It’s not easy for a freshman to make an impact right from the jump at a place like Ohio State.
The pipeline of talent into Columbus is made up of four- and five-star players from all over the country, so when a new one arrives, there are usually anywhere from one to three major talents already on the depth chart who have a head start in learning the playbook, gaining experience in games, and reshaping their frames for the college (and pro) game in the weight room.
Still, every so often, a freshman
gets on the field early and shows they don’t need to wait behind anyone to leave their mark. Jeremiah Smith is one of the most obvious examples, but names like Orlando Pace and Maurice Clarett jump out as well.
Who’s next? Well, there are no guarantees, but here are three candidates to make an impact early in their careers in Scarlet & Gray.
Chris Henry Jr.
We’ll start with one of the most obvious ones. Henry Jr., the son of the late Chris Henry, the former Cincinnati Bengals receiver, is considered a can’t-miss prospect similar to Smith.
He was, like Smith, considered the nation’s top-ranked wide receiver coming out of high school, but whereas Smith was the highest rated player at any position, Henry was “only” No. 10 overall per 247Sports’ composite rankings. The five-star prospect and No. 1 player from the state of California out of Mater Dei High averaged nearly 25 yards per catch during his senior season in high school.
At 6-foot-5, Henry will be open even when covered, as he’ll tower over most opposing defensive backs. Even with Ohio State likely taking more snaps in two-receiver sets under new offensive coordinator Arthur Smith, Henry could quickly emerge as a red zone target.
With Julian Sayin’s accuracy, the jump ball in the back of the end zone could be a successful strategy with a receiver with Henry’s height and catch radius, especially with Smith taking so much of a defense’s attention.
Cincere Johnson
Former Glenville High star Cincere Johnson could be the breakout freshman for the Buckeyes in 2026 and could make an early impression on defense.
The linebacker out of Cleveland racked up more than 100 tackles three years in a row in high school, running down quarterbacks, running backs, and receivers alike. Johnson was named Cleveland.com Defensive Player of the Year in 2024 with an incredible 205 tackles and an insane 41 tackles for loss in a 15-game season.
He also tallied 8.5 sacks. He repeated that feat by sacking the quarterback 8.5 times in his senior season — a year in which he also forced five fumbles.
It’s never fair to compare an incoming freshman to a departing star, but Johnson has drawn comparisons to fellow former Tarblooder Arvell Reese with his similar combination of speed and size. Reese departs Ohio State at 6-foot-4 and 241 pounds.
Johnson enters at 6-foot-3 and 228 pounds per Ohio State’s roster page. A year in the OSU weight program could put the two linebackers on virtually identical footing. Johnson will have to earn his way past a few guys, but he’s got the explosiveness to quickly get into the two-deep, which would put him in the regular rotation early in his career.
He has to prove it on the field, but Johnson appears to be the next great OSU linebacker.
Legend Bey
If for no other reason, Bey should be in this discussion for his name alone.
Not only is Legend his name, but the story of his recruitment is equally legendary, if not more so. Originally forced by his family to forego his preferred school of Ohio State and commit to Tennessee, Bey eventually secured his release from his letter of intent and gave his commitment to the Buckeyes.
The former running quarterback from Forney, Texas was famously compared to Tyreek Hill by Ryan Day for his explosiveness and open-field ability to make would-be tacklers whiff.
At 5-foot-10 and 177 pounds, Bey’s size may force Ohio State to be creative in how to use him. Rather than lining him up in typical running back formations, he could emerge in the slot or get his touches after going in motion. He could also catch the ball out of the backfield to make his impact.
Bey was the No. 9 athlete during his recruitment, finishing as a prospect in the top 200 nationally. He rushed for more than 4,000 career yards at North Forney High while eclipsing 3,500 passing yards, with 94 total touchdowns — 45 in his senior season alone.
A track star with a 10.23-second time in the 100-meter dash, Bey was the Texas District 10-6A Offensive Most Valuable Player his junior year. The freshman’s speed and elusiveness in the open field could get him on the field early, where he could earn more playing time if he continues to be… well, legendary.
Those are three freshmen I’m tracking for early playing time. Who else do you think could get snaps right away? Let us know in the comments section below.
