Cleveland, OH
What is Ohio State football’s depth chart against Western Kentucky? Buckeye two-deep
COLUMBUS, Ohio — Ohio State football keeps utilizing every bit of the safety depth it developed in the offseason.
Defensive coordinator Jim Knowles said Josh Proctor likely starts against Western Kentucky assuming he is able to practice this week. The sixth-year senior missed last week’s win over Youngstown State with an ankle injury.
True freshman Malik Hartford started in Proctor’s place at adjuster. For the second defensive series, though, Syracuse transfer Ja’Had Carter made his Buckeye debut, then played the rest of the game.
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“Malik just looked like he struggled a little bit on the first series,” Knowles said. “And that’s natural for a true freshman. He still will have the opportunity to play. I just thought it was best to get Ja’Had in there as a guy who had a little more experience.”
Also, at nickel, Jordan Hancock played 16 snaps compared to eight at outside cornerback. He regularly replaced starting nickel Sonny Styles on third down.
“He’s an athletic, competitive guy, who showed also from that position a willingness to tackle,” Knowles said. “So those guys get into the mix some as tacklers. And he showed the toughness also with having the foot speed of a corner, which is ideally what you’re looking for.”
No shuffling at bandit, though. Lathan Ransom has played every defensive snap through two games.
Ohio State no longer releases a depth chart, so once again we put together out own based on game usage, practice reports, interviews and other intel.
Offense
QUARTERBACK
Kyle McCord (Jr., 6-3, 215)
Devin Brown (R-Fr., 6-3, 213)
Tristian Gebbia (Grad., 6-2, 210)
With the distinction of being named the full-time starter, McCord will presumably play all snaps with the first-string offense.
RUNNING BACK
TreVeyon Henderson (Jr., 5-10, 212)
Miyan Williams (R-Jr., 5-9, 226)
Chip Trayanum (R-Jr., 5-11, 233)
Trayanum has played more snaps than Williams thus far, though OSU reduced his usage as a fullback against Youngstown State.
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X WIDE RECEIVER
Marvin Harrison Jr. (Jr., 6-4, 205)
Xavier Johnson (Grad., 6-1, 210)
Z WIDE RECEIVER
Julian Flemming (Sr., 6-2, 210)
Carnell Tate (Fr., 6-2, 191)
SLOT RECEIVER
Emeka Egbuka (Jr., 6-1, 206)
Brandon Inniss (Fr., 6-0, 207)
TIGHT END
Cade Stover (Sr., 6-4, 251)
Gee Scott Jr. (R-Jr., 6-3, 240)
OR Joe Royer (R-Jr., 6-5, 255)
Scott and Royer played a more equal timeshare against Youngstown State, helping in 12 personnel packages or giving Stover a break.
LEFT TACKLE
Josh Simmons (R-Soph., 6-5, 310)
Zen Michalski (R-Soph., 6-7, 310)
The second-string offensive line has not yet played, but it appeared Michalski took second-team reps prior to the Youngstown State game. Whether that means he is next up remains to be seen. Fryar could move to left tackle if needed short or long term.
LEFT GUARD
Donovan Jackson (Jr., 6-4, 320)
Austin Siereveld (Fr., 6-5, 317)
CENTER
Carson Hinzman (R-Fr., 6-4, 300)
Vic Cutler (Grad., 6-3, 300)
RIGHT GUARD
Matt Jones (Grad., 6-4, 315)
Enokk Vimahi (Sr., 6-4, 313)
RIGHT TACKLE
Josh Fryar (R-Jr., 6-6, 313)
Luke Montgomery (Fr., 6-4, 302)
Montgomery continues to play as the tight end/sixth offensive lineman in the Bison package.
Defense
DEFENSIVE END
J.T. Tuimoloau (Jr., 6-4, 270)
Kenyatta Jackson (R-Fr., 6-5, 258)
DEFENSIVE TACKLE
Mike Hall Jr. (R-Soph., 6-2, 280)
Tyleik Williams (Jr., 6-2, 290)
NOSE GUARD
Ty Hamilton (R-Jr., 6-3, 295)
Jaden McKenzie (Sr., 6-2, 286)
DEFENSIVE END
Jack Sawyer (Jr., 6-4, 265)
Caden Curry (Soph., 6-3, 260)
Curry is the DE who shifts inside with the Rushmen package.
WILL LINEBACKER
Steele Chambers (Grad., 6-1, 232)
C.J. Hicks (Soph., 6-3, 230)
MIKE LINEBACKER
Tommy Eichenberg (Grad., 6-2, 239)
Cody Simon (Sr., 6-2, 235)
CORNERBACK
Denzel Burke (Jr., 6-1, 190)
Jyaire Brown (Soph, 5-11, 183)
Brown replaced Burke when the latter had to leave the game for one play when his hemet came off against Youngstown State.
CORNERBACK
Davison Igbinosun (Soph., 6-2, 190)
Jordan Hancock (R-Soph., 6-1, 185)
NICKEL SAFETY
Sonny Styles (Soph., 6-4, 230)
Cameron Martinez (R-Jr., 5-10, 198)
Hancock played a lot of nickel safety against Youngstown State, which allowed OSU to play three cornerbacks together. So far, that has come at the expense of taking Styles off the field.
BANDIT SAFETY
Lathan Ransom (Sr., 6-1, 210)
Ja’Had Carter (Sr., 6-1, 203)
ADJUSTER SAFETY
Josh Proctor (Grad., 6-2, 205)
Malik Hartford (Fr., 6-2, 194)
Hartford started against Youngstown State, but Carter subbed in for the second series and played most of the game.
Special teams
PLACEKICKER
Jayden Fielding (R-Jr., 6-0, 175)
Parker Lewis (Jr., 6-3, 220)
PUNTER
Jesse Mirco (Jr., 6-4, 220)
Joe McGuire (Fr., 6-2, 235)
LONG SNAPPER
John Ferlmann (R-Soph., 6-2, 228)
Max Lomonico (Jr., 6-3, 225)
KICKOFF RETURNS
Xavier Johnson (Grad., 6-1, 210)
Chip Trayanum (R-Jr., 5-11, 233)
PUNT RETURNS
Emeka Egbuka (Jr., 6-1, 206)
Jayden Ballard (Jr., 6-2, 198)
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