Three Biggest Concerns at Wide Receiver

Ohio State has the best wide receiver in college football—but does it have a proven No. 2?Tony Gerdeman and Tom Orr wrap up their positional concerns series by examining the three biggest questions facing the Buckeyes’ wide receiver room heading into the 2026 season.Jeremiah Smith is the unquestioned star, but Ohio State must determine who will emerge behind him. Can Brandon Inniss finally take the next step? Will UTSA transfer Devin McCuin or LSU transfer Kyle Parker become dependable options? And could one of the talented freshmen force his way into the rotation?Tony and Tom also discuss Ohio State’s expected move toward a quicker passing game, the importance of producing more yards after the catch, and whether the Buckeyes have enough proven playmakers to replace Carnell Tate.They also explore what a successful freshman season should realistically look like—and why relying on a freshman can be either a warning sign or a sign that the player is simply too talented to keep off the field.Are these concerns significant enough to limit Ohio State’s offense, or will the Buckeyes find their answers early in the season? Let us know in the comments.0:00 — Introducing Ohio State’s wide receiver concerns0:30 — Concern No. 1: Is there a true No. 2 receiver?1:40 — Replacing Carnell Tate, Quincy Porter, and Mylan Graham3:26 — Evaluating Devin McCuin and Kyle Parker4:16 — Concern No. 2: Adapting to a quicker passing game5:36 — Why yards after the catch must improve7:02 — How the new approach could affect Julian Sayin8:00 — Concern No. 3: Will Ohio State rely on a freshman?8:57 — What a good true freshman season actually looks like11:08 — The good and bad reasons for playing freshmen12:22 — Final thoughts on the Buckeyes’ wide receiver roomSubscribe to the Buckeye Weekly Podcast for daily Ohio State football news, analysis, predictions, and discussion.Become a member and join the conversation at BuckeyeInsiders.com.