Projecting The Ohio State Two-Deep As 2024 Fall Camp Opens

This two-deep projection is part of an ongoing feature on the Buckeye Huddle message board that began January 9. Much has changed since then, which is why this is version 6.0 of my two-deep projection for the Buckeyes. Ohio State opens fall camp this morning, which means version 7.0 may hit the streets by this evening.

OFFENSE

QB
Will Howard
Devin Brown

Will Howard and Devin Brown will open camp splitting reps evenly but that will eventually shift.

RB
TreVeyon Henderson OR
Quinshon Judkins

No changes here, but I’ll remind you that TreVeyon Henderson has started every game that he’s been healthy enough to play in since about week three of his freshman season.

X
Carnell Tate
Emeka Egbuka

Z
Jeremiah Smith
Jayden Ballard

Slot
Emeka Egbuka
Brandon Inniss

Ryan Day talked about needing receivers 4-7 to step up. The Buckeyes are deeper in the slot than out wide, but the good news is Emeka Egbuka can play anywhere and solidify whatever they need. Can Jayden Ballard or Bryson Rodgers earn a legitimate role over this next month?

TE
Gee Scott
Will Kacmarek OR
Jelani Thurman

In early editions of this two-deep, there was an OR between Gee Scott and Will Kacmarek. That was removed in the spring, however. Can Kacmarek do well enough in fall camp to get it back? Probably not, but that may be more of a statement about Scott.

LT
Josh Simmons
Zen Michalski

The only real question at tackle is who is the No. 3 guy. I think at this point I’d go with George Fitzpatrick. Does Tegra Tshabola and Luke Montgomery’s battle at right guard hinder their respective opportunities to be the swing tackle? Will one of them be moved to tackle halfway through camp as the competition at right guard gets pared down? Probably.

LG
Donovan Jackson
Austin Siereveld

No changes here in months. Totally nailed it.

C
Seth McLaughlin
Carson Hinzman

I’m fascinated to see if Carson Hinzman opens camp at right guard. The plan is to go with two offenses practicing at the same time. If Hinzman doesn’t open as one of the two centers, that would confirm plenty. It would not preclude him from being the true backup, however.

RG
Luke Montgomery OR
Carson Hinzman OR
Tegra Tshabola

Never in the history of Ohio State football has the right guard position been so publicized. If that doesn’t tell you how good things actually are, then nothing will. Of course, just because a depth chart is set doesn’t mean that depth chart is good enough to run the ball in November, December, and January. I think it will be though. Carson Hinzman got the start in the spring game, which may be a tell here.

RT
Josh Fryar
George Fitzpatrick

This spring we finally started to hear some good things about George Fitzpatrick.

Defense

DE
JT Tuimoloau
Caden Curry

No changes. Not sure what else needs to be said about the defensive ends at this point, other than I might have to also draw up a Double Eagle alignment with a nose tackle (Hero Kanu per Jim Knowles), two three-techs, and JT Tuimoloau and Jack Sawyer as the edges.

3T
Tyleik Williams
Jason Moore

No changes here since spring ball. I have moved Jason Moore from an OR with Tywone Malone and Will Smith, but I’ve got Moore alone as Tyleik Williams’ backup right now. The reports and conversations have been very, very encouraging. And Malone better watch out for Will Jr.

NT
Ty Hamilton
Hero Kanu OR
Kayden McDonald

No change here. Though I do kind of want to make it Kayden McDonald OR Hero Kanu. Larry Johnson told me that McDonald would be the first guy in among the DTs, so should there even be an OR here at all?

DE
Jack Sawyer
Kenyatta Jackson

No change here but Mitchell Melton deserves to be mentioned.

Jack

Mitchell Melton OR
CJ Hicks OR
Arvell Reese

It’s the Great Pumpkin, Charlie Brown!

Will
Sonny Styles OR
CJ Hicks

I expect Sonny Styles to eventually win the job but CJ Hicks ran with the ones all spring long. I think they wanted him to get as much work as possible, which he did. He got some good experience and they got plenty of gradeable film. You’d like to think there’d be room for both but that’s up to Hicks more than Jim Knowles.

Mike
Cody Simon
Gabe Powers

No changes here. Cody Simon will be a captain and Gabe Powers has been one of the most-improved defenders over the past year. It sure seems like Powers is going to play this year. It will be interesting to see what kind of push Arvell Reese can make here.

Nickel
Jordan Hancock
Jermaine Mathews OR
Lorenzo Styles, Jr.

The only change here is that I’ve moved Lorenzo Styles, Jr. to the bottom of the OR equation. Jermaine Mathews is gonna play a lot this year, one way or another.

Cornerback
Denzel Burke
Jermaine Mathews

No change. Don’t expect any. Imagine having Jermaine Mathews on the bench. That’s depth.

Free Safety
Caleb Downs
Malik Hartford

I’ve removed Jaylen McClain but only because Malik Hartford is healthy enough to be back in the mix. The interesting question here is if McClain’s stellar play in the spring was enough to move Hartford to strong safety. Probably not.

Strong Safety
Lathan Ransom
Keenan Nelson OR
Jayden Bonsu

Keenan Nelson is a new addition so I don’t really know what to expect. I would not be shocked to see Malik Hartford be the backup at both spots should they really get into a bind. Nelson has some experience, however, which is more than what Jayden Bonsu can say. I have an OR here mostly due to Bonsu’s time in the program and Nelson’s lack of.

Cornerback
Davison Igbinosun
Calvin Simpson-Hunt

No change here.

Place Kicker
Jayden Fielding

Jayden Fielding has the job locked down. He was very good for what he was asked to do last year.

Punter
Joe McGuire OR
Nick McClarty OR
Anthony Venneri

Anthony Venneri is the only punter with experience in this group but he’s Canadian — and not from Pro Kick Canada. Just a regular Canadian. I have included Joe McGuire in this because his father is a powerful man in Australian sports and I don’t want to upset the Aussies. I saw what happened to Max Rockatansky when he did something similar.

Long-Snapper
John Ferlmann

No change. Returning starter. Buckeyes are bringing in one of the top snappers in the 2024 class as well.

Kick Returner
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No change here. Lorenzo Styles, Jr. is begging for the opportunity. We saw nothing in the spring from the kickoff team. Carnell Tate and Emeka Egbuka “returned” the first two kickoffs in the spring game but that doesn’t mean anything to me. I’m not sure they’ll risk putting James Peoples or Sam Williams-Dixon back there. Brandon Inniss maybe?

Punt Returner
Jayden Ballard OR
Brandon Inniss OR
Emeka Egbuka OR
Carnell Tate

Jeremiah Smith was also getting some snaps at punt returner but I’m not expecting them to go with him. Here’s another area where Brandon Inniss may make sense but that’s just an effort on my part to get him involved. It wouldn’t surprise me to see Emeka Egbuka back there just to make sure they catch the ball.