3 Early Standouts from Ohio State Football Fall Camp

With training camp kicking off last Thursday for Ohio State, 3 Buckeyes have already flashed stardom and are looking to have great seasons this upcoming season.

Ohio State Buckeyes wide receiver Devin McCuin (3) takes the field during the first practice of training camp at the Woody Hayes Athletic Center in Columbus on Aug. 6, 2026. | USA TODAY Network via Reuters Connect

Ohio State Football kicked off training camp last Thursday, and many Buckeyes made statements that they are ready for a big jump this season.

With younger players getting more comfortable and polished and incoming talent learning the scheme, Head Coach Ryan Day and his staff are hoping training camp will show them who is immediately ready to be strong contributors come September.

With having to replace 10 starters from last season, the preseason No.1 overall Buckeyes’ camp is one of the most crucial in years as they loom to return to the College Football Playoff for the third straight season.

Early into camp, here are standout Buckeye who look to be an immediate difference maker next season.

Devin McCuin

After losing Carnell Tate to the draft last season, the Buckeye offense needed to find their replacement next to returners Jeremiah Smith and Brandon Inniss. Devin McCuin is proving early he could be that. 

McCuin shined in team drills for the Buckeyes as training camp commenced, showcasing his big-play speed and ability to get open over the middle. He was a frequent target for returning quarterback Julian Sayin and was thought to be a rotational piece in the slot with Inniss, but his play in camp may make him an every-down receiver for the Buckeyes.

The senior produced almost 1,700 yards and 16 touchdowns with UTSA over three seasons, and his experience and instant connection in the offense makes him an absolute boom candidate for Ohio State this upcoming season.

Eddrick Houston

Houston was projected to have a massive season next to second round NFL draft pick Kayden McDonald last season before a right knee injury stunted him the rest of the season.

This training camp, he has shown that he is ready to make the breakout Buckeye fans have been waiting for out of the former top-50 recruit.

Showing flashes of stardom in stopping the run and getting to the quarterback, Houston is looking to be an absolute wrecking ball in the middle of the defensive line for the Buckeyes. With 5 out of the 7 starters in the defensive front leaving for the NFL last season, his rise has been a crucial one for Matt Patricia this offseason.

His pairing with Alabama transfer James Smith is looking to create one of the scariest and most productive defensive tackle duos in the country this upcoming season.

Isaiah West

After Bo Jackson put up one of the best freshman seasons at running back in program history in 2025, many Buckeye fans penciled him in as the workhorse back in the offense this season. Yet, the play of Isaiah West is making this backfield look like it will be one that splits reps.

West, who finished with 5 games of over 40 yards rushing behind Jackson last season, has impressed in the new scheme offense under incoming offensive coordinator Arthur Smith. He is currently splitting reps with Jackson on the first team offense, with his speed and ability to catch balls out of the backfield providing an added wrinkle to the offense for this upcoming season. 

The last two years as the offensive coordinator of the Pittsburgh Steelers, the running back room has produced over 600 yards of receiving work each season. If he schemes backs into the passing game in Columbus as he did in Pittsburgh, West could be seen as the feature back on passing downs with what he has shown in camp thus far.