There’s great news, and just some OK news for the Ohio State football program. The great news is that the Buckeyes made good on their “national title or bust” season by winning the College Football Playoff National Championship Game over Notre Dame for the program’s ninth national championship. It rode a talented and seasoned core of players all the way through one of the greatest runs we’ve ever seen in college football history.
Now for the not-so-great news. All of that talent, experience, and leadership is now moving on to the next level for Ohio State, meaning there are more holes to fill than a springtime thawed-out highway done in by winter’s chill.
But that’s OK. There’s still a lot of talent on the roster to surround guys like wide receiver Jeremiah Smith on offense and Caleb Downs on defense. OSU has recruited and retained talent better than almost anyone in college football over the last few years, so it should be as close to a plug-and-play model as you can find in the country.
However, the leaders of last season will give way to new stars this coming fall. A list of the best players for 2024 will look entirely different for 2025. Some will become starters, others stars, and a few, household names across the college football landscape. But which players will be the best of the best?
We take a stab at identifying the top ten players on the Ohio State football team for 2025 in a way-too-early projection. Some we feel really good about — others, well — we’re kind of banking on things panning out a certain way. Here is how we see the ranking of top ten Buckeyes heading into 2025.
No. 10 – CJ Donaldson, Running Back
When Ohio State nabbed Donaldson out of the transfer portal from West Virginia, it didn’t make a huge splash, but the coaches like the package he has. He’s a physical back that can get down hill a little, and plugged into the Ohio State system as the likely starter, we like the potential of an improvement on 743 yards on 163 carries (4.5 ypc) he saw in Morgantown. Name an Ohio State running back that doesn’t flourish surrounded by the talent often found in Columbus. Look for a breakout year for Donaldson.
No. 9 – Caden Curry, Defensive End
Go ahead and lock in Curry as a starter at one defensive end spot. He was behind J.T. Tuimoloau and Jack Sawyer, but when he was in the rotation, he was awfully disruptive and productive. Now that he’ll man one side of the defensive line, look for him to show that there’s not much of a drop-off by becoming one of the next high NFL draft pick developed by Larry Johnson.
No. 8 – Carson Hinzman, Center
It’s been a weird career arc for Hinzman. He grabbed the starting center position in 2023, only to be supplanted by Alabama transfer, Seth McLaughlin, in 2024. He again shined bright in the spotlight when McLaughlin went down with injury last season, and he’s now poised to be the anchor of a rebuilt offensive line. He’ll most likely be an all-Big Ten type performer who has a chance to hear his name called early when he heads into the NFL draft.
No. 7 – Max Klare, Tight End
Not much went right for Purdue last season, but one of the bright spots was tight end Max Klare. There were a lot of teams pining for Klare once he entered the transfer portal and Ohio State won the sweepstakes. He’s going to be a playmaker in the passing game and should find a lot of open space to roam with the receiving corps the Buckeyes have. He has a chance to have one of the most special years we’ve seen a tight end have wearing the colors of Scarlet and Gray.
No. 6 – Julian Sayin, Quarterback
Sayin was the most sought-after quarterback recruit in the 2024 class when he committed to Alabama, but he found his way to Ohio State when Nick Saban retired. If the reviews we’ve heard from current and former players and coaches are correct, he’s poised to be one whale of a talent in Columbus. There will most likely be some growing pains for Sayin, but he’s got some weapons around him at his disposal. He might even prove to be better than we’re giving him credit for as a first-year starter.
No. 5 – Davison Igbinosun, Cornerback
Yeah, yeah, Igbinosun has a penchant for being too handsy and attracting the attention of the officials, but there’s no denying his athleticism and length. If he can cut down on the penalties this season, he’ll be cornerback No. 1 on the outside and show that he’s got what it takes to be a great defensive back for Ohio State. He’s fast and rangy and has the competitive drive and attitude to continue his rise.
No. 4 – Sonny Styles, Linebacker
We’ve been waiting for Styles to break out on the Ohio State defense and we finally saw that start to come to fruition at the tail-end of last season. Now that he’ll step into a leadership role, he’ll be a huge, huge part of what the defense does in 2025. There won’t be too many players on the field that have more God-given ability, and with another year to develop, he might just turn into a monster this fall.
No. 3 – Carnell Tate, Wide Receiver
Wide receiver U? Yes, that’s exactly what Ohio State is these days and it’s really not even a debate. Tate showed what he could do last year, even as the so-called third option among two other NFL first-round talents. He won’t be THE guy in Columbus since Jeremiah Smith is still running around doing superhuman things, but he’ll still be one of the best pass-catchers in the game. He’ll be fun to watch while Smith fends off the paparazzi every game.
No. 2 – Caleb Downs, Safety
Ohio State has the luxury of having arguably the best player on offense in Jeremiah Smith, while also employing the best weapon on defense with safety Caleb Downs. He was the heart and soul of the defense last season and that should continue in 2025. Barring injury, he’ll again have an All-American season, show up often on game film, and become a high first-round NFL draft pick in April of 2026.
No. 1 – Jeremiah Smith, Wide Receiver
It’s hard to believe that Smith is going to shoot lasers from his eyes and leap tall buildings in a single bound for two more years at the “amateur” college level. He’ll be a true sophomore and is NFL-ready right now. He’ll be the best player on the field every time there’s a football being slung around, and it’s going to be awfully fun watching whatever otherworldly things he does on the football field this fall.
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This article originally appeared on Buckeyes Wire: Top ten Ohio State football players looking ahead to the 2025 season
