THE APEX TIMES
As Ohio State’s offseason evaluation continues, a central focus is how well quarterback Julian Sayin finds a set of reliable targets beyond marquee star Jeremiah Smith, and whether the receiving group can translate big-play potential into week-to-week consistency.
Ohio State’s offseason storylines keep circling back to an obvious centerpiece: Jeremiah Smith. But in a new “biggest concerns” discussion from Yahoo Sports, the question is less about Smith’s upside and more about the supporting cast. Specifically, the concern becomes who is consistently coming open and catching passes after the attention Smith draws, and what that means for Julian Sayin’s ability to run a productive passing attack from first throw to fourth quarter.
The frame matters because Ohio State’s offense cannot function as a one-option system, even when it has a receiver of Smith’s profile. Defenses will plan around forcing the quarterback to win other matchups, and the Buckeyes will need multiple routes that translate under coverage, not just a single playmaker who can manufacture separation on demand. The Yahoo piece treats that receiver-creation problem as a season-defining variable, particularly in the lead-up to August preseason camp.
Julian Sayin’s role is central to how the concern is framed. As The report-caller, Sayin’s progress is tied to processing defenses quickly, trusting reads, and completing throws to the right spot. The question posed by the conversation is not whether Ohio State has talent on the outside, but whether Sayin has a repeatable rhythm with targets other than Smith when game plans tighten and windows shrink.
There is also a personnel reality behind the “after Smith” wording. When one receiver becomes the focal point, the rest of the depth chart tends to be tested not only on talent, but on reliability. That includes winning contested catches, running route combinations that stress zones and man-to-man, and continuing to produce after early targets are met with leverage. In a college setting, those issues can show up quickly once opponents adjust, even if the talent is clearly present.
The timing of this concern is worth noting. The Yahoo Sports article places its weekly theme content between now and preseason camp, indicating that the program’s biggest issues are likely being treated as checklist items before practices intensify in August. Even without specific practice reports in the material provided here, the emphasis suggests Ohio State’s coaching staff will be looking for evidence that the passing game can sustain drive after drive, not just flash during highlight moments.
As with any offseason “biggest concerns” column, the takeaway is directional rather than definitive. The discussion does not, in the information available here, include verified game logs, snap counts, or confirmed changes to the receiver group. Still, the underlying football logic is concrete: if Sayin is going to maximize what the offense can be, the Buckeyes need more than one catch threat that defenses respect. They need a set of consistent options that can be trusted on routine third downs, against coverage rotation, and in high-leverage situations.
What to watch next is how Ohio State’s passing looks once camp begins, particularly whether routes outside of Smith become repeatable targets and whether those connections hold up when defenses bring their best structural adjustments. If Sayin can distribute the ball with accuracy and timing across multiple receivers, the “biggest concern” becomes a smaller one. If not, the question raised now will likely reappear throughout the season whenever opponents force the quarterback to prove he can win elsewhere.
