Nearly 20 Buckeyes Land on the East West Shrine Bowl Watch List
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For over a century, the East-West Shrine Bowl has showcased the best talent that college football had to offer the year prior. It used to be one of the final stops for a top prospect to go before he went to the draft.
Now, it is one of many games that are featured in the offseason circuit, but it is still one of the most prestigious.
Heading into 2026, there are a total of 19 Buckeyes who are on the 2026 Shriner Children's East-West Bowl.
The usual suspects top the list, such as Jeremiah Smith, Julian Sayin, and Kenyatta Jackson. For the first time all offseason, these top players were joined by a plethora of their teammates.
The defenders who made the watch list are:
- Defensive End Kenyatta Jackson
- Safety Jermaine Matthews Jr
- Defensive End Beau Atkinson
- Defensive Tackle James Smith
- Defensive Tackle Eddrick Houston
- Linebacker Christian Alliegro
- Defensive Tackle John Walker
- Safety Earl Little Jr.
- Safety Jaylen McClain
- Safety Terry Moore
The offensive representatives are:
- Center Carson Hinzman
- Guard Luke Montgomery
- Tackle Austin Siereveld
- Tackle Philip Daniels
- Tight End Bennet Christian
- Wide Receiver Jeremiah Smith
- Wide Receiver Devin McCuin
- Wide Receiver Brandon Inniss
- Quarterback Julian Sayin
1️⃣9️⃣ Buckeyes land on the 2027 @ShrinersBowl 1000 Watch List. pic.twitter.com/nt3LRRwmj9
— Ohio State Football (@OhioStateFB) July 21, 2026
It is a great collection of players that is much different than what Buckeye fans are used to seeing. Every offseason list, at least to this point, is just the top players, but this Buckeyes team is deep, with several guys who are still unknowns.
The 2026 Buckeyes team is going to be one that, early on, will have a lot of unknowns to it.
The Buckeyes' defensive back room is going to have to prove itself early because they have the most on their shoulders. Replacing a player the likes of Caleb Downs is hard enough as it is, but the Buckeyes have three or four guys who can get the job done.
The Buckeyes' defensive line, similar to how it was last year, is also going to have to prove itself. They lose four guys from last year's team who were critical pieces of the Buckeyes' ability to control the line of scrimmage week in and week out.
Guys like Houston, Walker, Smith, and Atkinson will be in charge of finding a way to get that job done.
It will be a very fun time next year for Buckeyes fans getting the opportunity to learn the new Buckeyes. Inside those walls, however, they know exactly who they are and what they can prove.
Ohio State is ready to attack the 2026 season; it just might take a while to recognize all of the names on the roster.
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