Five key questions with Ohio State set to resume Spring practice

NCAAF College Football News, Photos, Stats, Scores, Schedule & Videos...

Ohio State held two Spring practices before Spring Break last week, and resumed this Tuesday with 13 more practices that culminate in the Spring Game on April 18. The season opener is still over five months away, but expectations are still sky high as the Buckeyes look to get back to the top of the College Football mountain.

For as much optimism as there is, there are also a lot of questions about the Buckeyes right now. That’s probably common with every major college football program, and there are specific questions about Ohio State.

Here are five major questions as the spring rolls on.

1. What position group are you most excited to see?

There are two that come to mind. The obvious one is wide receiver.

Jeremiah Smith reportedly looks the best he has looked since arriving in Columbus. That’s a scary thought for the rest of college football. If Smith is looking better than he has, who knows what numbers he could put up this season?

In addition, who emerges behind Smith on the wide receiver depth chart? Does Brandon Inniss take a step forward this season, and how about the newcomers, both in recruiting and the transfer portal? What does Chris Henry Jr.’s role look like in his freshman season?

It’s a really intriguing position that goes beyond just thinking about what Jeremiah Smith can do for his final season in scarlet and gray. Plus, this will be the first year after Carnell Tate. That will be interesting to see.

The not-so-obvious position I’m most excited to see is the secondary. It’s going to look different this season without Caleb Downs, but there are familiar faces returning this season in Devin Sanchez and Jermaine Mathews Jr.

I like Mathews a lot, and I’m really excited to see Sanchez perform in a bigger role this season. There are a lot of new pieces in the secondary, and they will have to step up this season. But it is an exciting position to watch.

2. How confident are you in the offensive line?

Ehh… I’m not that confident in it. The Big Ten Championship and the CFP Quarterfinals left a sour taste in a lot of fans’ mouths, including mine.

It sounds like there is a lot of uncertainty about what the offensive line will look like this season and who will be playing which positions up front. There’s also no player in the room right now who makes me think they’re going to be better than just okay. That’s a problem.

If the Buckeyes can’t run the football, they will be in trouble. Julian Sayin has to be protected against elite pass rushes. These are the two biggest concerns I have about the Buckeyes’ offensive line.

3. What is your confidence level in Arthur Smith?

I’m at a seven right now. The more I’ve thought about it, I like this hire.

When Smith was the offensive coordinator with the Tennessee Titans, Derrick Henry was an absolute machine. The Titans had a really well-rounded offense. They could run the ball at will, and quarterback Ryan Tannehill had a really good two-season stretch when Smith was running the Titans’ offense. 

Henry led the NFL in rushing yards, touchdowns, and carries in both 2019 and 2020. A.J. Brown had 1,000 receiving yards in both seasons. Fellow wide receiver Corey Davis and tight end Jonnu Smith were also big parts of the Titans’ offense in those two seasons.

Knowing all of this, I’m confident Smith can get the Buckeyes running the football again, and utilizing other parts of their offense, making it harder for opposing defenses to contain.

If Arthur Smith can do on offense what Matt Patricia did on defense last season, the Buckeyes’ offense will be elite in 2026.

4. Who is WR2 behind Jeremiah Smith?

My guess is Brandon Inniss. He’s the most experienced. But I can also see someone else stepping up and taking that role this season.

That’s probably going to be the biggest storyline to watch unfold this Spring: Who becomes the No. 2 wide receiver behind Jeremiah Smith, and how Julian Sayin works in with each of them.

5. What is your favorite game on the schedule?

I’ll give two for this question. First off, the game at Texas is going to be awesome.

College Gameday will likely be there. ABC will likely have the game as their Saturday night game with Fowler and Herbie on the call. As for on-field, the talent level will be extraordinary.

Julian Sayin is so much better than he was in Week 1 last season against Texas. So, too, is Arch Manning. Two of the nation’s top quarterbacks will be slinging it against each other in Week 2. Plus, both teams have so much talent beyond their quarterbacks.

Ryan Day and the Buckeyes have won two-straight against Steve Sarkisian and the Longhorns. Texas will have the pressure on them to win this game at home and prove they are capable of entering the next tier of the hierarchy of the best teams in college football.

But the Buckeyes will also have something to prove after how last season ended and how they’re still on a higher level than Texas. They will be ready to make a statement on the road.

Second, the game at Indiana is really interesting from the perspective that the Buckeyes could be underdogs. Imagine thinking that as a possibility, even just last year. That’s how much Indiana has changed as a football school. They should be really good again this season.

Revenge will be a prevailing storyline with how last year’s Big Ten Championship unfolded. Playing on the road in mid-October in a game with these kinds of stakes is what Big Ten Football is all about.

More at NCAAF College Football News, Photos, Stats, Scores, Schedule & Videos