With the offseason officially upon us, it is high time that we dig into the most important topic heading into 2024. Some of you may think that is portal additions, coaching staff changes, recruiting, or NFL draft decisions from existing players. While those opinions are understandable, sadly they are mistaken.
THE most important, and honestly most impactful decision facing the Buckeyes program heading into 2024 is which numbers will each player wear. Yes, I'm serious. Who is Shirley?
Departing Players
Offense
0 - X
3 - Miyan
4 - Julian
6 - McCord
8 - Cade
13 - Gebbia
18 - MFHJ
19 - Chip
21 - Pryor
55 - Jones
59 - Cutler
78 - James
80 - N. Rogers
84 - Royer
86 - B. Rodgers
Defense
3 - Martinez
12 - Turner
13 - Stokes
18 - Brown
22 - Steele
23 - Abor
28 - Carrico
35 - Tommy
41 - Proctor
51 - Hall Jr
90 - McKenzie
Existing Player Number Changes
Lathan Ransom - #8 -> #0
Yep, I'm awarding Lathan the Block O. He has overcome multiple injuries in his time at OSU, he is critically important to the defense, he is a leader & likely a captain, and he is forgoing a solid draft slot to return for his senior year to help the team accomplish it's goals. Lathan embodies what it means to be a Buckeye. Frees up #8 on defense.
Arvell Reese - #20 -> #51
Arvell is a rush linebacker / rush end wearing a scat back's number. No Bueno. Get Arvell into Mike Hall Jr's recently made available #51 and he'll be living in opponent's backfields in no time. Frees up #20 on defense
Nolan Baudo - #24 -> #19
Nolan is a walk on WR from the same high school that Carnell Tate originally played for in his home town in Illinois (Carnell finished out his HS career at IMG), and seems to be wearing #24 kind of by default. Switching to #19 gives him more of a true WR number, and also frees up #24 to be used elsewhere. #19 is available due to Chip Trayanum transferring to UK. Frees up #24 on offense
Devin Brown - #33 -> #13
If Devin wants any shot at winning the starting QB position in 2024, he needs to get out of that god awful power running back number like yesterday. 2023 was a bit of a cursed year for Devin, between seeming like he might win the starting job before getting overtaken at the end of fall camp, to the injuries during the season derailing the DB red-zone package, and culminating in one bad quarter at the cotton bowl before getting knocked out of the game entirely with yet another injury. Can 100% of the blame for that terrible luck be attributed to his choice to wear #33 as a quarterback? It's impossible to say definitively, but it is definitely not impossible to say indeterminately. I say lean into the 'luck' aspect and wear 'unlucky #13'. Do that, and we just might be in for the DB 2024 comeback szn. Frees up #33 on offense.
Jack Sawyer - #33 -> #99
Maybe I just don't like the #33? Either way, the Jack that we saw the last few weeks of the 2023 season was on another level. So triple the number and triple the production. We've waited long enough, it's time to see Jack reach his final form, double evolve from threes to nines & absolutely terrorize opposing QBs every time they drop back to pass. I understand that #99 appears on the 'retired numbers' list, but so does #22, and we just saw Steele wearing that number for the last 5 years so I'm making a ruling. Jack's back & he's rockin' the nines. Frees up #33 on defense.
Luke Montgomery - #51 -> #78
If Luke is going to potentially be the right tackle next year with Fryar kicking inside, we need to get him into a true tackle's number. #78 opened up with Jakob James transferring out, & would be a good fit for Luke's size + athleticism combo. Frees up #51 on offense
Kayden McDonald - #56 -> #90
Kayden is a big bodied interior defensive lineman, not a hybrid linebacker / edge rusher. #90 suits his size and playstyle much better, and also frees up #56 to be used elsewhere, which I obviously will be doing.
Austin Snyder - #98 -> #23
#98 is more of a pass rushers number than a kicker's number, and while #23 isn't exactly a prototypical kicker's number either, there are more defensive linemen on the roster that need numbers. Snyder takes Parker Lewis' old number to keep #23 with the specialists
Incoming Freshman
Air Noland - #1
Giving a true freshman QB number 1 the second he steps on campus is bold, but I think Air earned the right to continue wearing his high school number with the way he handled the recruiting process. When Dylan Raiola decommitted, the fan base was rightfully worried about what losing the #1 QB prospect in 2024 meant for the class overall. Air committed not too long after, and really stabilized the class, And once he committed, there were no rumors of decommitment or flirtations with other schools in order to up his value - he was locked in. #1 is currently unclaimed on the offensive side of the ball.
Mylan Graham - #3
Mylan wore #3 in high school, he wore #3 in his visit photoshoots with OSU, and with #3 coming open due to Miyan heading off to the NFL it seems like a good fit. #3 is a great number for a playmaking wideout with a great size/speed combo.
Jeremiah Smith - #4
He's the best WR prospect since Julio Jones, #4 is the number he wore all through high school, the number he wore in all his photoshoots, and is available due to Julian moving on to take a grad transfer year at Penn State. #4 also has an elite history as a WR number at OSU thanks to one Holmes, Santonio, who made at least one or two memorable plays in scarlet and grey. JJ would be stepping into some large shoes there, and I have no doubt he can fill them. The recent commitment of Quinshon Judkins complicates this a bit - Judkins also wears #4 and is going to be a true junior vs Jeremiah being a true freshman. Seniority may win out here, but I'm siding with seniority within the program - Jeremiah has been committed to OSU for over a year & followed through on his word when the entire CFB world was throwing stupid $$ at him to entice a flip. That loyalty gets rewarded here, & JJ wins the tie breaker for #4.
Aaron Scott - #5
Similar theme, this is the number he wore in all his OSU photoshoots & is a great number for a future #1 corner, and is currently unclaimed on the defensive side of the ball.
Damarion Witten - #8
Damarion wore #1 in high school, he wore #3 in OSU photoshoots, but he's going to take over #8 from Cade when he arrives on campus. #8 on a TE always felt like a players that was as much of a wide receiver as he was a lineman. Cade definitely excelled more as a pass catcher than as a blocker, but I'm not sure #8 really felt like it fit his play style or personality. #8 perfectly fits Damarion - a TE who is so athletic there has already been talks of considering him the 3rd WR in the class. Made available due to Cade graduating and heading to the NFL.
Jaylen McCLain - #8
Jaylen wore #8 in high school and in all of his OSU photoshoots, and with Lathan earning the honor of rocking the Block O for his final season in Columbus, it is fitting that his heir apparent at safety would take on his old jersey. Big shoes to fill, but I think McClain will surprise a lot of people - he was by no means a consolation prize or a backup option at the position. He'll come in with a fairly sizeable chip on his shoulder & a strong desire to put opposing wideouts in the dirt.
Eddrick Houston - #9
Eddrick wore #0 his senior year at Buford High School - not something he'll be able to do for Ohio State unless he plays through his senior year in Columbus. #9 is a fitting number for a defensive end that is long, powerful, athletic, and dominant in both the pass game and the run game. I can already picture #9 instantly beating his man and screaming off the edge like a bat out of hell to demolish the QB, and if that doesn't sound like Eddrick then I don't know what does. #9 is currently unowned on defense.
Bryce West - #12
Bryce wore #2 in all of his OSU visit photoshoots, but with #2 already claimed on the defensive side of the ball by Kourt Williams, I think that #12 would be a great fit here. 12 has a strong DB history, most notably Denzel Ward, and recently came open with Ryan Turner hitting the portal.
James Peoples - #20
James wore #20 in high school, wore it in all his photoshoots, its a great & versatile number for a running back to wear, & it is currently unclaimed on the offensive side of the ball.
Sam Williams-Dixon - #21
Not as highly rated as Evan Pryor was, but SWDs game reminds me a bit of Evan's. #21 is a great number for a hyper athletic back that is also a weapon catching passes / in the return game. Sam wore #24 in high school, but that feels a bit more like a power back's number at the college level. #21 is available due to Evan Pryor transferring to Cincinnati.
Leroy Roker - #22
Leroy wore #10 in high school and in his OSU photoshoots, but with that number already taken by Denzel Burke on defense, I'm putting Roker in Steele's former #22 for one simple reason: When Leroy ROker hits you, its deuces. #22 is available due to Steele Chambers graduating and declaring for the NFL.
Miles Lockhart - #23
Miles wore #1 in high school and in all his OSU photoshoots, but with #1 already claimed on defense by starting CB Davison Igbinosun, Miles will be in the market for a new number. #23 is a good fit for a DB who is fast as hell and can also lay the wood, which fits well with how we expect Lockhart to play in Columbus. #23 is available on defense due to Omari Abor transferring out.
Garrett Stover - #33
Garrett wore #10 in high school & in all of his photoshoots with the Buckeyes, but that number is taken by Denzel Burke. It's not yet clear if Denzel is coming back, but the general vibe seems to be that he is leaning towards returning. Even if Denzel opts for the NFL & #10 opens up, a linebacker wearing #10 immediately draws Ryan Shazier comparisons, and that is not something that would be fair to the kid. #33 is an old school linebacker number, and the Stover's play like they are from an earlier era of football where smelling salts, neck rolls, and eye black negated the risk of concussions (peer review pending). #33 is opens up on the defensive side of the ball due to Jack switching to #99.
Eric Mensah - #41
Mesah wore #17 as an outside rush end in high school - he projects more as an inside pass rusher in college. #41 isn't a typical defensive lineman number, but I think it works for a kid that everyone is sleeping on right now. It may not happen instantly for him, but much like Josh Proctor, he could end up blooming towards the end of his career with the right coaching & attitude, so we're going to manifest that trajectory. #41 is available due to Josh Proctor exhausting his eligibility and moving on to the NFL.
Peyton Pierce - #55
Peyton wore #26 in high school and in all his OSU photoshoots, but this is B1G football now. #26 is a 3rd down back with good vision and good size to power ratio. The Double Nickle (TM), on the other hand, is a linebacker that regularly tackles both the RB and the QB at the same time - the ole two for one special. #55 is available due to Matthew Jones graduating & moving on to the NFL.
Gabe VanSickle - #59
Gabe is a no nonsense recruit who came into the fold late in the process. He wore #54 in his photoshoots with OSU, but with that number taken I have a feeling he'll be the type of kid that says 'give me whatever number you have available, stop wasting time and let's get to work. Heard. #59 is available, c'ya in between the lines.
Ian More - #72
Ian wore #70 in all his photoshoots, but with that number currently owned by Josh Fryar, #72 seems like a really strong choice for the next potential tackle coming through the ranks. 72 is a powerful but athletic OL number, so fits Ian well, and is currently unclaimed.
Devontae Armstrong - #73
Devontae is the less highly touted of the Armstrong twins, but he is by no means a courtesy take in order to land his brother. Vontae is powerful & athletic just like his brother, but with a frame that projects better inside. #73 is a bit of a hybrid inside/outside number, so it should still work well in the event that Devontae ends up a tackle like his brother. #73 is currently unowned.
Deontae Armstrong - #79
Deontae comes in as the higher rated prospect of the Armstrong twins & projects as a tackle at the college level. He wore #74 in high school, which is currently owned by Donavan Jackson who is strongly suspected to be coming back for his senior season. In the event that Jackson declares for the NFL, Deon could get his high school #74, but in the meantime, #79 is a solid tackle number. It conveys power and length, and should suit Deontea well. #79 is currently unowned.
Max LeBlanc - #84
Royer transfers out leaving the quintessential TE number available for Max, who is about as prototypical a TE prospect as there is. Couldn't have been a more perfect fit.
Confirmed Transfers
Will Howard - #18
18 is a strong QB number & while that number has some serious history at OSU now with MHJ wearing it the last 3 seasons, the fact that Will is a QB rather than a WR softens the blow. 18 as a WR number is now almost off limits & should be reserved for only the most elite players (or Marv's younger brother when he arrives, if he wants it).
Quinshon Judkins - #24
It was really difficult to decide who would get #4 between Judkins and JJ Smith, but I ultimately sided with Jeremiah. And so it goes, new school new number. I'm putting Quinshon in #24 because ala Marshawn Lynch, Judkins is a guy that will absolutely 'run through a muh****a face'. inject that straight into my veins. I cannot wait to watch the thunder and lightning duo of Henderson & Judkins, assuming Tre does come back, as was the strong expectation leading into the bowl game and still seems firmly on the table. #24 is currently owned, but comes available in the earlier predicted a jersey swap.
Seth McGlaughlin - #56
Seth wore #56 at Bama, and while that is currently in use by freshman DL Kayden McDonald, he would probably be better suited with a number in the 90's anyway. #56 is a strong interior lineman's number, so whether Seth ends up at guard or center, he'll look right at home.
Will Kacmarek - #86
Will wore #87 at OU, but that number is already owned by Reis Stocksdale. It's possible that there could be a number swap between those two so that Kacmarek can retain his old number, but #86 is available due to Bryson transferring out, so for now we will take the less complicated path. Whether it's #86 or #87, Kac will look right at home in scarlet and grey.
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As more transfers come in, or if there are unexpected returns / departures, I will update the list accordingly. I think it goes without saying that if you disagree with any of my choices for the most fitting jersey number a given player should wear, a) you're wrong and b) lets mix it up in the comments!
Happy offseason, here's hoping that with these well though out numerology decisions in hand, 2024 can see our Buckeyes achieve all their goals while TCUN wallow in pain and misery as all their achievements are stripped away from them and their football programs crumbles to dust.
Go Bucks
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