The Opening Drive 1/23: The Biggest Question Marks After Portal Season
Key Position Groups Under the Microscope as the Roster Takes Shape.
Now that the transfer portal has closed — or at least paused, depending on the day — the Buckeyes are largely finished adding new pieces. At this point, the roster is what it is. After losing more than 30 players to a combination of the portal, graduation, and the NFL, Ohio State enters the next phase with a clear reality: several position groups still have unanswered questions.
This isn’t about a lack of depth. Bodies are in the building. Talent exists. The issue is who takes the next step. Development has to accelerate, roles have to be claimed, and production has to replace projection. That transition is pivotal as the Buckeyes move forward.
With that in mind, let’s take a closer look at a few key position groups where questions remain — not everywhere, but in the spots that will matter most when the season gets tight.
Zone 6 (Wide Receivers)
Zone 6 is the first position group under the microscope. Yes, the Buckeyes return the best player in the country in Jeremiah Smith, but the conversation quickly shifts to the opposite side of the formation. That spot is no longer occupied by Carnell Tate or Emeka Egbuka, and someone has to claim it.
That responsibility now falls heavily on Brandon Inniss — a senior captain, Iron Buckeye, and former five-star prospect. From a coaching perspective, his value to the team is undeniable. He does the dirty work. He blocks. He strains. He practices the right way. But the next step has to come in production, and that’s where the expectations rise. The standard changes when you’re a senior and a leader in the room.
Portal additions Devin McCuin and Kyle Parker bring real juice to the competition. Both offer big-play ability with inside-outside versatility, and their presence should push everyone in the room. In particular, Parker profiles as someone who can compete immediately for a starting role.
Behind them, the talent keeps stacking. Chris Henry Jr. enters with lofty expectations and will likely be asked to contribute early. The physical tools are obvious, and the ceiling is high, but the transition will test how quickly he can handle the speed and detail of the college game. Philip Bell, a redshirt freshman, and true freshman Jerquaden Guilfordwill also push for snaps and force tough decisions as the rotation takes shape.
The bottom line is this: outside of Jeremiah Smith, Zone 6 has plenty of talent — but also plenty of questions. Someone has to emerge. Someone has to be trusted. And as the Buckeyes move forward, the biggest question in this room remains simple:
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Defensive Ends
The other position group carrying real questions is the defensive end room. Retaining Kenyatta Jackson was a major priority, and getting that done mattered. What won’t be easy to replace, however, is the production lost with Caden Curry moving on. That’s real output that has to come from somewhere.
Ohio State addressed part of that need by dipping into the portal and adding Qua Russaw, who should be thrust into the rotation immediately. But the biggest questions in this room center on three players: Beau Atkinson, Zion Grady, and Epi Sitanlilei.
Atkinson was viewed as a significant pickup last portal cycle — a high-energy edge who produced over seven sacks at North Carolina before transferring. Last season, he settled into a rotational role while Kenyatta Jackson and Curry handled the bulk of the snaps. Entering his senior year, the expectation has to change. Ohio State needs Atkinson to convert energy into consistent production and become a reliable piece of the rotation.
Grady is pivotal as well. He showed last year that he has the body type and physical traits to play right away and earned meaningful reps in meaningful games. He’ll be counted on to take another step and carry a heavier workload. The same applies to Sitanlilei. The Buckeyes made a push for Chaz Coleman in the portal, but the fact that they didn’t add another edge beyond Russaw suggests real belief in Epi’s development and skill set.
A wild card here is linebacker Christian Allegrio, who has the size and ability to play on the edge in certain packages — similar to how Ohio State has deployed Arvell Reese at times. Five-Star Freshman Khary Wilder will be expected to contribute early in his career as well.
The key point: this is not a talent issue. The bodies are there. The athleticism is there. What this room needs now is clarity, consistency, and production. Someone — likely multiple players — has to turn potential into dependable, week-to-week impact. That’s what will ultimately define the defensive end room moving forward.
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