The 2024 Ohio State football team will finally begin Fall practices on August 1. With the nation’s third-best recruiting class, second-best odds to win it all, and what feels like the most pressure, it’s time for Ryan Day’s squad to get going. Ohio State returns most of its stars thanks to a dozen players electing to return instead of pursuing the NFL. Despite that, there are still questions at a few key positions.
For example, Day listed off a handful of depth pieces at wide receiver but did not mention Emeka Egbuka, Carnell Tate, or Jeremiah Smith. Is this to say the talented freshman will be a Week One starter against Akron? Fall camp will likely answer that.
As for the rest of the team, there are three storylines worth keeping an eye on as that tilt with Akron is rapidly approaching.
Will Howard vs. the Field
For better or worse, all eyes will be on the quarterback battle at Ohio State’s Fall camp. Day likely has a starter in mind but, as he did with C.J. Stroud and Kyle McCord, he will keep it close to the chest until the last second. However, the job feels like Will Howard‘s to lose.
Howard transferred in from Kansas State after four years, 5,786 yards, 48 touchdowns, and a Big 12 Championship. It’s a minor miracle that even with Howard, two incumbent quarterbacks, a transfer true freshman, and a traditional true freshman, no quarterbacks transferred out. The only signal caller to depart was the expected one in McCord.
Whoever wins the battle needs to be a step up from McCord. Howard is the only one who has shown on the field that he can lead an offense. He has a strong arm and loves to make difficult throws outside the numbers. He sees the field well and has a veteran leadership about him that none of the other quarterbacks have seemed to show to this point. Additionally, Howard is a willing runner and is tough to bring down at six-foot-four and 237 pounds.
He’s among the Heisman favorites and was named to the Maxwell Award watchlist, but that could just be because he’s expected to quarterback a lethal offense.
One Offensive Line Spot Open
If there is a unit under more scrutiny than the quarterbacks, it’ll be the offensive line. Four of the starting spots are likely locked up. Josh Simmons is the left tackle after making massive strides down the stretch. Donovan Jackson is on the Outland Trophy watchlist at left guard, and so is Josh Fryar at right tackle. The center and right guard positions are seemingly in flux but Seth McLaughlin transferred in from Alabama after 24 starts with the Crimson Tide.
In his Big Ten Media Days comments, Day noted that McLaughlin and last year’s starting center, Carson Hinzman, were playing a bit of both center and right guard through the Summer. Of all of the candidates to start at right guard, Hinzman has the most experience as the only one with any recorded starts. However, his season ended with him allegedly in the dog house last year.
Hinzman will be battling with Tegra Tshabola, a third-year, and Luke Montgomery, a second-year.
Offensive line coach Justin Frye has worked with new offensive coordinator Chip Kelly before, which should help the development a bit. However, Frye says he’s trying to play the five best offensive linemen, regardless of position. Last year, it was rough. While Ohio State projects to have a mobile quarterback in 2024, blocking for him would make things significantly easier.
The projections are all over the place for this offensive line. One can find just as many that list Montgomery as the starter as they can Tshbola or Hinzman. Ohio State’s Fall camp will be crucial to deciding who slots in at right guard. Hinzman was a weak link in a not-so-great offensive line a year ago. Could it be time for new blood?
Three Talented Linebackers, Two Spots on the Field
Cody Simon. C.J. Hicks. Sonny Styles.
The Ohio State linebacker unit has not been up to snuff lately. Last year’s starters, Tommy Eichenberg and Steele Chambers, took a step back in 2023 and ended up a fifth-round pick and undrafted, respectively. Now, the unit looks like it’s going to be a bit more athletic with Simon, Hicks, and Styles battling for snaps.
Eichenberg and Chambers played 606 and 649 snaps, respectively. As a linebacker, before Styles changed positions, Simon logged the third-most at the position.
If the Spring Game is any indication, the MIKE linebacker spot is Simon’s for the taking. He comes into the 2024 season with 147 tackles, 11 tackles for loss, three sacks, an interception, four pass breakups, and a forced fumble. As a fifth-year senior, he’s the elder statesman and has the respect of the coaching staff.
The WILL spot will be the one to watch. In that Spring Game, Styles and Hicks shared time. When asked about Hicks in a press conference, defensive coordinator Jim Knowles answered, “I think C.J. has shown that he has talent, and I think it’s my job to put him in the best situations for him — because he can be a force,” defensive coordinator Jim Knowles said. “He’s much better when he’s blitzing or he’s directed because he’s able to use his athletic ability. But he has certainly shown that he’s going to be able to help this defense.”
Styles is a converted safety, so will be more of a coverage linebacker. Hicks may see the field for run situations and Styles takes the role in coverage. Either way, this is expected to be the most athletic linebacker unit in years, and it’s in good hands.
Football is Almost Here
The 2024 edition of the Ohio State football team has some seriously high expectations. The question for the year will be can they play up to the level they expect to be? Players have often called this year “Natty or bust.”
With a loaded roster, the margin for error feels slimmer than it has been. Only time will tell if this year is the year Day gets over the hump or if it gets lumped in with all the other “what if” seasons where the Buckeyes fell just short. It all starts in Ohio State Fall camp.
