With some familiar faces in the fray, there’s a lot of new within Ohio State’s offense in 2023.
A new quarterback takes over under center after the two-year reign of C.J. Stroud, a battle that is still ongoing between junior Kyle McCord and redshirt freshman Devin Brown.
Heralded wide receivers coach Brian Hartline is the team’s new offensive coordinator, scooping the mantle from Kevin Wilson. He’ll provide a newer voice to Ohio State’s play-calling process.
There’s three new starters on the offensive line, which could go a long way in determining the overall success of the unit.
Regardless of how much new there may be, expectations don’t change. The Buckeyes had either the best or second-best scoring offense in college football each of the past two seasons, and with their usual national title ambitions, they will want more of the same in 2023.
Here’s a rundown of the stars that will fuel the offense’s engine, X-factor players that can take it to the next level and unknowns that Day, Hartline and company will have to address as the campaign rolls on.
The Stars
Marvin Harrison Jr. (WR)
Harrison has the best odds of any non-quarterback in the country to win this year’s Heisman Trophy, per DraftKings. It’s easy to tell why. He followed a breakout Rose Bowl performance at the end of 2021 with 77 receptions for 1,263 yards and 14 touchdowns in 2022. He was a consensus All-American and finalist for the Biletnikoff Award, given annually to the best receiver in the nation. He’s got everything you could want intangibly at the position with a 6-3 frame to boot. Opposing secondaries will have to gameplan around Harrison to have a chance in 2023.
Emeka Egbuka (WR)
The second biggest star on Ohio State’s offense is Harrison’s running mate at receiver. Egbuka caught 74 passes for 1,151 yards and 10 touchdowns with two rushing scores a year ago, ensuring defenses couldn’t focus solely on Harrison. Both Egbuka and Harrison will form the core of what should be the best group of receivers in the country, relieving some pressure from the team’s new quarterback.
Donovan Jackson (LG)
With the new faces on Ohio State’s offensive line, it’s good to have a five-star recruit and first-team All-Big Ten performer anchoring the unit. Jackson enters his third year in Columbus expected to perform at an All-American level, and it would be a welcome boost to the offense as new starters acclimate to his left and right.
The X-Factors
Cade Stover (TE)
One of Ohio State’s three captains entering 2023, Stover flies under the radar in the midst of the aforementioned receiving talent around him. But if he builds on the success he enjoyed in 2022 – one of the most productive seasons from an Ohio State tight end in recent memory – it will add another dynamic to the Buckeyes’ offense. Additionally, his blocking on the edge in aid of two new tackles will be of paramount importance.
TreVeyon Henderson (RB)
Henderson projects as the feature running back in a deep Ohio State stable. An early-season foot injury limited his effectiveness last year, as his yards per carry dipped to 5.3 after he averaged 6.8 in his breakout freshman campaign. A five-star recruit who showed his potential with 1,248 yards and an OSU freshman-record 19 total touchdowns in 2021, Henderson has the potential to be among the nation’s best running backs and take the team’s ground game to another level.
Josh Simmons (LT)
Ohio State’s staff feels confident they got a steal in the San Diego State transfer, who will protect the blindside of whoever the new quarterback proves to be. Seventeen penalties and a failure to make the Mountain West’s All-Conference team in 2022 had some questioning whether he’d be up to the task with the Buckeyes, but Day has expressed confidence in Simmons’ athleticism and abilities.
The Unknowns
Quarterback Play
There’s a standard to uphold in terms of quarterback play in Columbus, with three straight first-round NFL Draft picks and Heisman Trophy finalists under Day and company at the position. McCord and Brown were both top-50 national recruits and the program’s track record is there, but now one of them needs to prove it with on-field results.
Pass Protection
Simmons is joined by center Carson Hinzman and right tackle Josh Fryar as the new starters along the offensive line. Fryar showed some flash as a run blocker in his appearances last season and Simmons’ athletic gifts give him high upside, but it’s still a question whether the offensive line can keep a clean pocket for either Brown or McCord on a consistent basis. It’ll be critical to the offense’s rhythm as the season goes on.
How Dominant Can the Run Game Be?
A new quarterback and aforementioned questions around the offensive line’s pass protection could lead Ohio State to lean just a touch more on the ground game this year. Five running backs have all jostled for playing time in fall camp – Henderson, last year’s co-starter Miyan Williams, Chip Trayanum, Dallan Hayden and Evan Pryor. Any would be capable lead backs at a multitude of other schools.
The Buckeyes have had previous issues in short-yardage situations and keeping consistency with their rushing attack, but if they can turn to the ground game during Brown or McCord’s growing pains and as the season wears on, it’ll help keep defenses off-balance.
Freshman to Watch
Carnell Tate (WR)
When Egbuka and senior wideout Julian Fleming missed spring practice, it was Tate – not any of the team's second-year receivers – that stepped into a starting role. He's drawn praise ever since losing his black stripe early in the spring, and while a deep room stands in front of him, he'll get his chances to showcase the future at points this season. Tate's maturity has also left an impression on Day, who noted Monday that Tate has continued to stand out in practice even after his mother passed away in July.
Overall Outlook
If everything falls into place, the Buckeyes should, once again, have one of the nation’s premier attacks in 2023. There were far fewer questions entering the 2022 season, though, with a surefire starting bunch on the offensive line and Stroud fresh off a fantastic season at quarterback. More questions mean more areas where this year’s group could fall short of being among the country’s best offenses, but they’re still loaded with potential to be formidable with the weapons in their arsenal.
