We’re just a few weeks away from the start of real, live college football games, and that means its preseason watch list season. The Ohio State football program routinely has a slew of players honored on these lists, so we like to keep track of all that are announced by each organization.
Of course, it means little to be on these watch lists at the start of the year, but it is a nod to what a player has done previously and what’s expected of him in the fall.
We’ll continue to update this tracker as more lists are made available through social media and other releases.
For now, here’s where Ohio State football players have landed on the various 2023 college football preseason watch lists. Get ready, there’s a lot of them and the hope is that it’s a precursor for some hardware the team and individuals on the team will bring home.
Denzel Burke, Cornerback
Preseason Award Watch Lists
Jim Thorpe Award – Best Defensive Back
What it Means
This is more about expectations. Burke had a great freshman campaign but struggled last season to replicate it. He has looked good through the offseason and appears to be healthy, so he has a chance to be really, really good and be in the running for the Thorpe.
Steele Chambers, Linebacker
Preseason Award Watch Lists
Butkus Award – Best Linebacker
What it Means
Chambers is an athletic linebacker that can range from sideline to sideline. He’ll be an integral piece of the defense in 2023, but honestly, it’d be a bit of a surprise and would mean he really took a huge leap forward for him to take home the Butkus, especially with whom he’s sharing the field with.
Emeka Egbuka, Wide Receiver
Preseason Award Watch Lists
Biletnikoff Award – Best Receiver
Paul Hornung Award – Most Versatile Player
Maxwell Award – Best All-Around Player
Walter Camp Award – Player of the Year
What it Means
Egbuka could be overshadowed by Harrison Jr., so it’ll be tough for him to land the Biletnikoff or the player of the year type of awards, but he does have a shot at the Paul Hornung Award because of the handoffs he gets and his kick return abilities. Make no mistake though, he’s a big, big part of the offense and the OSU team.
Tommy Eichenberg, Linebacker
Preseason Award Watch Lists
Butkus Award – Best Linebacker
Bronko Nagurski Trophy – Best Defender
Lott IMPACT Trophy – Defensive IMPACT Player of the Year
Walter Camp Award – Collegiate American Football Player of the Year
What it Means
Eichenberg should be one of the best linebackers in the country in 2023. He has really thrived in the Jim Knowles scheme and should continue to do so. He has a nose for the ball as a tough run stopper and can run in open space. He has a legitimate shot at winning the Butkus and will be in the running for others, though not a favorite by any means.
Mike Hall Jr., Defensive Tackle
Preseason Award Watch Lists
Outland Trophy – Best Interior Lineman
What it Means
If not for injury, Hall probably would have been a household name already based on how he played early in the season. He’s healthy now and has the potential to be a huge force in the middle of the defensive line. It’ll be tough for him to take home the Outland, but the skill set is there.
Marvin Harrison Jr., Wide Receiver
Preseason Award Watch Lists
Biletnikoff Award – Best Receiver
Maxwell Award – Best All-Around Player
Walter Camp Award – Player of the Year
What it Means
Harrison Jr. has to be the odds-on favorite to take home the Biletnikoff as the best receiver in the country and probably should have won it last year. It’s not a stretch to say that he’s the best college football player in the country, but both the Maxwell and Walter Camp will have to look beyond quarterback for those to happen.
TreVeyon Henderson, Running Back
Preseason Award Watch Lists
Doak Walker Award – Best Running Back
Walter Camp Award – Player of the Year
What it Means
If Henderson is happy and takes over as the No. 1 option in the backfield for Ohio State, he could be a surprise winner of the Doak Walker Award. That’ll take a lot though, especially with Miyan Williams expected to share carries almost 50/50. He’s a gamebreaker though and could be a much-needed home run threat this fall.
Donovan Jackson, Offensive Guard
Preseason Award Watch Lists
Outland Trophy – Best Interior Lineman
What it Means
Jackson might be Ohio State’s best offensive lineman this year, and that means he should be in the running for the Outland. However, unless the entire offensive line performs at a very high level this season, it’s likely just an outside shot that he has a realistic shot at this one. That doesn’t take away from his importance to the team this season.
Matt Jones, Offensive Guard
Preseason Award Watch Lists
Outland Trophy – Best Interior Lineman
What it Means
Jones is the other known commodity on the offensive line as a returning starter. He’s solid, and it’s great notoriety for him to be included on the Outland watch list, but the same things apply here as Jackson. OSU will need to be dominant in the trenches for him to make the cut here.
Jesse Micro, Punter
Preseason Award Watch Lists
Ray Guy Award – Best Punter
What it Means
It’s been hard for an Ohio State punter to take home the Ray Guy Award because the offense has been so good under Day that the punter doesn’t get many opportunities to shine. Still, he was a semifinalist for the award last season and should be in major consideration again with his ability to pin defenses deep and bomb away when needed.
Lathan Ransom, Safety
Preseason Award Watch Lists
Bronko Nagurski – Best Defensive Player
Jim Thorpe Award – Best Defensive Back
What it Means
In a safety driven defense like the one that Jim Knowles runs, Ransom may be the most important chess piece. He has looked very, very good in spring and so far in fall camp, but he will have to have an otherworldly 2023 to take home either one of these very prestigious awards.
Cade Stover, Tight End
Preseason Award Watch Lists
Mackey Award – Best Tight End
What it Means
Stover had the best receiving year of any tight end since Rickey Dudley in 1995. He’s strong and physical when blocking on the edge, but has really blossomed into a great receiving option as well. He has a legitimate shot at being in the running for the Mackey Award all the way through. After all, he was a semifinalist in 2022 already.
J.T. Tuimoloau, Defensive End
Preseason Award Watch Lists
Bronko Nagurski Trophy – Best Defensive Player
Lott IMPACT Trophy – Defensive IMPACT Player of the Year
What it Means
There is the expectation that Tuimoloau will have a breakout year in which he delivers what we saw in flashes at Penn State more consistently. If that’s the case, he’ll be in the running for both of these awards with the Bronko Nagurski the most likely. He can be a game wrecker, but will have to really stand out in the spotlight games for it to realistically be in reach.
Miyan Williams, Running Back
Preseason Award Watch Lists
Doak Walker Award – Best Running Back
What it Means
Williams was a last-minute addition to the Ohio State recruiting class in 2020, but, boy, has he produced. He’ll likely share carries pretty equally with TreVeyon Henderson, and that could keep either from winning the Doak Walker. It’ll be good for the Buckeyes to have two prime options though, and hopefully they both stay healthy unlike last season.
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