Ohio State Spring Roster News And Notes

The Ohio State spring roster was released this week in conjunction with the start of spring practice on Tuesday. The spring roster is always our first look at number changes, number assignments, height and weight changes, and just the kind of minutiae that we look forward to every year.

In Ohio, there are two signs that spring is on its way. The first are the robins, and the second is the spring roster.

With the roster now set, we can begin to overanalyze the next phase of the 2024 Ohio State football season.

So let’s get started. Here are a number of notable notes and numbers from this season’s first roster.

You can also find the spring roster right here.

Overall, the returning scholarship players grew by a total of 13 inches and 142 pounds from last year. That’s about the size and weight of a black-and-white television from 1989.
The biggest gainer on the team was redshirt freshman offensive tackle Miles Walker, who went from 295 on last year’s roster to 317 on the current roster.
The biggest loser on the team was redshirt freshman punter Joe McGuire, who went from 235 to 212. McGuire looks to be the favorite to win the job this spring since three-year starter Jesse Mirco hit the transfer portal after last season. The Buckeyes are still looking for some competition at that spot, though.
Redshirt freshman defensive end Joshua Mickens came in to Ohio State last year listed at 6-foot-5 and 236 pounds. He is now 6-foot-3 and 233 pounds. If these trends continue next year and he comes in at 6-foot-1, the folks at OSU might want to invest in a new tape measure.
Defensive ends Jack Sawyer and JT Tuimoloau have both grown by an inch. Both are now listed at 6-foot-5. And both are lighter. Sawyer by five pounds (260) and Tuimoloau by 16 ounces (269).
On Monday the media got to speak with the quarterbacks, and redshirt freshman quarterback Lincoln Kienholz looked noticeably bigger than he did even back in January. He said he had added seven pounds of muscle. The roster agreed with his assessment, as he now comes in at 207 pounds instead of his listed weight of 200 pounds last year. He also grew an inch and is now standing tall at 6-foot-3. It’s amazing what a Cotton Bowl can do for a guy. That wasn’t the only change for the South Dakotan — he is also now wearing No. 3 after wearing No. 12 last year as a true freshman.
Not to be outdone by Lincoln Kienholz, sophomore cornerback Jermaine Mathews, Jr. has also added seven pounds (189). He is still wearing No. 24 — and there is no reason for an Ohio State cornerback to ever change that number.
Redshirt freshman cornerback Calvin Simpson-Hunt has not only changed numbers — 15 to 22, he has also added nine pounds, and is now checking in at 204. Unfortunately, however, it appears that the added gravity of those nine pounds has taken its toll and dropped his height from 6-foot-1 to 6-foot-even. He would probably be at least 6-foot-2 on the moon.
Starting cornerbacks Denzel Burke and Davison Igbinosun are both up three pounds to 193. You gotta love it when your DBs are in sync like that.
Starting nickel back Jordan Hancock is up eight pounds to 195 from last year’s final roster. That would seem to be a response to the fact that he is going to play a lot more in the base defense this year.
Senior safety Ja’Had Carter has moved from No. 14 to No. 3. Despite the loss of a digit, he still gained two pounds.
Senior pass rusher Mitchell Melton appears to be getting ready for more action on the defensive line as he is now an inch taller (6-foot-4) and eight pounds heavier (261) than last year.
Sophomore receiver Carnell Tate is now listed at 6-foot-3 instead of 6-foot-2, so it looks like things might work out for him after all.
Redshirt freshman safety Jayden Bonsu already arrived at OSU as a bigger defensive back. He is now listed at 6-foot-2 and 207 pounds.
Redshirt freshman walk-on receiver Nolan Baudo — who is from Chicago — has switched jersey numbers from No. 24 to No. 23. Obviously, any time somebody from the Chicago area can change their number to 23, you have to do it. It will be interesting to see if at some point he switches to 45 for a couple of months before then switching back to 23.
Quarterback Devin Brown is down one pound to 212, but he will likely add that pound right back on game day in the form of ankle tape.
After being listed at 6-foot-4 last year as a true freshman, sophomore offensive lineman Luke Montgomery is now listed at 6-foot-5, which means he can now legally play offensive tackle. Ironically, however, he has been slotted in as the No. 1 right guard this spring for offensive line coach Justin Frye.
Redshirt freshman defensive tackle Jason Moore has added 10 pounds and is now listed at 6-foot-6 and 305 pounds. Junior defensive end Kenyatta Jackson is also now checking in at 6-foot-6 after being merely 6-foot-5 a year ago.
Redshirt freshman wide receiver Bryson Rodgers has changed his jersey number from 86 to 13.

The 15 mid-year enrollee freshmen and six incoming transfers have their numbers:
- 12 QB Air Noland
- 10 QB Julian Sayin
- 18 QB Will Howard
- 1 RB Quinshon Judkins
- 20 RB James Peoples
- 24 RB Sam Williams-Dixon
- 4 WR Jeremiah Smith
- 89 TE Will Kacmarek
- 56 C Seth McLaughlin
- 69 OL Ian Moore
- 72 OL Deontae Armstrong
- 73 OL Devontae Armstrong
- 96 DE Eddrick Houston
- 90 DT Eric Mensah
- 35 LB Payton Pierce
- 23 LB Garrett Stover
- 5 CB Aaron Scott
- 12 CB Bryce West
- 13 CB Miles Lockhart
- 2 SAF Caleb Downs
- 18 SAF Jaylen McClain