When you look back at the Ohio State 2023 roster, it feels a bit like a "what if" story trapped in a vault. Honestly, it was a weird year in Columbus. Ryan Day was trying to figure out life after C.J. Stroud, and the fans were basically holding their breath every time the ball went into the air. You've got this incredible collection of talent—names that are now household icons in the NFL—yet the season ended with a thud in the Cotton Bowl against Missouri.
But if you strip away the final score of the Michigan game, that roster was actually a masterpiece of recruiting and development. It was a transition year that didn't feel like one until the very end.
The Quarterback Room and the Great Battle
Most people forget how long the McCord vs. Brown debate actually lasted. It wasn't just a week one thing. Kyle McCord eventually took the reins, finishing the year with 3,170 yards and 24 touchdowns. Solid? Yeah. Heisman-level? Not quite.
Behind him sat Devin Brown, the high-energy kid with the "33" jersey who provided a different look with his legs. You also had Lincoln Kienholz, the true freshman from South Dakota, who basically got thrown into the deep end of a cold pool during the bowl game when McCord hit the transfer portal.
It was a room full of talent but lacking that "it" factor we saw with Fields or Stroud.
Kinda makes you realize how much a roster is at the mercy of its signal-caller. Even with a stacked deck elsewhere, the QB spot remained the biggest question mark from the Indiana opener all the way to the final whistle in Arlington.
👉 See also: The Marcus Freeman Era: Why Notre Dame Football is Finally Changing for Good
Why the Wide Receivers Were Literally "Unfair"
If you were a defensive coordinator playing Ohio State in 2023, you probably didn't sleep much.
Marvin Harrison Jr. was the sun around which the entire offense orbited. 67 catches for 1,211 yards. 14 touchdowns. He was a cheat code. Seriously, there were games where he’d catch a ball with three guys draped over him and you just had to laugh.
But look at the rest of that room:
- Emeka Egbuka: The reliable chain-mover who dealt with some nagging injuries but still hauled in over 500 yards.
- Julian Fleming: The veteran presence and arguably the best blocking receiver in the country.
- Carnell Tate: A true freshman who was already playing like a third-year pro.
- Xavier Johnson: The "Swiss Army Knife" and one of the three captains.
Johnson is the guy nobody talks about enough. He was a former walk-on who could play receiver, running back, and gunner on punt coverage. He was the glue. When the Ohio State 2023 roster was announced, his name being listed as a captain was the least surprising thing to anyone inside the Woody Hayes Athletic Center.
The Silver Bullets Got Their Swagger Back
Jim Knowles’ second year as defensive coordinator was when the "Silver Bullets" moniker actually started to mean something again.
The defense was elite. Period.
They ran a base 4-2-5, and it was suffocating. Tyleik Williams and Michael Hall Jr. were monsters in the middle. Tyleik, specifically, was a revelation—320 pounds but moved like a guy twenty pounds lighter.
On the edges, you had J.T. Tuimoloau and Jack Sawyer. These two came in with more hype than almost any duo in school history. While they didn't always put up "Bosa-esque" sack numbers, they were incredibly disciplined. Sawyer really started to come on late in the year, showing that refined pass-rush technique that had been brewing for three seasons.
The No-Fly Zone
The secondary was where the real transformation happened. Denzel Burke returned to his freshman form, lockdown and aggressive.
Then you had the "Styles Factor." Sonny Styles was a sophomore playing a hybrid safety/linebacker role at 6'4" and 230 pounds. He was a freak of nature. Whether he was crashing the box or dropping into coverage, he changed how the Buckeyes could match up against heavy sets.
Davison Igbinosun, the transfer from Ole Miss, brought a certain level of "nasty" to the corner spot opposite Burke. He played with a chip on his shoulder that the defense desperately needed.
The Unsung Heroes of the Trenches
We have to talk about the offensive line because it was the most criticized unit on the team.
Josh Simmons came in from San Diego State to man the left tackle spot. It was a rocky start—lots of penalties—but he settled in. Donovan Jackson and Matthew Jones were the veterans at guard, providing a stable interior.
Carson Hinzman took over at center as a redshirt freshman. That's a lot of pressure in the Big Ten.
Josh Fryar handled the right tackle duties. Was it the best line in Ohio State history? No. But they paved the way for TreVeyon Henderson to average nearly six yards a carry. Henderson was electric when healthy, finishing with 926 yards despite missing time.
Captains and Leadership
Leadership isn't just about stats; it’s about who the players trust when things go sideways. The 2023 captains were:
💡 You might also like: UNC Football Today Score: What Most People Get Wrong About the Belichick Era
- Tommy Eichenberg (LB) – The silent assassin. A two-time captain who led with his pads.
- Cade Stover (TE) – "Farmer Cade." A guy who would probably rather be on a tractor than a podium, but he was the heart of the offense.
- Xavier Johnson (WR/RB) – The ultimate program guy.
Eichenberg and Stover being two-time captains is a rare feat in Columbus. It says everything about the culture Ryan Day was trying to maintain.
Realities of the 2023 Season
Looking back, the Ohio State 2023 roster was arguably one of the most talented in the country, yet it lacked the offensive line depth and the elite QB play to get over the Michigan hump.
That's the nuance people miss.
You can have a Heisman finalist at receiver and a top-five defense, but if you can't win the "slugfest" in the trenches during the fourth quarter in Ann Arbor, the roster feels like a failure to the fans. It wasn't, though. It was a team that was literally two or three plays away from an undefeated regular season and a playoff berth.
What We Can Learn from This Group
If you’re analyzing this roster for its long-term impact, look at the professional success. Most of these starters are now impact players at the next level.
The lesson? Recruiting "top-end" talent works, but roster construction requires balance. The 2023 squad was a bit top-heavy in the skill positions and slightly thin in the developmental pipeline on the offensive line.
Actionable Insights for Fans and Analysts:
- Study the "Styles" Prototype: Watch how Sonny Styles was used in 2023 to understand where modern college defenses are going—bigger, faster safeties who can play the run.
- Evaluate the Transfer Impact: Look at Davison Igbinosun and Josh Simmons. They proved that Ohio State can and will plug holes through the portal, a trend that only accelerated in 2024 and 2025.
- Appreciate the "Total" Player: Players like Xavier Johnson show that value isn't just in the box score; it's in special teams and locker room stability.
Next time you're debating the best teams not to win a title, keep this 2023 group in the conversation. They were a defensive masterclass paired with a generational receiver, just waiting for a spark that never quite stayed lit.