Multiple Buckeyes listed among top 100 returning players in college football

COLUMBUS — Ohio State had one of the best rosters in all of college football last season on its way to a national championship win. That’s why the Buckeyes are sending a staggering 15 players to the NFL Scouting Combine next week.

But the talent isn’t completely off this roster heading into the spring. In fact, the Buckeyes are expecting to have another elite roster to compete for a repeat national title.

Ohio State has five players on the latest list of the top 100 returning players in all of college football — and two in the top five, according to the folks over at College Sports Network, which released its ranking of the top 100 players in college football on Saturday morning.

Lettermen Row is breaking down the five of them — and a notable snub from the list. Let’s dive in.

No. 97 — Tight end Max Klare

Max Klare, the No. 1 tight end in the transfer portal, played in all 12 of Purdue’s games this season — including a game in the Horseshoe against Ohio State in early November. He finished the year with team-highs of 51 receptions, 685 receiving yards and four touchdowns. In the 2023 campaign, Klare appeared in five games and made four starts before suffering a season-ending injury. In his limited time on the field, Klare left an impression, racking up 22 receptions for 196 yards. The 6-foot-4 standout only played in one game in his true freshman season in 2022 before opting to redshirt.

All of that to say: Klare is a star. That’s why he’s the top-ranked tight end in the transfer portal. He can stretch the field, but he also got his hands dirty as a run-blocker in the Purdue offense. He’ll be a critical part of the Ohio State tight end room next season.

Here’s what they had to say about the newest Buckeyes weapon in Klare:

Lost in a poor Purdue Boilermakers season was the emergence of tight end Max Klare as one of the top pass catchers in college football. He heads to the Ohio State Buckeyes this fall on the back of a 685-yard, four touchdown campaign that showcased his incredible pass catching and route running capabilities. Klare ranks second among returning tight ends with 2.40 yards per route run, which is hardly surprising when you flip on the tape and watch him duking defensive backs out of their skin with his sudden movement.

– College Sports Network

No. 82 — Defensive lineman Eddrick Houston

After Tyleik Williams was injured during the win over Penn State, Eddrick Houston saw an uptick in playing time out of necessity. But in the College Football Playoff run, he played more because he just kept getting better. Houston played 16 snaps in the blowout win over Tennessee and 14 in the blowout of Oregon at the Rose Bowl. What’s interesting is that he actually played even more in the narrow, nail-biting win over Texas at the Cotton Bowl, logging 14 snaps before playing 11 in the national championship game. That uptick in playing time on the run to a national title shows the coaching staff trusted Houston in major moments — as it will need to do moving forward now that Ohio State lost all four starters along the defensive line to the NFL.

Here’s what they said about Houston and his upside heading into next season:

The Ohio State Buckeyes are losing a ton of talent (and production) from their defensive front, but that should allow some of their top returning talent to excel in 2025. Eddrick Houston saw some rotational duty last fall, tallying seven total tackles with two pass breakups while playing from several alignments. A 6’3”, 270-pound bear of a man, Houston is a powerful force who can push the pocket with strength, has the length to create chaos for offensive linemen, and is agile and nimble on his feet.

– College Sports Network

No. 67 — Cornerback Jermaine Mathews Jr.

Remember the second half of the Rose Bowl, when senior cornerback Denzel Burke missed the second half of the win over Oregon? Jermaine Mathews Jr. stepped up and played really well for the Buckeyes as he continued to push for a more pronounced role in the Ohio State secondary. Mathews just keeps garnering more and more buzz as a potential star once he takes over as one of the top cornerbacks on the roster next season. He can use the extended playing time over the course of this past season as a springboard into the offseason after winning a national championship.

Here was the reasoning for Mathews being on the list:

After earning CSN Freshman All-American honors in 2023, Jermaine Matthews Jr. had a somewhat situational role in the Ohio State Buckeyes run to the national championship. A big-time player when called upon, he made his presence known in the opposition backfield in 2024 and is set to be a starting cornerback for the defending champions this fall. It’s a testament to his talent that many in and around the program believe he was the best cornerback on the roster this year despite his usage.

– College Sports Network

No. 3 — Safety Caleb Downs

Lettermen Row believes that Caleb Downs is the best defensive player in college football, and it’s really not a debate. The folks at College Sports Network, however, have him as the second-best defensive player in the country behind South Carolina EDGE Dylan Stewart. Agree to disagree. Downs is incredible, and he will be for one more season before going to the NFL Draft next spring.

Here’s why they have Downs as a top-three player in the sport in 2025:

Caleb Downs established himself as one of the top defensive playmakers in the country during a breakout freshman season with the Alabama Crimson Tide in 2023. One year later, he’s one of the very best and most recognizable faces in the whole sport. A transfer to the Ohio State Buckeyes was mutually beneficial, with Downs developing an already impressive skill set under Jim Knowles and using his talent to drive the best defense in the country to the 2025 College Football Playoff National Championship Game. For the second consecutive season he tallied two interceptions, while flashing his ability to impact the game in all phases with eight tackles for loss. A true force.

– College Sports Network

No. 1 — Wide receiver Jeremiah Smith

Jeremiah Smith, who will be one of the Heisman favorites and faces of the sport next season, already had an insane freshman year. His totals of 76 catches, 1,315 receiving yards and 16 receiving touchdowns are all Ohio State freshman records. Now he has to build on that while earning double-team coverages and brackets for an entire season, which are almost certainly coming his way.

Here’s why they have Smith as their top player in the entire sport for next season:

Jeremiah Smith looked like a man amongst boys during the 2024 college football season, a remarkable feat as a true freshman establishing himself in an Ohio State Buckeyes wide receiver room that is consistently the best in the country. Smith earned Freshman All-American and Third-Team All-American honors from CSN.

That Smith finished the season with the fourth-most receiving yards (1,315) and second-most receiving touchdowns (15) in the country is a testament to his talent as the very best player returning to college football in 2025. No player in the country had more 50+ receiving yard plays last fall, despite attempts to try and shut him down by any means possible.

– College Sports Network

Notable snub: Linebacker Sonny Styles

Not too many gripes from Lettermen Row about this list — except for one. How is Sonny Styles not among the 100 best returning players in college football? He was very good for the Buckeyes on their way to a national title last season and will be the leader of the defense heading into 2025. He deserves more love and buzz, especially among elite players around college football.