Ohio State’s first three practices of fall camp are in the books, giving head coach Ryan Day and the Buckeyes an early opportunity to evaluate a roster integrating many new faces.
While it’s far too early to come to conclusions about the Buckeyes’ upcoming 2026 season, the opening stretch has provided early indications of position battles, player development and potential roles worth watching as camp continues.
Much of what comes from the first few practices should be viewed as an overreaction, particularly with Ohio State still experimenting with different combinations and players adjusting to a new season. Still, there have been some noticeable trends worth keeping an eye on as camp continues.
With that in mind, Buckeye Sports Bulletin selected three key takeaways from the first three days of Ohio State’s fall camp.
Devin McCuin A Standout Among WR2 Candidates
Jeremiah Smith has firmly secured the Buckeyes’ top receiver spot heading into 2026, while Brandon Inniss is expected to return as a starter in the slot.
That leaves Ohio State with an open competition for the other starting outside receiver position. While many projected freshman Chris Henry Jr. to take the spot, senior Devin McCuin has been the bunch’s standout early in fall camp.
McCuin arrived at Ohio State after three seasons at UTSA, where he earned American Conference third-team honors in 2025. As a junior last season, he hauled in 65 passes for 726 yards and eight touchdowns with the Roadrunners.
McCuin came out with the first-team offense and made multiple acrobatic grabs during Friday’s indoor practice, including a pass from quarterback Julian Sayin that he hauled in for a tough over-the-shoulder one-handed catch against tight coverage.
He will still have to beat out Henry, LSU transfer Kyle Parker and a slew of other talented freshmen, including Brock Boyd and Jerquaden Guilford. But after three practices, McCuin has done enough to put himself in the conversation as the leading WR2 candidate.
Ohio State Continues To Tweak The Offensive Line
Ohio State’s offensive line has been one of the more interesting areas to watch through the first three fall practices, with the Buckeyes already experimenting with different combinations.
While left guard Luke Montgomery, center Carson Hinzman and right tackle Phillip Daniels are expected to retain their starting roles, the biggest change came as senior Austin Siereveld moved from left tackle, where he started throughout the 2025 season, to right guard on the first day of camp.
Junior offensive tackle Ian Moore, who replaced an injured Siereveld in Ohio State’s College Football Playoff quarterfinal loss to Miami (Fla.), received the first-team reps at left tackle in that iteration of the line.
Ohio State also showcased a different combination of its first-team offensive line, with Siereveld staying at left tackle and Josh Padilla taking reps at right tackle.
Siereveld gives Day and offensive line coach Tyler Bowen plenty of versatility up front. He played guard during Ohio State’s national championship run in 2024 before moving to tackle last season, allowing the Buckeyes to rotate him at multiple positions as they continue searching for their best combination of five along the offensive line.
Again, it’s important not to read too much into the first three days. Day has made it clear Ohio State is using camp to experiment with different combinations, with a starting five on the offensive line far from settled.
Bo Jackson-Isaiah West Battling For RB1
Through the first three practices, the competition between returning sophomore running backs Bo Jackson and Isaiah West has emerged as one of the more intriguing position battles on the roster.
While Jackson took over as the Buckeyes’ starting back three weeks into the 2025 season and never looked back, finishing the season with over 1,090 rushing yards and seven total touchdowns, West has made a late push for the role.
West ran for 310 yards and two touchdowns last season as he emerged as the No. 2 running back late in the year, but Day emphasized that he’s had one of the team’s strongest offseasons.
Both backs have received opportunities with the first-team offense early into camp, but it was West who was with them on day one.
Ohio State also doesn’t necessarily need one running back to handle the bulk of the carries. Last season, Jackson took the brunt of Ohio State’s work, but the Buckeyes still operated largely by committee with West, James Peoples and CJ Donaldson each rushing for more than 300 yards
In 2026, the Buckeyes will again have plenty of depth in the room, with Jackson and West joined by seventh-year back Ja’Kobi Jackson, and intriguing freshmen Legend Bey and Favour Akih.
For now, Jackson and West appear to be engaged in a much closer battle for the RB1 spot than many anticipated entering camp, with Ohio State continuing to evaluate their options in the backfield.
