Jeremiah Smith, Carnell Tate and Brandon Inniss. Those are the three receivers front of mind for every Ohio State fan entering 2025.
Smith and Tate return as star Buckeye starters while Inniss, a composite top-40 prospect entering his third year, feels destined to round out Ohio State’s starting rotation after some modest production in 2024. But there’s another wideout entering his third year eager to contribute, even if it’s in relief of that trio.
Rising redshirt sophomore Bryson Rodgers climbed the Buckeyes’ wide receiver depth chart to its fifth position in 2024, one spot behind Inniss. His 163 snaps more than doubled Ohio State’s next-most-used receiver, Jayden Ballard (58). And he has a skill set – especially out of the slot, but on the outside too – to emerge as the team’s first receiver behind Smith, Tate and Inniss in 2025.
“It creates a true mismatch for the defense with the height and also the speed and the quickness (I have),” Rodgers told Eleven Warriors on Jan. 18 ahead of the CFP national championship game. “I feel like I'm one of the best route runners in the country. So just bringing all that to the slot, then also being able to go outside and be there for Carnell as well when he plays off and reps. It's just a one-two punch I've been working on.”
Rodgers came to Ohio State the lowest-rated prospect of a highly-touted four-man 2023 wide receiver recruiting class, with Inniss, Tate and Noah Rogers all ranked in the composite top 60 while Rodgers landed at just 361st overall. However, buckeye wide receivers coach Brian Hartline is probably a superior talent evaluator to any recruiting service.
Hartline saw enough from Rodgers last year to recruit back to Ohio State after he entered the transfer portal following the 2023 season. Rogers – the higher-rated one with no “D” in his last name – left Columbus for North Carolina State.
“I let God really take control of my path and take control of my faith, and just long talks with my family, long consideration with my family and just knowing that this was the right place for me,” Rodgers said in March of why he returned to Ohio State. “Long talks with Coach Hart and Coach Day as well, just getting clarity in the moments and the areas I needed clarity in. And just moving forward man, it’s been nothing but the best decision I made in my life.”
Rodgers found some sporadic opportunities to see the field in 2024. He saw 25 snaps against Western Michigan and 23 against Michigan State, then when Tate missed time against Iowa Rodgers was the third receiver into the game for Ohio State. Though he didn’t log his first career start as the Buckeyes opened in a two-tight end formation, he played 41 snaps to Inniss’ 21, logging one reception for 8 yards.
Though Inniss eventually claimed the Buckeyes’ fourth receiver role, Rodgers picked up five receptions for 46 yards to get his feet wet this past season. He said he dealt with moments of impatience, but overall he leaned on his faith and enjoyed the ride to the top of college football.
“It’s the human nature, it’s the human element,” Rodgers said. “But my full faith is in God and my full faith is in his hands. Everything is going to play out alright. We're all winning. We're at the national championship. We're about to win a national championship, so it's all worth it.”
It perhaps says something about Rodgers’ love for and belief in Ohio State’s program that he used the phrase “about to win” two days before the title game.
“The brotherhood here is unmatched,” Rodgers said of what made him so sure. “We have extreme confidence in our game, not only on the field but off the field as brothers, just how close we are, how close this team has come throughout the year. With all the trials and tribulations we’ve faced, we just feel unbreakable at this point.”
“I feel like I'm one of the best route runners in the country.”– Bryson Rodgers
Patience isn’t the only area where Rodgers grew during his second year in Columbus. He gained more knowledge of Ohio State’s scheme, which will be key if he does plan to contribute both on the outside and in the slot. There will be competition to be the first man off the bench in Hartline’s ever-competitive wide receiver room, namely from rising redshirt freshman Mylan Graham, a five-star prospect.
“My knowledge of the game has definitely grown a lot,” Rodgers said. “Being around guys like (Emeka Egbuka) and being around guys like Coach (Chip) Kelly. Just getting to be in that type of atmosphere every day. See play calling and just different ways of the game, ins and outs, Xs and Os.”
Rodgers’ goal for the offseason is to embrace more of a leadership role. He wants to emerge as more of a veteran as he prepares to try and make some waves with Egbuka’s departure for the NFL.
“100 percent,” Rodgers said. “Coach Hart has been telling me to do that since I got here. I'm a quiet guy. I'm very quiet. But once I do speak a lot of people listen. So he wants that part to come out and not only to talk about plays but also talk as a leader and be more vocal.”
