Sticking Through Hard Times ‘Paying Off’ For Brandon Inniss

The average starting slot receiver at Ohio State since head coach Ryan Day arrived as offensive coordinator in 2017 has caught 67 passes for 907 yards and eight touchdowns, though there has been nothing average about the names that have produced those numbers.

The list includes KJ Hill, Parris Campbell, Garrett Wilson, Jaxon Smith-Njigba, and Emeka Egbuka. Hill and Egbuka both finished their respective careers as Ohio State’s all-time receptions leader. Campbell finished his career with the single-season receptions record, as did Smith-Njigba. Wilson, meanwhile, was the highest-drafted among them, going 10th overall in the 2022 draft to the New York Jets.

In 2025, Buckeye junior Brandon Inniss may be adding his name to the mix.

Inniss had one catch (for 58 yards) as a true freshman in 2023, then last year as the backup to Egbuka, he posted 14 catches for 176 yards and a touchdown.

Now, with Egbuka off to the NFL, Inniss is ready for a much larger role, and he understands the level at which he needs to play.

“I definitely know what’s ahead,” Inniss said this spring. “I learned from Emeka. I know what he left. I know the footsteps I’m following. And I definitely know I’m going to be playing a lot more. A huge, way bigger role, and I’m going to just do everything in my power to uphold that standard.”

The standard has been taken to new levels every year under receivers coach Brian Hartline, and while Inniss may have been ready a season ago, putting Emeka Egbuka on the sideline wasn’t exactly a winning strategy. Despite watching more than playing over the first half of his OSU career, the former five-star receiver never thought about hitting the transfer portal.

“It feels amazing. I feel like finally my time is now, and I feel like I’ve been patient,” Inniss said. “I never questioned the decision I made to come here. I knew how to stick through hard times, and I feel like it’s finally paying off. I feel like now I’m seeing the vision from what Coach Hart used to tell me in recruiting.”

Inniss hasn’t just been waiting for his time to come, he has been preparing for it. The standard is the standard, and he is ready to meet it head on.

“I feel like my game has definitely enhanced a lot,” Inniss said. “I became a lot smarter. I’m playing faster. I lost weight, so I’m definitely playing a lot faster. Everything’s slowing down. I know every position. I know the defenses. [Defensive coordinator Matt] Patricia is doing a good job trying to mess us up, but I still know what they’re doing.”

Along with a new role, Brandon Inniss will also be sporting a new number. He has given up the 11 he’s worn his first two years and now is wearing No. 1. There’s also a mentality change taking place as well.

“When you feel like now’s your time, your mentality also changes,” Inniss admitted. “Last year, still being the backup, quote unquote, now the opportunity to be a starter, your mentality totally changes.”

More snaps, more catches, a bigger role. These are all major changes for Inniss, but the one thing that won’t change for him is his energy. That is the one thing his teammates could always count on him to provide.

“Emeka used to tell me I was the energy source in the room,” Inniss said. “So for him to tell me that, I knew the team would also look at me as the energy source. So whatever I needed to do, whether it was vocally or just making a big block and celebrating with my teammates. Doing everything I can off the field, on the sidelines during games, whatever needs to be done, just be the best leader I can and do whatever it takes for my team to win.”

This season, Brandon Inniss could become the latest Ohio State slot receiver to produce big numbers. After two years of biding his time, the waiting may finally be over.

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