Ohio State football could expand wide receiver rotation in 2026

Ohio State's extensive pool of wide receiver talent has traditionally limited the team's ability to frequently rotate players at the position. Due to the scarcity of opportunities for future first-round NFL draft picks, this pattern has persisted. However, the 2026 season might see a shift in this approach. Head coach Ryan Day stated that the team could utilize up to six receivers against the strongest competition.

"Our depth at wide receiver is way better than it was last year," Day remarked. "There's a lot of guys you'll see play." He further elaborated on the depth, mentioning four upperclassmen - transfers Devin McCuin and Kyle Parker, along with Smith and Brandon Inniss - as candidates for the rotation. Freshmen Brock Boyd, Chris Henry Jr., Phillip Bell and De’Zie Jones are also expected to have significant playing time.

Day highlighted that these players have demonstrated strong performances during spring practice and preseason training camp. This potential expansion of the rotation would be a stark contrast to recent seasons where only three players have accounted for over 80% of the snaps among the six most-used wideouts since 2022. Notable players such as Smith, Inniss, and Carnell Tate have dominated the snaps in the past seasons.

However, Day mentioned that the new position coach Cortez Hankton, who replaced Brian Hartline, could contribute to the development of these emerging players.