Roundtable: While relatively unproven, Ohio State receiving corps has limitless potential

COLUMBUS — Lettermen Row “Wide Receivers Week” is wrapping up. Before we turn the page to “Tight Ends Week,” though, beat writers Spencer Holbrook and Andy Backstrom held their weekly position preview series roundtable discussion.

This time, they fleshed out what to expect from a relatively unproven but extremely intriguing Ohio State receiving corps, which enters 2024 with limitless potential.

Andy: “Wide Receiver U,” “Zone 6,” whatever you want to call it, Ohio State arguably has the best college-to-NFL wideout pipeline in America right now. Marvin Harrison Jr. is the latest, and perhaps best example, of that pipeline. He became the highest-drafted receiver in Buckeyes history when the Arizona Cardinals took him with the No. 4 overall pick this spring. Before that, the Biletnikoff Award winner and Heisman Trophy finalist accounted for close to a quarter of the total yards and more than a quarter of the touchdowns the Ohio State offense posted during the regular season last year.

So, Spencer, who will be the Buckeyes’ new WR1? Is it Emeka Egbuka, maybe the next Buckeyes first-round wideout?

Spencer: It starts with Egbuka, for sure. He’s too gifted of a route-runner and too speedy in open space to be anything other than WR1 — at least to start the season. I’m beginning to think he’s going to cement himself at the top of Buckeyes career receiving stats by the time the year ends. But Carnell Tate, Brandon Inniss and Jeremiah Smith are all talented enough to be WR1, which is what makes this room so darn fascinating. So much talent — but not much experience behind Egbuka. 

Andy: Yeah, that’s the thing. The ceiling is so high for this group, as usual. But unlike last year when the Buckeyes returned a pair of 1,000-yard receivers, or the year before when Ohio State brought back a superstar in Jaxon Smith-Njigba, plus a duo of underclassmen who teased greatness at the end of the season, Brian Hartline’s current room doesn’t have much past production to point to. That said, while Carnell Tate didn’t break out like we thought he might in 2023, he still finished with more targets, receptions and receiving yards as a true freshman than Harrison, Smith-Njigba and Chris Olave did as first-year Buckeyes players, per Pro Football Focus.

Tate could be special in 2024. Do you think Inniss can catch up to him this season?

Spencer: Catch him? That’s a stretch, although Inniss will play in the slot, and we know how Ryan Day loves to use his slot receivers. I think it’s reasonable to place high expectations on both of them. Tate seems like a steady option, but Inniss has that shifty, home-run ability that makes his potential as fun as it is high. I think there’s a chance Inniss could be second on the team in yards or fifth. He’s got a little boom-or-bust feel to him. Tate seems to be the more steady choice for WR2, but we haven’t had the Jeremiah Smith discussion yet. And it needs to be had. 

So Andy, Jeremiah Smith?

Andy: It’s almost unfair to the rest of the Big Ten that after one generational receiving talent leaves Ohio State, another arrives. That’s how good Smith is — or at least that’s how good he’s been so far. He lets his play do the talking, and the virality of his playmaking ability is hard to ignore. Typically, Ohio State holds back from completely unleashing its true freshman wideouts, but I don’t think that will be the case with Smith, who instantly gives the Buckeyes prototypical size at the X receiver position. He can go up and get it in traffic, he’s got great speed and he’s a sharp route-runner — in other words, he’s the full package. No Ohio State true freshman has shed his black stripe faster than Smith. I think he goes over 600 receiving yards in Year 1, and maybe — just maybe — he reaches the 1,000-yard milestone. Is that crazy to say? Probably, but it feels foolish to put a cap on his potential.

Spencer: It might be a little crazy, but so is everything else Jeremiah Smith has done to this point, so crazy might be the only way to go. The No. 1 overall prospect tag is typically reserved for defensive ends, offensive tackles and quarterbacks. But he was an exception to the rule. Black stripe removal typically takes a while. Smith was, again, the exception to a rule. Why not have him be the best freshman receiver in program history? That tag currently belongs to Michael Jenkins, who went over 800 yards as a first-year player, but Smith should push for the record if he performs on Saturdays the way he did during the spring.

I’m open to anything anyone says about Smith — as long as it’s positive. I’m not sure if anyone thinks he’ll show signs of being a freshman this fall. Even Steve Wiltfong of On3 said he’ll be stunned if Smith has some issues in Year 1. 

After those top four, though, I have some questions. Who do you see emerging behind Tate, Inniss, Egbuka and Smith?

Andy: I feel like Jayden Ballard’s always in the conversation because he can fly. But whether he sees the field or not comes down to his consistency and versatility — he can’t be a one-trick pony. If Ballard can show the staff the full route tree while developing trust with whoever is playing quarterback, the fourth-year wideout could get his first real shot. Even if he continues to make strides, though, Bryson Rodgers could overtake him on the depth chart because Rodgers looked pretty dangerous in spring ball, especially on Student Appreciation Day. Known for his quick change of direction and high catch rate, Rodgers was welcomed back to Ohio State after nearly transferring this offseason.

Who else do you believe deserves consideration?

Spencer: We can’t ignore the recruiting ranking that was attached to Mylan Graham, although we haven’t heard his name. With his enrollment this summer, he has a long road to hoe, but he’s a talented player who could become a factor at some point, maybe even early in the season considering the weak nature of the non-conference slate. Graham has the skill set to make it happen, but he’s certainly behind. 

From there, I’m not sure any others could make a true impact. Kojo Antwi is a veteran now, but he had another quiet spring and didn’t make the push he could have to find some playing time.

And I’ll always leave the walk-on discussion to you, man!

Andy: Yeah, first, a hat tip to Antwi for sticking around — he’s the only remaining wideout from the 2022 signing class. The other three transferred out. Who knows, Antwi could have an impressive training camp and see some snaps in mop-up duty. But my top-five for this unit going into mid-June is Emeka Egbuka, Carnell Tate, Jeremiah Smith, Brandon Inniss and Bryson Rodgers. 

As for the walk-ons, the three I’d keep an eye on are David Adolph, Reis Stocksdale and Brennen Schramm. Adolph made the travel roster last year and led the team in receiving yards during the spring game this year. Schramm starred at Medina High School with Penn State quarterback Drew Allar and found the end zone in the Buckeyes’ exhibition two months ago. Stocksdale is a grinder — he, notably, was Harrison’s go-to Monarc machine partner — and is back after missing last season with an ACL tear.

That just about does it for our wideout conversation, though. We covered a lot for Lettermen Row “Wide Receivers Week,” Spencer. 

I know we’re excited to look back on this back-and-forth at the end of the year.

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