Which Freshmen Redshirted For The Buckeyes This Year?

The process of redshirting a player is generally limited to true freshmen but can also involve injuries of returning players or young players learning a new position or an overabundance of depth at a particular position.

Now with the Ohio State football season in the rearview, we can look back and see who played enough and who didn’t. The current redshirt rules allow for players to play in up to four regular season games and still maintain their redshirt. Those games can occur at any time, and the postseason games do not factor into that count.

The Buckeyes signed 21 true freshmen in the 2023 class and added eight transfers.

Of those 21 freshmen, 14 redshirted. Seven never saw the field this season, and seven others never exceeded their four regular-season game allotment.

Did Not Play

OL – Joshua Padilla
OL – Austin Siereveld
OL – Miles Walker
DT – Will Smith, Jr.
LB – Nigel Glover
SAF – Jayden Bonsu
SAF – Cedrick Hawkins

Redshirted But Played

QB – Lincoln Kienholz
Kienholz played in three of OSU’s last four games, including an attempted rescue effort in the Cotton Bowl. He completed 6-of-17 passes for 86 yards in the 14-3 loss to Missouri.

WR – Noah Rogers
Rogers played in four games and did not record any statistics. He has entered the transfer portal.

WR – Bryson Rodgers
Rodgers played in two games and did not record any statistics. He has entered the transfer portal.

TE – Jelani Thurman
Thurman played in five games this season, including the Cotton Bowl. He caught two passes for 18 yards this year. Thurman could be an important piece of the Ohio State offense next season.

DE – Josh Mickens
Mickens played in one game this year as the Buckeyes’ lone defensive end signee. He did not record a statistic.

DT – Jason Moore
Moore played in one game this year but dealt with an injury throughout the season. He did not record a statistic.

CB – Calvin Simpson-Hunt
Simpson-Hunt played in each of the Buckeyes’ final five games. He recorded a pair of tackles this season.

Burned A Redshirt

WR – Carnell Tate
Tate was an important piece of OSU’s receiver rotation. He played in every game this season and caught 18 passes for 264 yards and one touchdown.

WR – Brandon Inniss
Inniss played in all but one game this year for the Buckeyes, but saw most of his time on special teams. He did have one catch that went for a 58-yard touchdown, however.

OL – Luke Montgomery
Montgomery played in 10 games this year, suiting up at right tackle and also as an extra tight end in heavy packages. He should contend for a starting spot on the offensive line next season.

DT – Kayden McDonald
McDonald played in seven games, seeing snaps over the second half of the season. He also got some time as a fullback in the Cotton Bowl. McDonald finished with one tackle and a half-tackle for loss.

LB – Arvell Reese
Reese played special teams for the Buckeyes but missed time in the first half of the season with an injury. He could float between linebacker and defensive end next year.

CB – Jermaine Mathews, Jr.
Mathews was one of OSU’s standout true freshman this season. He played in 12 games and tallied 13 tackles. He returned his lone interception 58 yards for a touchdown against Western Kentucky. Mathews got the start against Rutgers due to injuries.

SAF – Malik Hartford
Hartford played in 12 games this season and got the start against Youngstown State. He finished the season with 10 tackles and two pass breakups.

Also Redshirted

RB – Dallan Hayden (Soph)
After being a pleasant surprise as a true freshman in 2022, rushing for 553 yards, Hayden was scheduled to redshirt this year due to OSU’s running back depth. He played in four games, carrying the ball 19 times for 110 yards with one touchdown.

WR – Kojo Antwi (Soph)
Antwi played in five regular season games in 2022 as a true freshman, but played in just two games this year. He has yet to record a reception as a Buckeye.

CB – Jyaire Brown (Soph)
Brown played in four games this season and has transferred out of the program after a solid freshman season that saw him earn a start early in the season against Wisconsin due to injuries.

CB – Lorenzo Styles, Jr. (Junior)
Styles played in five games this year, including the Cotton Bowl, as he made the move from Notre Dame wide receiver last year to Ohio State cornerback this year. Redshirting was always the plan.

SAF – Cameron Martinez (Fourth-Year Junior)
Martinez played in four of OSU’s first eight games. He also redshirted in 2020, but that year didn’t count against anybody’s eligibility, so he still had another redshirt year available. He has since announced a transfer to Boston College.

SAF – Kye Stokes (Soph)
Stokes, a true sophomore, entered the transfer portal after playing in three games this season.

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