Ohio State starting lineup: A look at Ryan Day's team ahead of Week 1 showdown against Akron
Perhaps the most significant season of Ohio State football under Ryan Day begins on Saturday afternoon. The No. 2 Buckeyes are chasing the national title hard but another season of not winning it would increase the pressure on Day. Ohio State hasn't released an official depth chart but here is the expected lineup against Akron.
Ohio State projected starting lineup for Week 1
Ohio State offensive starters
QB: Will Howard
The Kansas State transfer will get the ball as the starting QB. A season ago, Howard passed for 2,643 yards and 24 touchdowns. Howard rushed for another 351 yards and nine touchdowns. Junior Devin Brown is the likely backup here.
RB: Treveyon Henderson
Henderson is Ohio State's three-year standout and will probably get the first snaps (926 yards and 11 touchdowns last year). But Ole Miss transfer Quinshon Judkins will certainly see plenty of snaps as well.
WR: Emeka Egbuka, Jeremiah Smith, Carnell Tate
Egbuka is the standout here, looking to replicate his 2022 campaign when he had 1,151 receiving yards. Tate had 18 grabs for 264 yards a year ago and Smith might be the top freshman in the country. There's plenty of depth here but the starters will do more than their share of heavy lifting.
TE: Gee Scott
Scott had 10 catches for 70 yards last year. The Buckeyes tend more toward working another skill position player into the lineup.
OL: Josh Simmons, Donovan Jackson, Seth McLaughlin, Tegra Tshabola, Josh Fryar
These are the likely starters up front. Simmons is from San Diego State and McLaughlin is an Alabama product. The other three are returning Buckeyes.
Ohio State defensive starters
DL: JT Tuimoloau, Tyleik Williams, Ty Hamilton, Jack Sawyer
All four are returning Buckeyes starters. Both Sawyer and Tuimoloau have All-American talent, and if both break through, they could be the best defensive linemen in the nation.
LB: Cody Simon, Sonny Styles
Both are returning standouts. Simon was only a part-time starter but both have talent and experience.
DBs: Denzel Burke, Davison Igbinosun, Jordan Hancock, Lathan Ransom, Caleb Downs
Burke and Igbinosun are probably the top returning cornerback tandem in the nation. Hancock started seven games last season and will be an experienced nickel. Ransom was a reserve a season ago and Downs is a transfer from Alabama who will provide explosiveness at the safety position.
Ohio State Special Teams
K: Jayden Fielding, P: Nick McLarty, Returns: Jayden Ballard, others
Fielding is a returnee but Ohio State has to replace Jesse Mirco at punter. McLarty is a 6-foot-7, 255-pound Australian. He'll be a fan favorite as few punters can be. Ballard is just one of a wealth of explosive athletes who will return kicks.
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