The dust is finally settling on the 2025 season, and honestly, if you aren't a little dizzy looking at the Ohio State football 2 deep right now, you aren't paying attention. After that New Year’s Eve heartbreaker against Miami, Columbus has turned into a revolving door of elite talent. Ryan Day hasn't just been "managing" a roster; he’s been essentially gutting and rebuilding the engine of a Ferrari while it's still doing eighty on I-71.
We’re seeing a massive transition. It’s the end of an era for guys like Caden Curry and Kenyatta Jackson Jr., who are moving toward the NFL. But don't think for a second the cupboard is bare. It's just different.
The 2026 landscape is defined by one name: Julian Sayin.
The Quarterback Room: Sayin’s Kingdom and the New Backup Battle
Julian Sayin isn't just the starter. He’s the franchise. After a 2025 season where he basically rewrote the freshman record books—averaging 9.3 yards per attempt and flirting with a 78% completion rate—the job is his until he decides he wants to be a millionaire in the NFL. He’s a Heisman finalist who makes the "impossible" throws look like a light warm-up.
But the real story for the Ohio State football 2 deep is who stands behind him. Lincoln Kienholz is gone. He hit the portal looking for a starting gig elsewhere, which left a massive vacuum at the No. 2 spot.
Enter Justyn Martin.
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The Maryland transfer committed just a few days ago, and while some fans are scratching their heads because he’s only thrown 35 passes in three years, the logic is sound. Ryan Day wanted an adult in the room. Martin has been at UCLA and Maryland; he knows how a college offense functions. He’s the insurance policy.
Then you have Tavien St. Clair. The five-star kid from Bellefontaine. He’s the future, but is he the now? Most insiders think St. Clair is the clear No. 3, but don't be shocked if he pushes Martin for that backup role by August. It’s a classic vet-versus-prodigy battle.
Skill Positions: Losing Mylan Graham and the "Next Man Up" Reality
The wide receiver room is always a factory in Columbus, but losing Mylan Graham to Notre Dame stung a bit. He was supposed to be that "explosive chunk-play" guy in 2026. With him heading to South Bend, the Buckeyes have to lean even harder on the established stars.
Jeremiah Smith and Carnell Tate are your locks. Smith is arguably the best player in the country, period. If he’s on the field, the defense is in a panic.
Behind them, the 2 deep gets interesting:
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- Brandon Inniss is the undisputed king of the slot. He’s a captain for a reason.
- Quincy Porter is the massive 6'4" frame that makes defensive backs look like middle schoolers. He’s the likely successor to Smith’s "X" receiver role.
- Bryson Rodgers and Phillip Bell are the names you’ll hear on third downs when the starters need a breather.
Tight end is a bit of a mess, truthfully. Max Klare might head to the draft. Jelani Thurman already bailed for North Carolina. To fix this, Ohio State grabbed Hunter Welcing (Northwestern) and Mason Williams (Ohio U). It’s a "patchwork quilt" approach that relies on veteran transfers to block while Sayin finds his receivers.
The Defensive Trench Flip: Can the New Faces Pressure the QB?
If there’s a place to be worried, it’s the defensive line. We aren't seeing Jack Sawyer or JT Tuimoloau walk through that door anymore.
The new Ohio State football 2 deep on the D-line looks like a radical experiment. Beau Atkinson, the North Carolina transfer, is going to be asked to replicate his ACC sack numbers in the Big Ten. That’s a tall order. Alongside him, Eddrick Houston is finally being unleashed as a full-time starter.
Inside, it’s the John Walker show. The UCF transfer was a massive "get" in the portal. He’s 300-plus pounds of problem for opposing centers.
The Projected 2 Deep (DL Focus):
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- DE: Beau Atkinson / C.J. Hicks (Yes, Hicks is basically a hybrid edge now)
- DT: John Walker / Will Smith Jr.
- DT: Eddrick Houston / Tywone Malone Jr.
- DE: Zion Grady / Joshua Mickens
C.J. Hicks is the wild card. Is he a linebacker? Is he an end? Honestly, he’s just a "pass rush specialist" at this point. If he can finally find his rhythm, the Buckeyes will be fine. If not, the secondary is going to have to cover for a long, long time.
Linebackers and the Secondary: The Strength of the Team
While the line is young, the back seven is terrifying. Caleb Downs is still here. Let that sink in. He’s the best safety in college football, and he’s the heartbeat of this defense.
Sonny Styles and Arvell Reese (assuming Reese stays for his senior year despite NFL noise) are a brick wall at linebacker. But watch out for the freshmen. Riley Pettijohn and Tarvos "TJ" Alford are the real deal. They might not start Week 1, but by October? They’ll be rotational locks.
In the secondary, Davison Igbinosun and Jermaine Mathews Jr. are the starters. Devin Sanchez, the five-star freshman, is the one breathing down their necks. Sanchez has the "island" mentality you can't teach.
What This All Actually Means for You
The Ohio State football 2 deep isn't just a list of names; it’s a reflection of how the sport has changed. Ryan Day is using the portal to fill "functional gaps" (like backup QB and blocking TEs) while relying on high-school recruiting for his "superstars" (Sayin, Smith, Sanchez).
If you're looking to track this roster over the next few months, here is what you should actually do:
- Watch the Spring Portal Window: The Buckeyes still need another veteran offensive tackle. If a starter-level tackle from the SEC hits the portal in April, expect Ohio State to be the first phone call.
- Monitor the TE Health: If Max Klare stays, this offense is unstoppable. If he leaves, the Welcing/Williams duo needs to prove they can catch more than just "emergency" dump-offs.
- Check the Weight Room Reports: Keep an eye on Eddrick Houston’s frame. To play the 3-tech effectively in the Big Ten, he needs to stay explosive without losing the mass required to hold up against double teams.
The talent is there. The depth is... getting there. It’s going to be a wild ride to the 2026 opener.