From now until preseason camp starts later this week, Land-Grant Holy Land will be writing articles around a different theme every week. This week is all about the things we need to get off our chests before the season starts; the things we need to get on the record. You can catch up on all of the Theme Week content here and all of our ”On the Record” articles here.
It’s beginning to feel a lot like football! We are now officially into preseason camp, and awards watchlists are being released. In 22
days, we’ll be watching Week 0, while Ohio State opens up its season by hosting Texas the following week. For as far away as the 2025 season felt at times, we are close to navigating the offseason.
Since we are around a month away from the college football season beginning, now is the time to go on the record with predictions for the upcoming season. Today, we are going to focus on which Ohio State players we think could be unexpected All-Americans. Two Buckeyes who wouldn’t be considered “unexpected” All-Americans are wide receiver Jeremiah Smith and safety Caleb Downs, since they are both considered the best in the country at their positions. Everyone else who will be wearing the scarlet and gray this fall is considered fair game.
Ohio State has done a great job of cultivating some of the best talent in the country over the years. Since 2010, the Buckeyes have placed at least two players on All-America teams in every season except 2023, when Marvin Harrison Jr. was the only Ohio State player to earn the honor.
Last year, Downs and center Seth McLaughlin represented the Buckeyes on the list of the best players in the country. Technically, Jeremiah Smith was named an All-American by USA Today and ESPN, but he wasn’t a Consensus All-American like his two teammates.
Today’s question: Which Buckeye will be the most unexpected All-American?
We’d love to hear your choices. Either respond to us on Twitter at @Landgrant33 or leave your choice in the comments.
Brett’s answer: Sonny Styles
Last season, there was uncertainty about how Sonny Styles would respond after moving to linebacker full-time following starting his Ohio State career at safety. While most thought Styles would be fine because of his tremendous athletic ability, his transition to the linebacker position went even better than many expected. Styles finished the 2024 season with 100 tackles, nearly double the number of tackles he was credited with in 2023. Along with hitting triple digits in stops, Styles also recorded six sacks. Styles and Cody Simon combined to form one of the most dynamic linebacking duos in the country last season.
Despite surprising a lot of people by returning to Ohio State for another season, Styles isn’t being talked about much as an All-American candidate. Anthony Hill Jr. of Texas, Kyle Louis of Pitt, and Whit Weeks of LSU are considered to be the top linebackers in the country this season. The reason I think Styles could be in the mix to earn the prestigious honor is that he will see his role expand now that Simon is in the NFL. Styles will be the leader of this year’s crop of Buckeye linebackers, which is a role that linebackers coach James Laurinaitis will have him ready for.
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Photo by Ian Johnson/Icon Sportswire via Getty ImagesFor all the expectations set for Styles over the years, he has exceeded them. The Pickerington native excelled in both football and basketball in high school, and even went on to reclassify so he could become a Buckeye even sooner. Prior to the 2023 season, he was named a starter on the defense, and then last year, he picked up a new position and earned Second Team All-Big Ten honors. Now, just imagine what Styles will do this year in what will be his final season at Ohio State before he moves on to the NFL. Expect Styles to leave it all on the field as he will be looked at as a leader on a defense that will be replacing numerous starters from last year’s national title team.
When Styles goes on to be named a Consensus All-American, he’ll be the first Ohio State linebacker to earn the honor since Ryan Shazier in 2013. Linebackers coach James Laurinaitis will likely be just as excited about being named an All-American as Styles, since Laurinaitis is a two-time All-American, being named to the team in both 2007 and 2008, and it will be the first linebacker to be recognized since Laurinaitis took over as linebackers coach for the Buckeyes.
Matt’s answer: Ethan Onianwa
As mentioned above, Ohio State has a pretty good recent track record of turning transfers into All-Americans, including on the offensive line. While Caleb Downs and Seth McLaughlin were coming from one of the bluest-blood programs in college football, I think that OSU will add another to the list from a lesser-known football factory: Rice.
Ethan Onianwa comes to Ohio State having started 34 games for the Owls, including all of last season at left tackle. Protecting the quarterback’s backside is priority No. 1 for LT, and Onianwa excelled in that department, not allowing a single sack last season. But we can all agree that going from the American Athletic Conference to the Big Ten is going to be a significant step up in competition, but I think he is ready for it.
Onianwa clearly has experience, and, yes, admittedly, he will be facing off against a different level of opponent this season, but he has 2,245 offensive line snaps over the last three seasons, so he has seen a lot in his time as a starter, and those high-pressure game reps are invaluable.
But, it’s going to take more than just a ton of snaps to get Onianwa ready to lead OSU’s line, and it seems like he has put in the work to take on that responsibility. Following Thursday’s first practice, Ryan Day discussed the fact that Onianwa has dropped nearly 30 pounds since arriving in Columbus, thanks to dedicating himself in the weight room. This added mobility will undoubtedly be important when taking on faster, more athletic defenders from across the B1G.
Throughout the offseason, the word coming out of the Woody has been nothing but positive. First-year offensive line coach has regularly talked about how well-rounded Onianwa is. Bowen has described his lineman as “impressive in size and smarts.”
Following fall camp, we will get a pretty good idea about how ready Onianwa is to take over the left tackle spot left by NFLers Josh Simmons and Donovan Jackson. In the season opener against the Texas Longhorns, Onianwa will have to deal with some combination of elite players, quite possibly lining up against freshman All-American Colin Simmons. From there, the elite defensive lineman in the conference will regularly test the transfer.
If Onianwa’s offensive work ethic and extensive experience can translate to his play on the field, I think that there is every opportunity for him to end up with a tree in Buckeye Grove this time next year.
More from landgrantholyland.com:
- Film Study: Get to know Ohio State’s next quarterback, Dwayne Haskins
- Where will Joe Burrow transfer?
- Ohio State players react to Joe Burrow’s plan to transfer
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- Ohio State offers QB already committed to Big Ten foe
- In 2017, Ohio State’s Johnathan Hankins was a top NFL free agent; then why isn’t he signed yet in 2018?
