio State wrapped up spring practice over the weekend.

The spring game on Saturday marked the last of 15 practices, leaving the Buckeyes to move into the next phase of the offseason.

As the transfer portal opens this week, the potential for more roster shuffling remains, though it’s worthwhile at this juncture to take stock of the pecking order at the various position groups.

In the aftermath of spring practice, here’s The Dispatch’s updated projected depth chart for the upcoming season.

Quarterback

Starter: Will Howard (Sr.)

Backups: Devin Brown (rSo.), Julian Sayin (Fr.), Lincoln Kienholz (rFr.), Air Noland (Fr.),

Brown managed well enough in spring practice to make it clear he should not be overlooked in the competition behind center, but it is an open question of whether it was enough to dislodge Howard as the frontrunner. Howard, the veteran Kansas State transfer, got the start in the spring game. The biggest development might involve Sayin, a freshman who drew enough buzz to put himself in the mix.

Running back

Starter: TreVeyon Henderson (Sr.)

Backups: Quinshon Judkins (Jr.), James Peoples (Fr.)

There is no change to the top of a depth chart that features Henderson and Judkins, but a new third running back. With redshirt sophomore Dallan Hayden expected to put his name in the transfer portal after he did not practice last week, James Peoples slides up in the rotation. Peoples was one of the two scholarship backs who enrolled a semester early to participate in spring practice.

Wide receiver

Starters: Emeka Egbuka (Sr.), Jeremiah Smith (Fr.), Carnell Tate (Soph.)

Backups: Jayden Ballard (rJr.), Brandon Inniss (Soph.), Bryson Rodgers (rFr.)

The more highlight-reel catches Smith strung together in spring practice, the harder it became to imagine him not breaking the mold for freshman wide receivers at Ohio State by breaking into the starting lineup. Though he did not start with the first-team offense in an open practice on Friday or the spring game the following day, it feels inevitable that he will be in position to start by August and will keep Egbuka primarily in the slot.

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Tight end

Starter: Gee Scott Jr. (Sr.)

Backups: Will Kacmarek (rJr.), Jelani Thurman (rFr.)

In practices open to reporters, Scott was a consistent presence lining up as the first-team tight end. Kacmarek has starting experience at Ohio, and Thurman is a tantalizing talent, making them worth watching in the months ahead, but Scott, the top backup to Cade Stover a year ago, remains the most likely candidate to replace him and start as a super senior.

More: Join the Ohio State Sports Insider text group with Bill Rabinowitz, Joey Kaufman Adam Jardy

Offensive line

Starters: LT Josh Simmons (rJr.), LG Donovan Jackson (Sr.), C Seth McLaughlin (rSr.), RG Carson Hinzman (rSoph.), RT Josh Fryar (rSr.)

Backups: LT George Fitzpatrick (rSoph.) LG Austin Siereveld (rFr.), C Joshua Padilla (rFr.), RG Luke Montgomery (Soph.), RT Tegra Tshabola (rSoph.)

The Buckeyes have largely maintained continuity with their offensive line in spring practice, keeping Fryar and Simmons as their first-team tackles with Donovan Jackson entrenched at left guard. Things remain unsettled at center and right guard, though. McLaughlin, the Alabama transfer, has shared first-team reps in the middle with Hinzman, who was last season’s starting center. But Hinzman has also seen reps at guard, along with Montgomery and Tshabola, and started there for the spring game, giving that latest configuration a slight edge for the time being.

Defensive line

Starters: DE Jack Sawyer (Sr.), DT Ty Hamilton (rSr.), DT Tyleik Williams (Sr.), DE J.T. Tuimoloau (Sr.)

Backups: DE Caden Curry (Jr.), DT Hero Kanu (rSoph.), DT Tywone Malone (rJr.), DE Kenyatta Jackson (rSoph.)

There isn’t reason to think the Buckeyes won’t have the same starting defensive line as last year. The intrigue here on the depth chart is between the second and third teams. Mitchell Melton, who had a sack in the spring game, should push Curry and Jackson for snaps in the rotation behind Sawyer and Tuimoloau. Tackles Jason Moore and Kayden McDonald, who are in their second years, are also making a push behind Kanu and Manu.

Linebacker

Starters: Cody Simon (Sr.), C.J. Hicks (Jr.)

Backups: Gabe Powers (rSoph.), Sonny Styles (Jr.)

With Styles’ switch from safety, the Buckeyes have a compelling position battle at weakside linebacker between him and Hicks. Experience rests with Styles, who played 543 snaps on defense last fall, according to Pro Football Focus. By comparison, Hicks saw 75 snaps. But a majority of Styles’ snaps were in the back end, and he only began practicing at linebacker in March. Hicks got the start in the spring game and has a slight edge for now.

Secondary

Starters: CB Denzel Burke (Sr.), S Jordan Hancock (Sr.), (Jr.), S Caleb Downs (Soph.), S Lathan Ransom (Sr.), CB Davison Igbinosun (Jr.)

Backups: CB Jermaine Mathews Jr. (Soph.), S Lorenzo Styles Jr. (rJr.), S Malik Hartford (Soph.), S Jayden Bonsu (rFr.), CB Calvin Simpson-Hunt (rFr.)

Without the younger Styles in the secondary, Hancock is the clear-cut candidate to start at nickel, as he did late last season when Styles moved over to replace Ransom as the strong safety. Among those who could fill in behind Hancock includes Lorenzo Styles Jr., the older brother of Sonny Styles who transferred from Notre Dame a year ago, though he was sidelined for the spring game while his left arm was in a sling.

Special teams

Starters: K Jayden Fielding (Jr.), P Nick McLarty (Fr.), LS John Ferlmann (rJr.)

When spring practice began last month, the Buckeyes had only two options at punter to replace Jesse Mirco, who transferred to Vanderbilt. Those were Joe McGuire, a redshirt freshman, and Hadi Jawad, another walk-on who transferred from Wayne State. But McLarty, who committed in March, might be the favorite to take over punting when he enrolls this summer. A 6-foot-7 former Australian rules football player, McLarty has a strong leg.

Joey Kaufman covers Ohio State football for The Columbus Dispatch and can be reached at jkaufman@dispatch.com.

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This article originally appeared on The Columbus Dispatch: Ohio State football 2024 depth chart projection after spring practice