2026 Spring Practice

 

Spring practice is well under way for the 2026 version of the Ohio State Buckeyes, 2 ½ months after a disappointing end to last season in the CFP quarterfinals.

                The Buckeyes began the offseason upgrading the staff with new coordinators on offense and special teams and picking up nearly twenty players through the transfer portal, adding a new mix to the roster. Arthur Smith has been brought in as the new offensive coordinator, coming back to the college ranks after a stint as the offensive coordinator for the Pittsburgh Steelers. Smith hopes to elevate the Ohio State offense coming off their second-lowest scoring season under Ryan Day. Smith has built productive rushing attacks in his previous jobs, but will have to deal this spring working without starting RB Bo Jackson and backup Isaiah West are recovering from shoulder procedures, so the coming weeks should allow him to put in new concepts or other ideas to boost a ground game that was a paltry 51^st last year in the FBS at 4.55 yards per carry.  Of course, the major problem, especially in the two losses at the end of the year, was the offensive line. Fortunately, the Buckeyes will retain four of their five offensive linemen, but in addition to better run production, the challenge is to find a fix for the issues in pass protection that emerged late last year. After allowing just six sacks over the regular season, the Buckeyes surrendered five each in losses in the Big Ten championship game and College Football Playoff, contributing to the early exit in the quarterfinals. Left tackle Austin Siereveld made six starts at left guard in 2024 and would be a candidate to return to the interior. Right tackle Phillip Daniels is another option to move inside at right guard, the lone vacant starting spot after Tegra Tshabola transferred to Kentucky. Redshirt sophomore tackle Ian Moore looks like a promising prospect, and with a good spring practice, could cement a starting role. Tavien St. Clair will be the backup for Julian Sayin, as prior backup Lincoln Keinholz transferred to Louisville. The Buckeyes picked up junior QB Justyn Martin in the transfer portal from Maryland. Of course, the best receiver in the country, junior Jeremiah Smith returns along with experienced Brandon Innis and David Adolph, and the Buckeyes return leading rusher, sophomore Bo Jackson, along with Isaiah West and Anthony Rohers. TEs Max Klare and Will Kacmarek have departed, but the additions of Hunter Welching and Mason Williams will help to offset those losses. Welching had a breakout year at Northwestern in 2025 that ended with 28 receptions for 296 yards and two touchdowns and Williams follows Kacmarek as the second Ohio University tight end in three years to come to Ohio State.

Defensive lineman Kenyatta Jackson Jr. decided to stay at Ohio State for another year, but the loss of top performers like Caden Curry, Kaden McDonald, and C.J. Hicks meant the Buckeyes needed to dip in the transfer portal. This resulted in a couple of good finds. James Smith, from Alabama, was widely considered to be the top defensive lineman in the portal and John Walker, who started at DT at Central Florida last year. But, eight backup defensive linemen entered the portal, so depth could be a concern here. Arvell Reese and Sonny Styles are off to the NFL, so the defense will welcome Wisconsin transfer Christian Allegro and Alabama transfer Qua Russaw. They look to join returnees Payton Pierce and Riley Pettijohn at the linebacker positions. Jermaine Matthews Jr. and Devin Sanchez are the most experienced returnees in the defensive backfield, as Caleb Downs, Davison Igbinosun and Sonny Styles are departed and Aaron Scott Jr. and Bryce West entered the portal. Freshman Georgia transfer Dominick Kelly looks promising. Earl Little Jr. from Florida State and Terry Moore from Duke will attempt to step in for Downs. 

 

While Joe McGuire returns as their punter, the Buckeyes needed both a kicker and long snapper to replace Jayden Fielding and John Ferlmann. They brought in two through the portal with Connor Hawkins, a kicker from Baylor who was an honorable mention All-Big 12 selection last fall, and Dalton Riggs, a long snapper from Central Florida.

 

Spring practice culminates in the annual spring game in the ‘Shoe April 18.