There’s a serious case to be made that Smith was the best player in college football after Ohio State’s championship run. Simply put, he did things that true freshmen aren’t supposed to do on a football field. Case in point: Smith’s five catches for 161 yards and two touchdowns in the first half of the Buckeyes’ trouncing of the Oregon Ducks in the CFP quarterfinals.
Ohio State was able to land the top-ranked player in the transfer portal in Downs prior to the 2024 season. As a true sophomore, he had as good of a season as a safety can have, finishing with 81 total tackles, two interceptions, and six passes defensed. He was all over the field despite offenses clearly looking to avoid him.
A high-level depth piece during his first two seasons with the program, Tate is one of the top candidates across college football to have a breakout campaign in 2025. As a sophomore last season, he caught 52 passes for 733 yards and four touchdowns — including stepping up against the Longhorns with seven receptions for 87 yards when the Buckeyes needed him most.
Styles was nothing short of exceptional in 2024, racking up 100 total tackles, including 49 solo, six sacks, a forced fumble, and five passes defensed. It was his first season at LB after contributing as a safety during his first two seasons in Columbus.
It’s always huge getting a starting CB back in the fold, and that’s what the Buckeyes have with Igbinosun, who has carved out a nice three year career in college football. In 2024, he had 45 total tackles, intercepted two passes, and had nine passes defensed.
