Ohio State enters preseason camp with intense competition at quarterback, strong safety, and defensive end leading the list of key position battles.
As Ohio State gears up for another highly anticipated season, all eyes are on the key position battles that will shape the trajectory of the team heading into fall. While the Buckeyes are loaded with talent across the board, preseason camp will serve as the proving ground for several pivotal spots. At the forefront of those competitions are three critical positions—quarterback, strong safety, and defensive end—each carrying major implications for how the team will perform when the games begin to count. These are not just routine competitions; they are high-stakes battles for control of a team with championship aspirations.
At quarterback, the spotlight is as bright as ever. Ohio State has long been a factory for producing elite signal-callers, and this year is no different. With the departure of Kyle McCord, who transferred to Syracuse after a season that never quite matched expectations, the position is wide open. Devin Brown, who saw limited action last year but remains highly regarded, is one of the leading candidates. His arm strength and confidence have impressed coaches, but lingering questions about his consistency and decision-making remain.
Challenging him is Lincoln Kienholz, a young but dynamic prospect who brings mobility and improvisational skills to the table. Kienholz, who saw brief action last year, has had the benefit of a full offseason to grow into the system and could offer a dual-threat element the offense hasn’t fully embraced in recent seasons. Also in the mix is true freshman Julian Sayin, one of the highest-rated quarterback recruits in the country. Though it’s a tall task to win the job as a true freshman, Sayin’s poise and accuracy have already turned heads in early workouts. Head coach Ryan Day has made it clear that the competition will be open, and that no one has a firm grip on the starting role just yet. He’s also emphasized that this decision won’t be based on potential alone—production in camp will be the deciding factor.
What makes the quarterback battle even more important is the surrounding talent. With playmakers like Emeka Egbuka and Carnell Tate at receiver and TreVeyon Henderson anchoring the backfield, the Buckeyes don’t need a superhero under center. They need someone who can protect the football, make sound decisions, and execute a game plan tailored for both power and finesse. That said, quarterback play has historically separated Ohio State from good to great seasons. Justin Fields didn’t just run the offense—he elevated it. C.J. Stroud didn’t just fit into the system—he expanded it. Whoever wins the job this time around will be tasked not just with running the show, but with maintaining Ohio State’s national relevance in an era where the margin for error is razor-thin.
On the other side of the ball, the strong safety position is also up for grabs. In today’s game, where offenses stretch the field both vertically and horizontally, the strong safety has to be more than just a hard hitter. He has to cover slot receivers, diagnose plays in real time, and occasionally step into the box as a de facto linebacker. Last season, the Buckeyes were solid but not spectacular in this department. They’re hoping for more in 2025, and that starts with identifying the right guy for the job.
One name to watch is Lathan Ransom. When healthy, Ransom has been a steady presence with excellent instincts and a nose for the football. Injuries have slowed him in the past, but when he’s on the field, he’s a game-changer. His physicality and leadership give him an edge, but availability has been his biggest obstacle. Then there’s Malik Hartford, a younger, rangier athlete who brings speed and range. Hartford showed flashes of promise last year and has reportedly added muscle in the offseason. Coaches love his upside, and he might be the kind of player who benefits most from a wide-open competition. Sonny Styles, who has moved around the secondary, could also be in the mix, depending on how defensive coordinator Jim Knowles decides to deploy his personnel. Styles has a rare combination of size and athleticism and might even rotate between safety and linebacker in certain packages.
Knowles’ defensive scheme relies heavily on versatile safeties who can do more than just stick their noses into the run game. They need to be cerebral, adaptable, and quick to react. With Michigan and Penn State looming on the schedule, along with a dangerous non-conference test against Texas, whoever wins the strong safety job will need to be ready for prime time immediately. The coaching staff won’t have the luxury of easing someone into the role—not when every game matters, and every mistake can cost a playoff berth.
The third major competition comes at defensive end, where the Buckeyes are in a transition phase. With J.T. Tuimoloau now in the NFL and Jack Sawyer trying to cement his draft stock, the program finds itself at a critical juncture along the edge. Ohio State’s best teams have always had dominant pass rushers—whether it was Chase Young terrorizing quarterbacks or the Bosa brothers collapsing pockets, edge play has been the heartbeat of the defense.
This year, the battle is between several hungry and highly talented players. Kenyatta Jackson Jr. enters his third year with the program and has long been viewed as a future star. He has the length and burst to get after the quarterback, but like many young edge players, he’s had to work on his run defense and overall discipline. This could be the year he puts it all together. Caden Curry, another name in the mix, brings relentless energy and a blue-collar mentality. He may not have the flashiest tools, but he plays with a motor that never stops and has a knack for being around the football.
Don’t overlook freshmen like Eddrick Houston, a top-tier recruit who arrived on campus with sky-high expectations. If he picks up the playbook quickly, it wouldn’t be shocking to see him force his way into the rotation. Defensive line coach Larry Johnson, who has a reputation for developing elite pass rushers, will have a significant role in determining who steps into that starting role. He’s never been afraid to rotate guys in and out, especially early in the season, but eventually the unit will need a clear leader off the edge.
This defensive end competition matters not only for what it means on the field but for the message it sends off it. Ohio State has long recruited and marketed itself as a pipeline for elite defensive linemen. With Michigan’s recent dominance up front and a growing emphasis on trench play in the Big Ten, Ohio State needs to reassert itself in the pass rush category. They don’t just need pressure—they need game-changing havoc, the kind that flips field position and shifts momentum.
All three of these position battles—quarterback, strong safety, and defensive end—will play out during the dog days of camp. There will be closed scrimmages, heated reps, and long nights in the film room. Coaches will evaluate every throw, every missed assignment, and every flash of brilliance. And while the fanbase speculates, the players will grind, knowing that nothing is guaranteed and everything is earned.
What makes these competitions especially compelling is the broader context in which they’re unfolding. Ohio State is coming off back-to-back losses to Michigan, which has only intensified pressure on Ryan Day and his staff. The standard in Columbus isn’t just winning—it’s winning big, beating rivals, and hoisting trophies. Anything less brings scrutiny. That scrutiny trickles down to every depth chart decision and every practice rep. The quarterback who wins the job won’t just be competing against teammates—he’ll be competing against history, against expectations, against the noise. The same goes for the safety trying to shore up the back end and the edge rusher tasked with reviving a once-feared front.
In a program as talent-rich as Ohio State, battles like these are a sign of strength. They indicate depth, competition, and a hunger to improve. But they also create urgency. There’s no time for slow starts or prolonged experiments. The Buckeyes open their season with a slate of games that demand readiness from Day 1. And with the expanded College Football Playoff looming, every position decision carries more weight than ever.
So as the sun rises over fall camp in Columbus, and as the pads start to crack and the tempo ramps up, three questions will dominate the conversation: Who’s going to lead this offense? Who’s going to patrol the secondary? And who’s going to collapse the pocket? The answers will begin to emerge not in press conferences or highlight reels, but in the quiet, relentless work of practice—where the season, in many ways, is truly won.
