I’m still thinking about the star power of Ohio State’s freshmen in Saturday’s win over Ball State

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As the Buckeyes walloped Ball State, 56-3, over the weekend, there were, of course, a lot of familiar faces doing the walloping.

2025 Heisman finalist quarterback Julian Sayin threw for 320 yards and three touchdowns, averaging 12.8 yards per throw. Wide receiver Jeremiah Smith had 151 yards and two touchdowns on eight receptions, including a 48-yard touchdown grab on his first catch of the season. 

But it wasn’t just the veterans making an impact in Saturday’s season opener—a lot of fresh faces made their mark on the game as well. What has stuck out to me as I’ve digested the game over the past few days—and perhaps the most impressive aspect—was the showing we saw from the team’s true freshmen. 

Suffice it to say this freshman class is the real deal. 

A few players in particular stood out: Wide receiver Chris Henry Jr., running back Legend Bey, defensive lineman Khary Wilder, and perhaps most impressive of the bunch, nickel corner Jay Timmons. 

As a collective, this bunch holds a tremendous amount of promise for the future of this program. As head coach Ryan Day tries to walk the fine line between giving young players time to develop and ensuring he doesn’t lose them to the transfer portal, having this much talent in the group makes that dance a little easier. 

Chris Henry, Jr. (WR) 

On paper, Chris Henry Jr. had one reception—a 15-yard touchdown catch from Tavien St. Clair that came with just under two minutes left in the game. But as far as the stat sheets go, these numbers—or lack thereof—reflect some forgivable errors more than the promise Henry holds. 

Despite a slow start and some first-game jitters getting the best of him early Saturday, what was most impressive about Henry was his grit. Although he dropped his first two targets of the second half, one of which he bobbled into the hands of Ball State defensive back Cedric Franklin II for an interception, he didn’t let it deter him.

Henry continued to find ways to get open throughout the game, typically one of the hardest battles for young receivers, and he paid it off with that late-game touchdown. 

The way he managed to stay out of his own head even when things weren’t going his way, executing each play anew, already puts Henry ahead of the curve. As he continues to work through any remaining kinks, his determination alone makes me so excited to see what he’s got up his sleeve in the future. 

Legend Bey (RB) 

Like Henry, Bey’s game was imperfect, particularly on special teams as a kick returner where he twice fielded balls he should have downed in the end zone. In both instances, the Buckeyes wound up in worse field position as a result.

While the first error could be chalked up to being overeager in his debut, the second one was especially egregious as it reflected a failure to learn from the first time even as Brandon Inniss gestured for him to take a knee. 

Still, Day addressed these concerns head-on, without mincing words, but said he feels Bey has the right attitude about being coached and learning from his mistakes, so I’m willing to let it slide this time so long as it doesn’t become a pattern.

It’s an easier pill to swallow, too, when we look at how brilliant he looked in the running back role. Bey ran for 37 yards on six carries, plus he added two receptions for 37 yards, which included an impressive 25-yard touchdown. Bey looked electric, demonstrating the shiftiness that should make him an enormous asset to the team. 

There is no question he has some maturing to do, but this guy is going to be a powerful weapon once he does. As frustrating as it was to watch that second kick return error, I won’t be surprised if Bey is a household name putting up big numbers before this season is up.

He just needs to learn to harness his eagerness more productively. 

Khary Wilder (DL) 

Khary Wilder took limited reps on Saturday, but he sure made the most of the reps he took. In his first rep as a Buckeye, Wilder managed to shed a block, pressuring Ball State quarterback Keldric Luster into a sloppy throw. That throw ultimately wound up in the hands of TJ Alford for Ohio State’s first interception of the season. 

Wilder, a five-star prospect, typically plays defensive end but lined up at defensive tackle during specific packages, showcasing his positional versatility. I expect him to be a major playmaker for the Buckeyes, both this year and throughout his collegiate career. 

Jay Timmons (CB)

As far as freshmen outings go, I’ve saved the best for last. Cornerback Jay Timmons wasn’t on the field on the Buckeyes’ first defensive snap, but it was a mere technicality due to the package the team was running. For all intents and purposes, he started the game and remains No. 1 on the depth chart — a rare feat for a true freshman cornerback — and he proved why on Saturday. 

Timmons, who was the talk of fall camp, carried himself with the confidence of a seasoned veteran rather than a player making his collegiate debut. He logged one solo sack and two pass breakups in Saturday’s matchup, managing to showcase his instincts while being exactly where he needed to be nearly every time the ball was thrown. 

Though he had one miscue in third-down coverage that ultimately positioned Ball State to kick their lone field goal, compared to the rest of his performance, it felt like a blip rather than the norm for him, and it will be exciting to see Timmons continue to develop if this is how he’s playing so early in this career. 

All in, there is room for the freshmen to grow, but Saturday was further evidence that the Buckeyes won’t have to wait for these recruits to make an impact on the season. To have so many young guys ready to go in Week 1 could be dangerous for opponents, especially if this season includes a deep playoff run.

It opens up the possibilities for Day and his coaching staff to keep their starters fresh and lean on guys further down the depth chart to get the job done even in the face of a really tough schedule, making Saturday’s victory a promising one despite being so lop-sided in real-time. 

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