Buckeyes Offensive Fall Camp Two-Deep Depth Chart Projection
As the second window of the transfer portal came and went in late April, the Ohio State Buckeyes are gearing up for fall camp Thursday.
The Buckeyes welcomed summer enrollees like wide receiver Brandon Inniss and quarterback Lincoln Kienholz into the fold on offense, but they will have to wait their turn before becoming contributors in Columbus.
Here is the BuckeyesNow two-deep depth chart projection for when Ohio State takes the field against Indiana Sept. 2.
Quarterback
1. Kyle McCord
2. Devin Brown
Head coach Ryan Day said at Big Ten Media Days that quarterback Kyle McCord has a "slight edge" over Devin Brown in the Buckeyes' competition under center.
The two quarterbacks, as well as Day, met with the media Wednesday and it was made clear that there hasn't been any separation and that they'll both split first-team repetitions in fall camp.
Day said there's a possibility the quarterback competition extends into the season and both play against the Indiana Hoosiers. As it stands right now, McCord's experience, coupled with Brown's finger injury, gives him the edge to be the guy in Columbus.
Running Back
1. TreVeyon Henderson
2. Miyan Williams
The running back room is probably one of the deepest rooms on the Buckeyes' roster with five proven options in TreVeyon Henderson, Miyan Williams, Chip Trayanum, Dallan Hayden and Evan Pryor all back to health.
That'll be the key for the room, though: health. Injuries played a role in Williams, Henderson and Hayden all garnering over 100 carries last season, while Trayanum had 14 carries for 83 yards against Michigan and Pryor didn't play a down due to a preseason torn ACL.
The Buckeyes were so thin last season that wide receiver Xavier Johnson was lining up in the backfield taking hand-offs from former quarterback C.J. Stroud.
Ohio State's running backs have something to prove and with a healthy duo of Henderson and Williams, there could be shades of 2019 in Columbus.
Wide Receiver
WR - X
1. Marvin Harrison Jr.
2. Carnell Tate
WR - Y
1. Julian Fleming
2. Jayden Ballard
WR - Slot
1. Emeka Egbuka
2. Xavier Johnson
No hot takes here. Offensive coordinator Brian Hartline has the deepest wide receiver room with the two best in the country in Marvin Harrison Jr. and Emeka Egbuka.
Johnson provides six-year veteran leadership, and as mentioned in the running backs' section, a little bit of flexibility in his skillset. On the complete flip side of that coin, freshman Carnell Tate has impressed to where he's likely leap-frogged Ohio State's sophomore receivers Kojo Antwi and Kyion Grayes.
Julian Fleming and Jayden Ballard feels like a 1A/1B at the Y receiver position. Fleming is entering his fourth year in Columbus and had 34 receptions, 533 yards and six touchdowns, but Ballard has made strides in the spring and emerged as a true deep threat.
Tight End
1. Cade Stover
2. Joe Royer
Tight end Joe Royer came on late as a solid pass-catching option for the Buckeyes, catching a pass for nine yards after Cade Stover left the Peach Bowl with a back injury.
Stover is coming off one of the best seasons for an Ohio State tight end since Rickey Dudley, catching 36 passes — the third-most on the Buckeyes last season — for 406 yards and five touchdowns. Stover is projected to be one of the top draft-eligible tight ends in 2023.
Left Tackle
1. Josh Fryar
2. George Fitzpatrick
Left Guard
1. Donovan Jackson
2. Victor Cutler Jr.
Center
1. Carson Hinzman
2. Jakob James
Right Guard
1. Matt Jones
2. Enokk Vimahi
Right Tackle
1. Josh Simmons
2. Tegra Tshabola
You can Sharpie in guards Donovan Jackson and Matt Jones. Barring an injury, those two are locked into their position.
At left tackle, Josh Fryar seems to have the lead over sophomore George Fitzpatrick as a guy who's been in the program and taken the majority of the first-team reps in spring practice.
Carson Hinzman took the majority of first-team reps at center but had his growing pains against the Buckeyes' defensive line. Jakob James missed the entire spring with an injury, but Day said at Big Ten Media Days that he's all ready to go, so he will enter the thick of the center battle and have a chance to win the starting job.
The Buckeyes brought in Josh Simmons — who Day said at Big Ten Media Days goes by "Jimmy" to differentiate from Fryar — to replace the loss of transfer Ben Christman. His tape and experience at San Diego State suggest he'll be the starting right tackle coming out of fall camp.
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