Ohio State unveils numbers for Caleb Downs, Quinshon Judkins, other newcomers

With spring practices getting underway in Columbus, Ohio State’s lauded transfer class finally picked out some jersey numbers. And the likes of safety Caleb Downs and running back Quinshon Judkins weren’t getting consigned to passed-jersey numbers at the bottom of the bin.

Judkins will don jersey No. 1 and Downs will sport No. 2 for the Buckeyes. And in Downs’ case, he’s currently sharing that number with another safety on the roster, Kourt Williams II, something liable to change after spring.

Letterman Row’s Andy Backstrom noted those two jersey numbers and a bevy of others on the spring roster.

Along with Judkins and Downs, the following Ohio State players either have gotten their first jersey number or changed it:

• S Ja’Had Carter — No. 3
• QB Lincoln Kienholz — No. 3
• WR Jeremiah Smith — No. 4
• CB Aaron Scott Jr. — No. 5
• QB Julian Sayin — No. 10
• QB Air Noland — No. 12
• WR Bryson Rodgers — No. 13
• QB Will Howard — No. 18
• RB James Peoples — No. 20
• RB Sam Williams-Dixon — No. 24
• C Seth McLaughlin — No. 56
• TE Will Kacmarek — No. 89
• DE Eddrick Houston — No. 96

A number that has notably not changed for the Buckeyes, though, is the No. 33 worn by quarterback Devin Brown. That polarizing position-number combination will seemingly continue into the 2024 season.

And Brown will likely be starting the season behind Howard, who will wear the same No. 18 he wore at Kansas State after transferring in to Ohio State.

Howard won’t just be given the starting quarterback job, though

Recently, Ohio State head coach Ryan Day revealed how Howard can earn the coveted QB1 title.

“You don’t just walk into Ohio State — and I have said this before — and just think you’re gonna go become the starting quarterback. It doesn’t work that way,” Day said. “There’s just too much pride here. What [director of football sport performance] Mick Marotti and our strength staff do here in the offseason, there’s just a lot that comes with it.

“You don’t just show up in the weight room and then go home. There’s a lot of accountability that happens and our guys take a lot of pride in that. There’s only one way to [earn a starting spot]. That’s to earn it through respect.”

If starting spots were handed out based on accomplishments alone, Howard would have been the team’s QB1 the day he stepped on campus.

Howard touts a 14-11 record in 25 career starts at Kansas State. His best season came this past fall, throwing for 2,643 yards, 24 touchdowns and 10 interceptions while completing a career-high 61.3% of his passes. He boasts 5,786 passing yards, 48 touchdowns and 25 interceptions in his career.