COLUMBUS — Ohio State announced its team captains on Saturday following its second preseason scrimmage.
The Buckeyes will have seven captains this year, their most since 2020, when they also had seven captains. It’s the sixth time in program history that OSU has had seven or more captains.
The seven captains this year are:
QB Julian Sayin
WR Jeremiah Smith
WR Brandon Inniss
OL Austin Siereveld
DE Kenyatta Jackson Jr.
LB Payton Pierce
SAF Jaylen McClain
Sayin, Smith, Pierce and McClain are all third-year players. Ohio State also had multiple third-year captains last year, including Sieverveld and Inniss, who are now two-time captains. Sayin is the first quarterback to be named captain since C.J. Stroud in 2022.
Inniss was also named this year’s Block O jersey recipient. Head coach Ryan Day started the Block O tradition in 2020 and named it in honor of former Buckeye Bill Willis. The Block O recipient is determined by a team vote.
“Brandon is the right choice to wear the Block ‘O’ this season,” Day said in a statement released by the program. “It is an honor that represents much more than what a player does on the field. It represents toughness, accountability, and character, and Brandon has earned the respect of everyone in our building through the way he works, prepares and serves his teammates. He is now a two-time captain who understands what it means to wear the Scarlet and Gray and the responsibility that comes with this program. Brandon continues to grow as a leader, and he will represent the legacy of Bill Willis and everything the Block ‘O’ stands for the right way.”
Previous Block O recipients include Jonathon Cooper, Thayer Munford, Kamryn Babb, Xavier Johnson, Cody Simon and Sonny Styles.
That is a daunting group to meet at center field on any given Saturday.
Great pick. Emphasizes that you don't have to be the best player. Hoping he has a year that is great in all aspects.