Despite previous reporting and clever name changes, the Ohio State Spring Game, formerly known as the “Spring Showcase” is on and will be an actual Spring Game. With the growing trend of college football programs eliminating Spring Games due to the fears of other programs poaching. Ohio State was on that list, or, at least, it was assumed due to the name change. However, Ryan Day announced that the Buckeyes would go forward with a traditional offense vs. defense scrimmage. The first few series will be “thud” intensity but after that, it’ll be full-go, aside from the quarterbacks.
With 15 Buckeyes off to the NFL, there are positional battles all up and down the depth chart. The offensive line must be rebuilt and the defense must replace eight starters. There will be a brand-new quarterback tasked with following up a National Championship. Can they replace 338 carries for 2,076 yards and 24 touchdowns at running back?
Some progress will be made at the Ohio State Spring Game. At the same time, it likely won’t be the end-all and be-all when deciding position battles. Even then, there are a few units to watch at Ohio Stadium on Saturday.
2025 Ohio State Spring Game: What to Watch
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Ohio State has prided itself on the recruitment, development, and play within its secondary. When Jim Knowles took over, the secondary got significantly better. Now that he’s off to Penn State, Matt Patricia must rebuild the secondary around potential top-five picks Caleb Downs and Davison Igbinosun.
The cornerback position opposite Igbinosun will be interesting to watch. True freshman Devin Sanchez has been getting Jeremiah Smith-level hype from coaches and the Buckeye beat this Spring. He came to Ohio State as a five-star recruit with traits that will get him on the field quickly.
The fun part is that the Buckeyes also nabbed two other top-tier corners in the 2024 class Aaron Scott and Bryce West. Scott has been lining up against Smith in practice and has held his own against the rising sophomore phenom. It has looked like he has the inside track but Sanchez might be too good to keep off the field.
At Nickel, Lorenzo Styles Jr., brother of Sonny Styles, has been battling to get on the field. If the Buckeyes employ a similar approach to the secondary as it does the offensive line, the three best corners will be on the field. Styles has to beat out a number of naturally talented corners like Sanches, Scott, and West, as well as Jermaine Mathews.
At safety, Downs has been limited in practice and, honestly, he should not suit up for this game. It has not been anything serious but when you have a player of his caliber whose job is not in jeopardy, just play it safe and give the young guys an option. Jaylen McClain and Malik Hartford look to be the favorites but don’t overlook freshman Faheem Delane.
A Whole New Defensive Line
Could it be possible that Ohio State has to replace all four defensive line starters and could end up better in the end? That’s the task ahead of Larry Johnson and his unit.
On the EDGE, Caden Curry and Kenyatta Jackson Jr. have been biding their time behind two NFL-bound players. However, the conversion of CJ Hicks to the position with the incoming transfer of Logan George has made things interesting. Oh, not to mention the other highly-rated players further down the depth chart.
In his career, Curry has 45 tackles, 10 tackles for loss, four-and-a-half sacks, one pass breakup, and two forced fumbles. He has the most experience and production as a Buckeye to this point. It’s wide open. Every player will have an opportunity to make an impact as Patricia will look to be a bit more multiple and diverse this year. Someone is due for a breakout.
On the interior, Eddrick Houston and Kayden McDonald look to be the ones to take over at tackle. Houston was recruited as an EDGE but he bulked up for the betterment of the team, so now, imagine a tackle with the athletic profile of a large, five-star EDGE. He got on the field last year as a true freshman and made an immediate impact.
The defensive interior, at least on paper, appears the weakest on the defense. Behind those two, there is not much in terms of experience. The group will have to prove to Johnson and Patricia that they are ready for action in the Spring Game to make sure they don’t go out and try to nab another transfer just in case.
The Obvious
In all reality, all eyes will be locked in on the quarterback battle taking center stage at the Ohio State Spring Game. Julian Sayin, Lincoln Kienholz, and Tavien St. Clair have been locked in a battle to be the Buckeyes’ next starting quarterback. To this point, it’s been neck-and-neck between Sayin and Kienholz with St. Clair trailing behind. The true freshman has had a good Spring to this point and it’s obvious of his talent, but there is a certain level of seasoning that Sayin and Kienholz have that St. Clair does not. He needs a little more time in the program. With his level of natural talent, Day can afford to wait a couple of seasons.
Sayin has been the favorite to land the job. He was turning heads last year as an early enrollee with his impressive accuracy. Now, he’s gotten stronger and that accuracy has only gotten better. In the Student Appreciation Day scrimmage, he made several tight throws that only his receivers could get.
On the other hand, it was a prevailing feeling that Kienholz actually performed better on the day. From the jump, Kienholz has been locked in with the Buckeyes despite all of the rumors of tampering and the like. He’s grown quite a bit from the unfortunate Cotton Bowl showing which was not a fair look at the quarterback from South Dakota.
This battle is not going to be decided on Saturday. Day will likely hold off naming a winner until Texas is firmly on the horizon. Either way, a strong performance would do wonders for the one who may have a leg up.
Main Photo: Adam Cairns/Columbus Dispatch / USA TODAY NETWORK via Imagn Images
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