KEY QUESTIONS FOR 2024: OHIO STATE BUCKEYES
By Rory Daniels
As the college football season approaches, we will be looking at the key questions to answer for the leading playoff hopefuls. Where better to start than most people’s early favourites for the National Championship, the Ohio State Buckeyes?
Can a College Football ‘Dream Team’ meet expectations?
Of course, you can point to plenty of ‘super teams’ down the years in College Football. The 2001 Miami Hurricanes, Joe Burrow’s LSU, and the 2005 Texas Longhorns, to name a few. However, has there been one more specifically built for a championship charge than these Ohio State Buckeyes?
The NIL era and transfer portal has allowed Ohio State to invest heavily in retaining experienced talent, bring in plug-and-play starters, and continue to add a host of 5-star high schoolers. Effectively forming their own group of galacticos.
But, will it work? Head Coach Ryan Day is under a mountain of pressure, having lost the last three matchups with Michigan. That will only grow with the talent he now has at his disposal. Indeed, his biggest hurdle will be keeping his players happy and involved.
There will be a headline competition at running back where Treyveon Henderson and Quinshon Judkins will battle for snaps and likely top billing in the 2025 draft class. A stacked wide receiver group will have explosive freshman Jeremiah Smith chomping at the bit for a piece of the action. On defense, players like Alabama transfer Caleb Downs will take a veteran’s job, so can Day keep everybody pulling in the same direction?
Winning tends to be the best way to keep players happy, but a falter in the competitive Big-10 could rock the boat.
Is Will Howard the answer at quarterback?
A big part of why Ohio State’s season was ultimately considered a letdown in 2023 was the quarterback play. Despite being a five-star recruit, Kyle McCord didn’t live up to that billing. He was more a game-manager than a game-changer.
That’s why the Buckeyes were intent on bolstering the group, and boy did they. Four-star recruit Air Noland was already signed. Devin Brown and Lincoln Kienholz were highly regarded, but Ryan Day wanted more. The big splash was Kansas State transfer Will Howard. He arrives as the presumed starter heading into the year.
Howard had his first entire season in control of the Wildcats’ offense and threw for 2,630 yards and 23 touchdowns, as well as rushing for 427 yards. The downside was the ten interceptions and the fact that he didn’t blow anybody away despite flashing talent. Particularly damning was the fact that Kansas State made it pretty clear they were ready for the Avery Johnson era to begin.
So, can Howard take the next step? Well, a Chip Kelly-led offense will help, as well as the loaded skill position groups around him. There won’t be much margin for error. Not only do the quarterbacks already mentioned have eyes on his job, but Alabama transfer Julian Sayin is another five-star waiting patiently on the depth chart.
Ryan Day isn’t the only one with high expectations to meet in 2024.
Will a couple of young defensive superstars finally emerge?
I’ve been waiting for two players on the Ohio State roster to come to the fore for a while now. Both, Sonny Styles and CJ Hicks arrived in Columbus as elite recruits. However, as often happens with elite programs, they found themselves logjammed behind more experienced players.
Styles, has flip-flopped between the safety and linebacker spots looking for a home for his diverse skill set. Last year, he split reps evenly between strong safety and slot corner. Now, with the addition of Caleb Downs to the safety room, Styles is transitioning to a full-time linebacker role. His athleticism certainly makes him a fit as a do-it-all modern-day ‘backer.
Also part of that group is CJ Hicks, a 6’3, 233lbs five-star prospect out of Dayton. His path to a starting role appears blocked by fifth-year graduate Cody Simon. However, defensive coordinator Jim Knowles will likely get creative to maximise Hicks’ talent. He took some pass rush reps in bowl week late last year, which could be a path to playing time.
If one or both of these exciting talents hits their ceiling, the Ohio State defense will match the firepower of their offensive counterparts.
