Three Buckeyes Named To Outland Trophy Watch List
Ohio State continued to earn serious preseason recognition on Tuesday when it was announced that offensive linemen Josh Fryar and Donovan Jackson and defensive end Tyleik Williams were named to the watch list for the Outland Trophy, awarded to the best college football interior lineman.
Ohio State’s three representatives are tied for the second-most in college football with Alabama and USC. Georgia has the most representatives on the watch list — which includes 75 student-athletes — with four, including offensive guards Dyland Fairchild and Tate Ratledge, defensive tackle Nazir Stackhouse and offensive tackle Xavier Truss.
Jackson is named to the Outland Trophy watch list for the second consecutive preseason. The 6-4, 320-pound senior is set to serve as Ohio State’s starting left guard for the third straight season after starting 26 consecutive games at the position from 2022-23. He earned first-team All-Big Ten honors in both of those seasons and could be in line for a third in 2024, a reality that has him as one of the top interior offensive line prospects in college football this season.
Fryar sees his name on a preseason watch list for the first time in his collegiate career. The 6-5, 320-pound lineman is coming off a strong first starting season for Ohio State at right tackle, earning first-team All-Big Ten honors alongside Jackson. The Beach Grove, Ind., native has played 38 games across the past three seasons for the Buckeyes, and is likely in line to start again at right tackle in 2024, although head coach Ryan Day did not rule out the possibility of him moving inside to right guard.
While Fryar and Jackson are poised to lead what should be an improved Ohio State offensive line in 2024, Williams is slated to start on an imposing Buckeyes’ defensive line that includes several highly touted NFL draft prospects. After struggling to consistently his first two seasons in Columbus, Williams emerged as one of the top rushmen in the Big Ten in 2023, racking up an impressive 54 tackles (10 for loss), five pass deflections, three sacks and a fumble recovery for a touchdown.
The senior, who earned second-team all-conference and All-American honors last season, is expected to be a major player in the trenches again this season, where he enters the year as a potential first-round NFL draft selection for 2025.
Fryar, Jackson and Williams will look to validate this recognition starting on Thursday when the Buckeyes begin fall camp.