While the Buckeyes are undecided on how their spring showcase, on April 12, will be organized, they will begin practice on March 17. That means there are just two weeks until football is back in Columbus as the Buckeyes begin their quest for another national championship.

This year’s team will look much different than the senior-laden group from last season. With multiple position battles set to begin, here’s a look at the projected spring depth chart.

Quarterbacks

Starter: Julian Sayin

Backup: Lincoln Kienholz

Analysis: The quarterback battle is going to be the most important of the spring as the Buckeyes look to hand the keys of the offense to a young player. Sayin has the slight lead after ending the year as the third-string quarterback, over Kienholz, who was fourth. This spring they’ll both get a chance to grab hold of the starting spot.

I would expect head coach Ryan Day and new quarterbacks coach Billy Fessler to give Sayin and Kienholz time with the starters and backups and chart everything, just like last season’s competition.

For now, I’m leaning toward former five-star prospect Sayin as the starter.

Running backs

Starter: James Peoples

Backup: CJ Donaldson

Analysis: Ohio State lost so much at running back with Quinshon Judkins and TreVeyon Henderson both heading to the NFL, but it has a talented returner in Peoples. Former Ohio State safety Lathan Ransom was asked at the NFL Scouting Combine who is a player people will be talking about in a year, and the first name he mentioned was Peoples. Peoples will share carries with Donaldson, a transfer from West Virginia, but Peoples has the hold on the starter job unless Donaldson comes in and blows running backs coach Carlos Locklyn away.

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Wide receivers

Starters: Carnell Tate, Jeremiah Smith, Brandon Inniss

Backups: Bryson Rodgers, Mylan Graham, Quincy Porter

Analysis: This is once again one of the best receiver groups in the country. Smith returns as the best receiver in the country with a chance to get to New York as a Heisman Trophy finalist. Tate is one of the most underrated receivers in the country and will get his shot as the No. 2 option, while Inniss will fill the hole left by Emeka Egbuka. All three were five-star recruits and will give either quarterback a talented group to throw to. The bench is also talented.

Graham will push for playing time and could take the fourth spot that Inniss held last year. Porter is an early enrollee but has the potential to get on the field with the second team this year.

Offensive linemen

Starters: Ethan Onianwa, Phillip Daniels, Carson Hinzman, Luke Montgomery, Tegra Tshabola

Backups: Austin Siereveld, Deontae Armstrong, Devontae Armstrong, Ian Moore, Josh Padilla

Analysis: Ohio State has some experience back thanks to the plethora of injuries last season. Tshabola is slotted in at right guard over Siereveld just because I didn’t want to include an “OR” in the depth chart. Their battle at right guard will be something to watch this spring, but the rest of the line seems solid. Ohio State could use depth in the second group, but this group looks to be about seven deep with Siereveld and Padilla providing upside off the bench.

Tight ends

Starter: Max Klare

Backup: Jelani Thurman and Will Kacmarek

Analysis: Ohio State doesn’t always push transfers right up the depth chart — Caleb Downs was an exception last spring — and I don’t believe it’ll happen here, either. Kacmarek may be the starting tight end when the spring starts, but Klare is a dangerous pass catcher. I have a hard time doing a depth chart and not leading the tight ends with Klare. He has nice hands, runs good routes and is fluid in his running after the catch. He’s going to be a difference-maker, but expect Kacmarek, Thurman and even Bennett Christian to get reps again next season.

Defensive ends

Starters: Kenyatta Jackson Jr., Caden Curry

Backups: Logan George, C.J. Hicks

Analysis: Many teams would lose players like Jack Sawyer and JT Tuimoloau and be lost with how they’re going to replace them. While Jackson and Curry don’t bring the recognition as Sawyer and Tuimoloau, they are two talented edge rushers who have played a lot of football for the Buckeyes. Both were four-star prospects and will get their turn to lead the defensive line.

George is a talented transfer but is a bit unknown coming from Idaho State. He tallied 6 1/2 sacks, 19 1/2 tackles for loss and 37 pressures, according to TruMedia. He will give the Buckeyes a high-upside backup. Ohio State lacks depth behind them, so I’m putting Hicks here and expecting him to make the full transition to edge rusher with the versatility to drop into coverage with his linebacker background.

Defensive tackles

Starters: Eddrick Houston, Kayden McDonald

Backups: Tywone Malone, Jason Moore

Analysis: Again, it’s hard to compare next year’s starters to the previous group led by Tyleik Williams and Ty Hamilton, but a duo of McDonald and Houston up front is a good one. McDonald has a massive body that teams struggle to move, at 326 pounds, and Houston provides versatility to play in the middle in traditional four-man sets and on the edge if new defensive coordinator Matt Patriciawants to go with hybrid looks.

Malone played well in spurts last season, too, but his development is crucial for the team’s depth inside.

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Linebackers

Starters: Sonny Styles, Arvell Reese

Backups: Payton Pierce, Riley Pettijohn

Analysis: This is a good linebacker corps for coach James Laurinaitis. Styles is back for his second year at linebacker and should put himself in a good spot to get drafted next year, and Reese developed fast to take the third spot last season. With Cody Simon gone, Ohio State will rely on Reese even more. If Hicks moves to the defensive line, Pierce should step into the third spot, with Pettijohn enrolling early and showing off his elite talent.

Cornerbacks

Starters: Davison Igbinosun, Jermaine Mathews Jr., Lorenzo Styles

Backups: Aaron Scott, Devin Sanchez, Bryce West

Analysis: This remains one of the most exciting positions to watch on the defense. Igbinosun and Mathews will give Ohio State a good outside duo, while Styles fights to replace Jordan Hancock at the nickel position. The fun comes when you look at the second group. Scott should be in line to battle for starter reps, but West played well last year when he was healthy, and Sanchez is the prized defensive recruit of the 2025 cycle. There’s a lot of talent in this group.

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Safeties

Starters: Caleb Downs, Jaylen McClain

Backups: Malik Hartford, Leroy Roker

Analysis: Downs is the best safety in the country, and he may be the best defensive player. But the conversation comes with the Ransom replacement. McClain and Hartford both have experience and have shown bright spots in their young careers. This is a big spring for both of them, and there may be room for them both to play this season, depending on the packages.

I think Roker is the other backup, but I expect freshman Faheem Delane to shoot up the depth chart once he gets comfortable in the defense.

Kickers

Starter: Jayden Fielding

Backup: Austin Snyder

Analysis: Fielding will be the starting kicker next season barring any injury in the offseason. After struggling against Michigan, he made 4-of-5 kicks in the postseason run to the national championship, including making both kicks in the title game against Notre Dame.

Punters

Starter: Joe McGuire

Backup: Nick McLarty

Analysis: This is an interesting battle. I would expect McGuire to be the starter, but Ohio State brought in McLarty a year ago to compete.