There were glimpses of brilliance from Brandon Inniss in 2024, but the full light of his talent hasn’t yet had a chance to shine.
Jeremiah Smith, Emeka Egbuka and Carnell Tate were the cloud cover. With the three commanding so many targets atop Ohio State’s receiver rotation, Inniss didn’t have many opportunities.
That is set to change in 2025.
“I feel like, finally, my time is now,” Inniss said on Tuesday. “I feel like I've been patient. And I just never questioned the decision I made to come here. And I know how to stick through hard times, and I feel like it's finally paying off.”
Inniss is in line to start at slot receiver in his junior year, and the combination of a scorching-hot competitive fire with a dynamic skill set has him in line to be a huge breakout player for the Buckeyes.
“Brandon's always got his head high,” Tate said. “He always knew he had to wait for his chance and then the opportunity would come. When he did get on the field, he made plays and made the best of each and every opportunity. He's happy. He's in a great mental. He knows that he has a bigger role this year. He knows we're expecting a lot from him. So I'm happy for him. He's happy for himself. And I just can't wait for him to go show it.”
A top-40 prospect from the recruiting class of 2023, Inniss’ production was the No. 4 receiver in Ohio State’s offense during 2024 wasn’t negligible. He collected 14 receptions for 176 yards and a touchdown, adding 14 punt returns for 107 yards.
Inniss’ biggest play of the season came on a 21-yard touchdown catch that gave the Buckeyes a 14-10 lead over then-No. 3 Penn State on Nov. 2, but he also had a critical 19-yard first-down reception and another 14-yard catch against Notre Dame in the College Football Playoff national championship game.
“I think Brandon did a great job, looking back, of finding his role last year and excelling at it,” Brian Hartline said on March 7. “We talk a lot about if you want to be a starter, you have to be a starter before you're the starter. And if you're not, you're never going to be the starter. So I think he embodied that.”
No. 4 @OhioStateFB is on top
— Big Ten Network (@BigTenNetwork) November 2, 2024
Brandon Inniss gives the Buckeyes their first lead at No. 3 Penn State. #B1GFootball on @CFBONFOX pic.twitter.com/cJOL1wUJkh
Behind the scenes, Inniss was still a sparkplug for Ohio State, even if he wasn’t a starter. Tate called him the biggest trash talker in the receiver room.
“Brandon has always had a voice on the team,” Tate said. “A lot of guys always listen to Brandon. Brandon's high energy. He brings the energy every day, so whenever there's no energy, here comes Brandon, bringing more energy.”
Inniss would try to bring that energy to the field when he got into games.
“Emeka used to tell me I was the energy source in the room,” Inniss said. “So for him to tell me that, I knew the team would also look at me as the energy source, so whatever I needed to do, whether it was vocally or during a block, just making a big block and celebrating with my teammates and doing everything I can off the field, on the sidelines during games, whatever needs to be done, just to be the best leader I can and just do whatever it takes for my team to win.”
Inniss’ approach has changed in preparation for his expanded role this offseason. He’s added strength while shedding weight, further accentuating his explosive athleticism. He added that this is his first fully healthy spring, as he dealt with minor injuries last spring and was a summer enrollee as a freshman.
“I feel like my game has definitely enhanced a lot,” Inniss said. “I became a lot smarter, I think. I'm playing faster. I lost weight, so I'm definitely playing a lot faster. Everything's slowing down. I know every position, so I know defenses. Coach (Matt) Patricia is doing a good job trying to mess us up, but I still know what they’re doing.”
Playing out of the slot is also an advantageous spot for Inniss, though he’s likely to see reps on the outside, too. Slot is the closest receiver position to the quarterback. With Ohio State breaking in a new, inexperienced starter at quarterback in 2025, the slot often acts as a dependable safety valve.
There have been historically great Ohio State seasons out of the slot in recent Buckeye fan memory. Jaxon Smith-Njigba set the school’s single-season record for both receptions (95) and yards (1,606) in 2021. Egbuka posted 1,000-yard campaigns in both of his healthy seasons as a slot starter, 2022 and 2024, en route to breaking OSU’s career receptions record.
Even with Smith, Tate and tight end Max Klare commanding so much attention, the slot is inherently a spot where Inniss will get involved in the offense.
“I definitely know what's ahead,” Inniss said. “I'm just learning from Emeka. I know what he left. I know the footsteps I'm following. And I definitely know I'm going to be playing a lot more, a huge, way bigger role. And I'm going to just do everything in my power just to uphold that standard.”
With his preparation, Inniss has switched back to his old high school jersey number, 1. In turn, he’s taking things one day, one lesson at a time.
“Every day, I've thought about in the morning, ‘What's one thing I can (improve),’” Inniss said. “‘What's one thing every day that I can come out here and enhance on the field?’ And I focus on one thing every single day. And I feel like that's helped me the most so far.”
