Ohio State roster breakdown: Projected starters, players in the mix, and what to watch when preseason camp starts

The Buckeyes hold their first preseason practice Thursday, so here's a quick breakdown of where players stand.

Running back Favour Akih (29) will be among the new Buckeyes taking part in their first preseason camp. (Photo by Sandra Fu for The Bill and Doug Show)

COLUMBUS — Ohio State opens preseason practice Thursday morning, as the first three practices on Thursday, Friday and Saturday are open to fans (for $48 a ticket). Some of you might be out there. Many of you will be eager to read and hear reports of the Buckeyes in action.

As a quick catch-up, here’s a positional breakdown of who’s on the roster and what we expect. We broke each position into locked-in starter; probable starter (when applicable); in the mix; and also there. (There might be more probable starters than spots at some positions if guys are likely looking at solid playing time.)

We’ll be out there for all three practices and the interviews afterward, and then writing and recording as quickly as we can to get the info to you. So we also included what we’re most curious to watch at each position.

Roster grid

Offense

Julian Sayin is back for Year 2 as Ohio State’s starting QB. (Photo by Sandra Fu for The Bill and Doug Show)

Quarterback

Locked-in starter: Julian Sayin

Backup: Tavien St. Clair

Also there: Justyn Martin, Luke Fahey

Bill will be watching: The types of throws Sayin is making. Are OSU receivers getting the ball on the run more, and is Sayin putting the ball in a place to catch and run?

Doug will be watching: How smooth and comfortable St. Clair looks, while also checking if the ball is jumping out of his hand when he throws. Sue me for wanting to watch the 5-star backup.

Running back Bo Jackson signed autographs during the spring but he wasn’t healthy enough to practice. He’ll be back for the preseason. (Photo by Sandra Fu for The Bill and Doug Show.)

Running back

Locked-in starter: Bo Jackson

In the mix: Isaiah West, Ja’Kobi Jackson, Legend Bey

Also there: Turbo Rogers, Favour Akih

Bill will be watching: How Bey is used in the offense. Does the staff see him as a possible single back? Will he be there in two-back sets? Does he line up at receiver? What type of touches is he getting?

Doug will be watching: How hard, decisive and confident Jackson runs, even though no one gets tackled early in camp. After a big freshman season, does he look like a veteran?

We know what to expect from Jeremiah Smith (4) this season, but freshman Chris Henry Jr. (15) will have plenty of interested eyes on him in camp. (Photo by Sandra Fu for The Bill and Doug Show).

Receiver

Locked-in starter: Jeremiah Smith

In the mix: Brandon Inniss, Devin McCuin, Kyle Parker, Chris Henry Jr., Brock Boyd

Also there: David Adolph, Jerquaden Guilford, Phillip Bell, De’Zie Jones, Jaden Ricketts

Bill will be watching: Is Inniss on a second tier by himself as the only other returning starter, or is he more lumped in with everyone else in the room as the offense sorts out options two through five or six behind Smith?

Doug will be watching: Are the coaches treating Henry and Boyd like veterans, or can you still tell they are young guys learning their way? The goal is getting hints at their expected playing time.

Will sophomore tight end Nate Roberts look like a pass-catching threat in camp? (Photo by Sandra Fu for The Bill and Doug Show)

Tight end

Locked-in starter: Nate Roberts

In the mix: Bennett Christian, Mason Williams, Hunter Welcing

Also there: Max LeBlanc, Brody Lennon, Nick Lautar

Bill will be watching: Roberts only ran 21 routes last season and was targeted only five times. If he’s TE1, and I think he is, what will it look like when the ball starts coming his way more? Does he look like a viable pass-catching option?

Doug will be watching: I’ll be ready, and eager, for any surprises. Is anyone behind Roberts going to establish himself as the clear No. 2 tight end?

What are Gabe VanSickle’s chances of earning playing time based on his preseason camp performance? (Photo by Sandra Fu for The Bill and Doug Show)

Offensive line

Locked-in starters: Austin Siereveld, Luke Montgomery, Carson Hinzman

Probable starter: Phillip Daniels

In the mix: Ian Moore, Josh Padilla, Gabe VanSickle

Also there: Jake Cook, Deontae Armstrong, Vasean Washington, Carter Lowe, Sam Greer, Max Riley, Landry Brede, Mason Wilhelm, Tucker Smith

Bill will be watching: Positional flexibility. We know Siereveld can play tackle or guard. Can Moore and Daniels move around, too? That will help us get a handle on all of the possible permutations as Ohio State seeks out the best five starters.

Doug will be watching: Is it Moore time? Any indication that Moore, in Year 3, has entered ‘Oh yeah, that guy has to start’ territory changes the O-line conversation.

Defense

Where might Jason Moore (left) and Jamir Perez (right) fit in among the defensive tackles? (Photo by Sandra Fu for The Bill and Doug Show)

Defensive tackle

Locked-in starter: Eddrick Houston

Probable starters: Will Smith Jr., James Smith, John Walker

In the mix: Jamir Perez

Also there: Jason Moore, Damari Simeon, Emmanuel Ruffin

Bill will be watching: It’s time for Eddrick Houston to be a star. Does he start camp looking like a potential game-changer on the defensive line? Otherwise, I think the room is full of guys with high floors, but limited on star potential.

Doug will be watching: The top four listed should be the primary rotation at a position that always plays at least four guys, which is why there are so many probable starters. But can Perez, a 360-pound freshman, show enough to maybe find a role as a fifth guy in short yardage?

Epi Sitanilei will have Bill’s eyes on him this preseason. (Photo by Sandra Fu for The Bill and Doug Show)

Defensive end

Locked-in starter: Kenyatta Jackson

In the mix: Beau Atkinson, Qua Russaw, Zion Grady, Epi Sitanilei, Khary Wilder

Also there: Dre Quinn, Darryus McKinley

Bill will be watching: Sitanilei is a strong contender for my camp crush after seeing how he changed his body over the summer. Walking around the Woody in flip-flops is one thing. I want to see how that added mass translates onto the field, and if he’s playing with noticeably more power.

Doug will be watching: Does Atkinson look like a dude? He played 214 snaps for the Buckeyes last season, and far fewer in the second half of the season than in the first. After a strong spring, does he really have a chance to take the second starting job and possibly be an above-average Big Ten edge rusher?

Payton Pierce (26) is the one sure starter among the linebackers. (Photo by Sandra Fu for The Bill and Doug Show.)

Linebacker

Locked-in starter: Payton Pierce

Probable starters: Christian Alliegro, Riley Pettijohn

In the mix: TJ Alford, Garrett Stover, Cincere Johnson

Also there: Eli Lee, CJ Sanna, Braxton Rembert

Bill will be watching: How much does Alliegro line up as a box linebacker in the base defense? It felt like he was mostly lining up as five technique on the line of scrimmage by the end of spring.

Doug will be watching: Pettijohn, Pettijohn, Pettijohn. He missed spring with an injury, so does the 5-star, second-year player now look like a star in the making who is ready to start right now? Or is that too much?

Freshman cornerback Jay Timmons will be fighting for playing time in the slot during preseason camp. (Photo by Sandra Fu for The Bill and Doug Show)

Cornerback

Locked-in starters: Devin Sanchez, Jermaine Mathews

In the mix: Dominick Kelly, Jay Timmons, Cam Calhoun, Jordan Thomas

Also there: Miles Lockhart, Jordyn Woods

Bill will be watching: Do freshmen Timmons and Thomas look like they’re pushing to rotate into the defense, or do they look more like flashy young guys biding their time?

Doug will be watching: How much is Mathews playing inside in the slot, and what does that mean for Kelly getting major reps at outside corner?

The safety room is deep, but freshman Blaine Bradford is still worth keeping an eye on. (Photo by Sandra Fu for The Bill and Doug Show.)

Safety

Locked-in starter: Jaylen McClain

Probable starters: Earl Little Jr., Terry Moore, Leroy Roker

In the mix: Blaine Bradford

Also there: Deshawn Stewart, Simeon Caldwell, Khmari Bing, Kaden Gephardt

Bill will be watching: Are the safety roles as clearly defined as they were last year, or in a Caleb Downs-less world, are the Buckeyes leaning into the versatility of the room and moving guys around?

Doug will be watching: Does Roker have a chance to start or not? Both Little and Moore are veteran transfers, but it seems like the coaches like Roker. Also, does Little look healthy after missing the end of spring?