The 2025 college football season is almost here. Coming off a national championship, head coach Ryan Day and the Ohio State Buckeyes have had quite a busy offseason. Defensive Coordinator Jim Knowles left the program immediately following the championship win to join the Penn State Nittany Lions, and Offensive Coordinator Chip Kelly joined the Las Vegas Raiders in the same role. The Buckeyes had a total of 14 players selected in the 2025 NFL Draft, while three were signed as undrafted free agents.
Despite all of these changes, the Buckeyes will look to pick up where they left off. New and returning faces will have an opportunity to prove themselves with increased roles in 2025. Let’s take a look at some of the Buckeyes poised to break out this season.
Julian Sayin is a name that garnered a lot of hype in the 2024 recruiting class. The California native was ranked as the number one quarterback in the country and the number six player in the class. Originally an Alabama commit, Sayin transferred from Alabama following the retirement of Nick Saban. After backing up Will Howard last season, Sayin will look to take the starting role. Sayin will have all the help he needs in Jeremiah Smith and Carnell Tate. The promotion of Offensive Coordinator Brian Hartline will also pay dividends for Sayin and the offense this season.
Before last season, the college football world shook when it was announced that Ole Miss RB Quinshon Judkins would be taking his talents to Columbus. With Treveyon Henderson already in the mix, it was clear that James Peoples would have a limited role in his freshman season. Peoples had just 49 carries for 197 yards and 2 touchdowns. With Henderson and Judkins both in the NFL, Peoples is poised to shine in his role as RB1 alongside West Virginia transfer CJ Donaldson.
While Luke Montgomery has appeared in many games in the past, it wasn’t until late last season that we really saw glimpses of what he can do. Injuries plagued the offensive line last year, which allowed Montgomery to step into a starting role at left guard. Montgomery made his first career start against Texas and allowed two sacks. He would start again in the title game against Notre Dame, where he allowed zero sacks and dominated in the run game. Montgomery will now get the chance to start at left guard this upcoming season, and I expect him to thrive in the role.
Kayden McDonald has been patient in his early career, playing behind Ty Hamilton and Tyleik Williams for his first 2 seasons. With both of them in the NFL, McDonald will get his chance to thrive in a starting role at defensive tackle. McDonald registered 214 total snaps last season and shined when given the opportunity. His size and ability to disrupt the run game will give the Buckeyes’ defensive line a much-needed boost in 2025.
Arvell Reese is a name that has come up frequently this off-season. The junior linebacker is looking to compete for a starting role at MIKE. Reese is a versatile player who has shown glimpses of excellence in the past, but with Cody Simon now in the NFL, this is the year where Reese will be able to put his talent on full display. Reese’s physical play style and athleticism should anchor the Buckeyes defense in 2025.
