Ryan Day reveals maligned Ohio State captain ‘right on the doorstep’ of being replaced in the lineup
The Ohio State Buckeyes are incredibly loaded, so becoming a starter or key rotation player is a huge deal. Earning a captain’s title is an even more impressive feat when you consider this program generally has its choice of who to sign, recruit, and play. However, from a player’s perspective, the margin for error can […]
The Ohio State Buckeyes are incredibly loaded, so becoming a starter or key rotation player is a huge deal. Earning a captain’s title is an even more impressive feat when you consider this program generally has its choice of who to sign, recruit, and play. However, from a player’s perspective, the margin for error can be tiny because there’s so much competition.
A good example of a player who has been in the crosshairs of fans this season is Brandon Inniss. The junior caught 14 passes last year for 176 yards and one touchdown. He was elevated to the team’s third receiver role behind Jeremiah Smtih and Carnell Tate, but the early returns have been frustrating.
With only 11 receptions for 87 yards through six games and poor punt return skills, fans have been calling to see more of his more explosive backups, Mylan Graham and Quincy Porter. This week, Ohio State head coach Ryan Day said they’re close to taking more snaps.
Ryan Day says Brandon Inniss could lose job to star underclassmen
When he was asked about how Graham and Porter are developing, Day said: “They’re there. They’re right there, right on the doorstep. We need them.”
Graham has looked especially good in limited time, including Ohio State’s spring game and his one reception this season. He’s a downfield burner who creates effortless separation and big plays. Consistency and route-running are areas for improvement, but the second-year freshman clearly has a higher ceiling than Inniss and is in line to start in 2026.
Similarly, Porter is much more dynamic as a five-star freshman. It’s an easier decision to play a team captain over a frosh, but the 6-foot-4 talent is insanely good and in theory can do everything Inniss does. It’s a matter of winning in practice, though, and Inniss’ leadership has clearly earned him brownie points.
But Day should start weaning off Inniss snaps and targets if it’s not in the Buckeyes’ best on-field interests. They may need a big play at some point, and Inniss hasn’t shown he’s really valuable to this offense.
