Here are 10 players to watch as Ohio State gets set for training camp

Ohio State’s training camp starts Thursday as the Buckeyes continue to integrate 51 new players for a season that will feature a rugged schedule.

The storylines for camp are plentiful. Can coordinator Matt Patricia retool a defense effectively for a second straight season?

What impact will new offensive coordinator Arthur Smith have, especially in the run game?

How will the offensive line shake out?

How can Julian Sayin take the next step at quarterback after a successful first year as the starter?

I’m sure that as training camp progresses, I’ll write about those plotlines in more depth. But first, I thought I’d share who I think are 10 of the most intriguing players to watch in camp.

I’m not including players like Sayin or Jeremiah Smith, who are known commodities. They’re obviously crucial to OSU’s success this year. But if Ohio State is to contend for a national championship, most of the players I list below will likely have to become key contributors.

I hesitated to include him because he is an established player. Jackson was second on the team in 2025 with 11 tackles for loss, including 6½ sacks. But the buzz around the Woody Hayes Athletic Center is that Jackson is poised to have a huge year. The Buckeyes have brought in several reinforcements as transfers on the defensive line – James Smith and Qua Russaw from Alabama and John Walker from Central Florida – but Jackson could be the star of the unit.

Moore got extended action in the spring with Austin Siereveld out with an injury and looked good. If that continues in training camp, the Buckeyes could install Moore at left tackle and move Siereveld to right guard. That would give the Buckeyes an experienced, formidable interior OL with center Carson Hinzman and left guard Luke Montgomery. Siereveld played well at tackle last year but is more of a natural guard.

Padilla is indirectly competing with Moore for a starting job. Insiders have touted Padilla’s promise for a couple of years, but injuries have delayed his ascent. If he is more impressive at guard than Moore is at tackle, the Buckeyes can simply insert Padilla at right guard and leave Siereveld at tackle. And if Moore and Padilla both shine, Moore could potentially move to right tackle ahead of Phillip Daniels (or Siereveld could move there). In other words, at least six capable offensive linemen are competing for five spots, and coach Ryan Day says they’ll identify the best five and figure out the best configuration.

Bo Jackson is the starter, and rightly so. He and Isaiah West should form an effective duo, assuming both are recovered from the shoulder injuries that kept them mostly on the sideline during the spring. But don’t forget about Bey, who also missed time in the spring with an injury. The Buckeyes envision Bey, who played quarterback in high school, as a home-run threat. He’s not the biggest guy, but he is explosive. Bey also can be deployed as a receiver. How the Buckeyes use him will be fascinating.

Pettijohn is another guy who was hurt in the spring. But he made a splash early last season, marking him as a player to watch. The Buckeyes use only two linebackers in their base defense, and Payton Pierce and Wisconsin transfer Christian Alliegro figure to be the starters. TJ Alford and Garrett Stover had strong offseasons, but Pettijohn has the talent to find a place on the field if healthy.

It’s rare for an OSU freshman tight end to play much, but Roberts was used as a fullback in short-yardage situations last year. With the departures of Max Klare and Will Kacmarek, Roberts jumps to the head of the line on a unit that has veterans like Bennett Christians and experienced transfers in Hunter Welcing and Mason Williams.

In a perfect world, St. Clair won’t take anything but mop-up snaps in games this season. But football is a violent game, and Julian Sayin isn’t the biggest guy in the world. St. Clair was a five-star recruit who clearly has talent. But he was inconsistent in the spring. One day he looked capable. The next, uh oh. He’s only a redshirt freshman, so that’s to be expected. But the onus is on him to develop quickly so that an injury to Sayin doesn’t become a doomsday scenario for OSU.

The latest in a long line of five-star receivers for Ohio State, Henry’s 6-5 height and speed make him special. He’s actually capable of making Jeremiah Smith look small in comparison. With Smith, Brandon Inniss and transfers Devin McCuin and Kyle Parker, Ohio State doesn’t need to rush Henry. But he might be too talented to stay on the sidelines for long. Don’t forget about fellow freshman Brock Boyd, either. He made a splash in the spring.

Sanchez, a five-star recruit last year, played 323 snaps last year, 12^th on the team, so he has a decent amount of experience for a sophomore. He had good moments and bad and now must become a consistent performer as a sophomore opposite Jermaine Mathews Jr. He has all the tools to be a lockdown cornerback. Competing against Jeremiah Smith and OSU’s other talented receivers in practice every day should sharpen him for the season.

It’ll be interesting to see how the Duke transfer fits into OSU’s defense. Two years ago, Pro Football Focus graded Moore the second-best safety in the country. But he missed all of last season after tearing his ACL. He was deemed healthy this spring but wasn’t mentioned much by coaches. Perhaps he was shaking off the rust. With fellow transfer Earl Little Jr. fitting in seamlessly alongside incumbent Jaylen McClain, it’ll be interesting to see if Moore can make a move in August and become a significant contributor.

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