Ohio State football starter calls out a surprise freshman who is turning heads in Columbus this summer
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Ohio State Buckeyes C Carson Hinzman opened up about the one Buckeyes freshman that’s turning heads at the Woody Hayes Athletic Center this summer.
Every season, the Ohio State Buckeyes seem to have a freshman who can make an impact. It’s not often at all it’s to the degree Jeremiah Smith was able to in 2024, but it still happens.
Devin Sanchez was starting games late in the season for the Buckeyes last season as a former five-star recruit and freshman newcomer.
The 2026 season will again have the Buckeyes with freshmen capable of having an early impact. Players like Chris Henry Jr. and Brock Boyd made the most noise in the spring.
Buzz continues to come out around an Ohio State freshman
Just recently, Ohio State freshman safety Kaden Gebhardt won a Dude of the Week award for the Buckeyes. Now, one of the veteran leaders on the Buckeyes’ offense is singling out the young defender.
“Young Kaden Gebhardt has been busting his butt so hard,” Ohio State C Carson Hinzman said on The Austin and Birm Show recently. “That kid has been absolutely grinding. He’ll come in extra, he’ll do extra work. He’s like pounding the table to be a really good young kid. Him, there’s a bunch of young guys for me to go over, but yeah, KG’s been doing a good job.”
Gebhardt flipped from Clemson to Ohio State last December to give the Buckeyes a four-star in-state safety prospect. The former Olentangy standout has a physical build at 6-foot-1, 200 pounds – and has a chance to make a special teams impact at Ohio State this fall. Making his mark in the weight room with strength coach Mick Marotti.
Ohio State is deep at safety in 2026 with Jaylen McClain, Earl Little Jr., and Terry Moore being the top three at the position. Leroy Roker is the fourth option in the room and highly touted freshman Blaine Bradford rounds out the safety depth.
Gebhardt could be making a push to play at safety for the Buckeyes in 2027, but his chance to be a special teams difference maker in 2026 could be there. Everything we’re hearing around the Central Ohio native sounds promising so far.
This article was originally published on A to Z Sports. Read the full story here: Ohio State football starter calls out a surprise freshman who is turning heads in Columbus this summer
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