2024 Freshman Class Report: Receiver Damarion Witten

This is the third installment in a series where Buckeye Huddle looks back on each member of Ohio State’s 2024 signing class and the impact they had in their first season, as well as the impact they could have during the upcoming 2025 season. Up next is wide receiver Damarion Witten.

Wide receiver Damarion Witten came to Ohio State from Glenville High School in Cleveland, Ohio. He and cornerback classmate Bryce West are the latest to make it to OSU from the famed Tarblooder pipeline. Witten was a First-Team All-State selection and was instrumental in helping Glenville to back-to-back state titles the past two seasons.

Witten (6-4 215) was a four-star prospect who was ranked the No. 28 tight end in the nation by 247Sport and the No. 465 player overall in the 2024 class. He signed with the Buckeyes over offers from Michigan, Miami, Texas, Oregon, Tennessee, and others.

2024 Season

When Damarion Witten signed with Ohio State, the plan was to start him out at wide receiver and then potentially move him to tight end as he got bigger and stronger. He didn’t enroll until last June, which means his next spring camp will be his first.

Without the head start of winter conditioning and spring ball, Witten was learning on the fly when he arrived last summer. He remained at receiver for the entire year, but only played in one game as a true freshman and did not record any statistics.

So Now What For Damarion Witten

The decision has been made that Damarion Witten is staying at wide receiver, which gives the Buckeyes another big, physical pass-catcher who can high-point the ball and move the chains. Ohio State has just four scholarship receivers on the roster who have caught a pass in their respective careers, which means there will be some young receivers filling out the depth chart.

Spring ball will be the first real opportunity for Witten to show what he learned as a freshman. There was no typical bowl practice for the rookies last season, so you can imagine the itching that is going on to get out on the field and make plays.

There are backup jobs up for grabs outside. All-American Jeremiah Smith may not take many breaks this season, but he’s still gonna need some. It would not be a surprise to see Witten battling with true freshman Quincy Porter to be Smith’s backup at the X receiver spot this season. In fact, that might be the ideal situation for the Buckeyes this year.

OT Ian Moore | DE Dominic Kirks

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