Projecting The Ohio State Two-Deep Following Scrimmage No. 2

Welcome to Version 7.0 of my ongoing Ohio State two-deep that began the day after the Cotton Bowl ended last December. There have been plenty of changes since that initial edition, but there have also been some significant changes since Version 6.0, which was released a few days before fall camp began.

Yesterday was the second scrimmage of preseason practice for the Buckeyes, which makes this a good time to update the two-deep to this latest best guess.

OFFENSE

Quarterback
Will Howard
Devin Brown

No change here. Will Howard has been named the starter. Devin Brown is the backup right now. Others will continue to battle with Brown to be the backup but there is a lot of ground to make up. Once the games begin, the battle to be the backup usually takes a step back because they have to worry more about getting the backup ready to play.

Running Back
TreVeyon Henderson OR
Quinshon Judkins

No changes here, but I’ll remind you that TreVeyon Henderson has started 29 of the 31 games he has played. All but the first two games of his career. James Peoples is the No. 3 right now. Expect to see all four scholarship running backs in two weeks.

X Receiver
Carnell Tate
Emeka Egbuka

Z Receiver
Jeremiah Smith
Jayden Ballard

Slot Receiver
Emeka Egbuka
Brandon Inniss

Ryan Day talked about needing receivers 4-7 to step up. That appears to be happening. Kojo Antwi would be the No. 2 X here if not for Emeka Egbuka’s ability to play everywhere. Antwi may be the No. 2 X in the non-conference games, but it will be Egbuka or Jeremiah Smith in conference games. Mylan Graham is progressing more and more at Z. Bryson Rodgers is pushing in the slot but the depth there is really good, especially since Carnell Tate can play there as well.

Tight End
Gee Scott OR
Will Kacmarek
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, but it’s back now. The two have both been with the ones throughout preseason practice. Ryan Day asked Jelani Thurman to be more consistent. That is happening, which is why I’ve put him here. Let’s see how he closes this month out.

Left Tackle
Josh Simmons
Zen Michalski OR
Austin Siereveld

It was a surprise a week or two ago when we showed up at practice and redshirt freshman Austin Siereveld was the first-team left tackle. The funky virus has caused a bunch of issues, but they want to give Siereveld a long look there. I asked Ryan Day on Thursday if they had a No. 3 tackle. They do not yet because of the virus. They’re behind on finding a No. 3 OT, No. 3 OG, and No. 2 OC. I would argue they’ve found their third guard and second center.

Left Guard
Donovan Jackson
Josh Padilla

This is a change from the last edition. Austin Siereveld has been moved from No. 2 LG to tackle, but he could still show up here in a game. Redshirt freshman Josh Padilla has been playing here, moving from center.

Center
Seth McLaughlin
Luke Montgomery

It was a surprise to see Luke Montgomery start working at center in camp but he fits the mold. He opened as part of the right guard competition but the decision was made to move him to center where he could get as much work as possible and be the backup this year and presumptive starter next year.

Right Guard
Tegra Tshabola OR
Carson Hinzman

The drama at right guard continues. Nobody has been more affected by the stomach bug than Carson Hinzman, especially since it may have cost him the competition in camp. The good news here is that Tegra Tshabola has answered the challenge and improved his consistency. Nobody has gotten more out of camp than he has. The only reason the OR remains here is because of the work Hinzman put in before camp and the experience he has. Tshabola needs to finish strong here because if the two are even, they’ll probably side with the experienced starter in Hinzman.

Right Tackle
Josh Fryar
George Fitzpatrick

No changes here. Freshman Ian Moore has progressed.

Defense

Defensive End
JT Tuimoloau
Caden Curry

No changes. Expect to see a lot of Caden Curry in the non-conference games. The real tell will be how much he plays at Oregon.

Three Tech
Tyleik Williams
Hero Kanu

Some significant changes here as a bunch of ORs have been removed and I’ve moved Hero Kanu here from nose tackle. Jason Moore had a strong spring but right now this one seems set.

Nose Tackle
Ty Hamilton
Kayden McDonald

Back in the spring, Larry Johnson told me Kayden McDonald would be the first tackle in the game after the starters. That vote of confidence has not quieted in the preseason. “You feel him out there” I was told. Ton of energy too. A coach’s dream in a lot of ways.

Defensive End
Jack Sawyer
Kenyatta Jackson

Jim Knowles said last week that he’s comfortable with any of the top five defensive ends on the field. Mitchell Melton is that fifth. Kenyatta Jackson has arguably been the most disruptive player in camp, but this always creates expectations that are generally unmet. And we’ve been hearing about Jackson’s disruptive nature for a couple of years now. But he’s never been more equipped than he is now.

Jack

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Will Linebacker
Sonny Styles
CJ Hicks

I’ve removed the OR here. There is definitely still a role available for CJ Hicks. Just as there was for Cody Simon last year. Hicks and Sonny Styles will have opportunities to be on the field together as well in three-linebacker sets. Jim Knowles told me that neither player has really been cross-training at Mike because they’ve both also been working at Sam.

Mike Linebacker
Cody Simon
Gabe Powers OR
Arvell Reese

Arvell Reese is definitely making a move, which is why he has been added here. He was the defensive player of the game in the scrimmage a week ago, but let’s be careful with expectations here. Jim Knowles said this about him last week: “When he is on the attack and he is playing downhill, he is really as good as anybody. He makes plays.” It’s also the same thing he’s said about CJ Hicks in the past. There is more to the game than playing downhill, but it is significant that he has made his mark in scrimmages.

Nickel
Jordan Hancock
Jermaine Mathews OR
Lorenzo Styles, Jr.

No changes here. Jim Knowles said a couple of weeks ago that he has concerns about nickel depth. That concern has been alleviated by the return of Lorenzo Styles, Jr. from an injury. The OR is probably unnecessary but let’s show respect to a Buckeye legacy.

Cornerback
Denzel Burke
Jermaine Mathews

I don’t know that any of the coaches have actually been asked if Jermaine Mathews would be the next cornerback in. I don’t know how much time he’s getting outside right now and I don’t know how much time he needs. Still, he’s the No. 3 corner in my mind until I hear something different.

Free Safety
Caleb Downs
Malik Hartford OR
Jaylen McClain

Jaylen McClain has returned to this mix after being removed from the previous edition following the return from injury of Malik Hartford. My question since spring ball remains — Can McClain play well enough to push Hartford to strong safety. On Thursday, Jim Knowles mentioned McClain and Hartford as the top two guys behind Caleb Downs and Lathan Ransom, so I’m not going to argue. I haven’t seen McClain at strong safety, so I’ll just keep him here. I do wonder if Hartford is the first guy in regardless, but we’ll get that answered this week when we talk to Matt Guerrieri Tuesday night.

Strong Safety
Lathan Ransom
Malik Hartford OR
Jayden Bonsu

I’ve removed Keenan Nelson because I’ve only ever seen him with the threes. I’m including Jayden Bonsu with an OR here because I just don’t know if Malik Hartford is definitely the first option here, though I expect that he is.

Cornerback
Davison Igbinosun
Calvin Simpson-Hunt

No change here from the spring. Calvin Simpson-Hunt has had a very good camp.

Place Kicker
Jayden Fielding

Punter
Joe McGuire OR
Nick McClarty OR
Anthony Venneri

This is still an ongoing competition.

Long-Snapper
John Ferlmann

No change. Returning starter.

Kick Returner
Carnell Tate
TreVeyon Henderson

These are the two names mentioned by Ryan Day last week. We saw nothing in the spring from the kickoff team. Carnell Tate and Emeka Egbuka “returned” the first two kickoffs in the spring game. At least we have an answer. TreVeyon Henderson started his OSU career as a kick returner but quickly moved up to starting running back. This feels like a fair catch position again because that’s just been the mentality of late. Ohio State returned 82 kickoffs in 2010 and 2011 combined. They’ve returned 78 in the past five seasons combined. It’s just not an important piece of the game plan with the free 25 yards anymore.

Punt Returner
Brandon Inniss OR
Jeremiah Smith OR
Jayden Ballard OR
Emeka Egbuka 

I have removed Carnell Tate’s name from the ORs and added Jeremiah Smith. Brandon Inniss and Smith were the first two names mentioned by Ryan Day last week.