Ohio State's strength and conditioning staff has named eight players as the team's most improved players for their performance during winter conditioning workouts.
Three scholarship players – wide receiver Kamryn Babb, offensive lineman Ryan Jacoby and defensive end Javontae Jean-Baptiste – are joined by walk-on quarterbacks J.P. Andrade and Jagger LaRoe, wide receiver Chris Booker, linebacker Cade Kacherski and kicker Jack Deneher in receiving that recognition from Mickey Marotti's staff.
Babb's inclusion among the honorees is perhaps the most noteworthy, as he has missed each of his first two seasons at Ohio State with knee injuries. Babb remained sidelined for the start of spring practice, but Marotti said in January that Babb was a full participant in winter workouts.
Jacoby enters his second year at Ohio State looking to earn a spot on the two-deep after playing zero snaps as a true freshman. He began the spring as the second-team right guard in the Buckeyes' opening practice.
Jean-Baptiste saw his first playing time as a Buckeye last year, when he ranked fifth among Ohio State defensive ends with 201 snaps for the season, and he's expected to be a factor in the rotation again this spring. Currently listed at 250 pounds, Jean-Baptiste has added 35 pounds – with the help of Marotti and his staff – since he arrived at Ohio State in 2018.
Kacherski, who joined the Buckeyes in 2018, emerged as a regular on Ohio State's kickoff coverage down the stretch of last season, playing in five of the Buckeyes' final six games.
Andrade, LaRoe, Booker and Deneher are all entering their second season as Buckeyes after joining the team last summer.
