Tale of the Tape: Knowing the basics of Buckeyes wide receivers

The summer offseason is in full swing, and Lettermen Row is trying to survive it with our annual Position Week breakdowns. By the time all nine units and coaching staff at Ohio State have been covered, training camp and media days will nearly have arrived, and the return of football in the Horseshoe will be just around the corner. We’re continuing with our fourth positional week with an incredible collection of talent: the Buckeyes wide receivers.

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COLUMBUS — Lettermen Row is in the early stages of Wide Receivers Week, a weeklong series that will dive deep into the Ohio State pass-catchers room, the contenders to become contributors and much, much more.

Let’s get it started with a basic primer, going through just who these wide receivers are — and why they might need to be on the field come September.

Sixth-year wide receiver Xavier Johnson

Height: 6-foot-2

Weight: 215 pounds

High school: Summit Country Day (Cincinnati, Ohio)

On3 Industry Ranking: Xavier Johnson was ranked as the No. 808 player in the country, the No. 137 wide receiver and the No. 36 player in Ohio in the class of 2018.

Picked Buckeyes over: Johnson walked on to the Ohio State football program before earning a scholarship

Ohio State stats: Johnson has 16 career carries for 163 rushing yards and a touchdown. He also has 13 career catches for 151 yards and two touchdowns, coming against Notre Dame and Georgia.

Biggest strength: Versatility. Johnson has helped boost both the Ohio State running back room and wide receiver room in the last two seasons. He can line up wherever the Buckeyes need him, giving them a versatile chess piece to play with against better defenses on the schedule this fall.

Fourth-year wide receiver Julian Fleming

Height: 6-foot-2

Weight: 205 pounds

High school: Southern Columbia (Catawissa, Pennsylvania)

On3 Industry Ranking: Julian Fleming was ranked as the No. 3 player in the country, the No. 1 wide receiver and the No. 1 player in Pennsylvania in the class of 2020.

Picked Buckeyes over: Fleming picked Ohio State over nearly every program in the country, including Alabama and Penn State.

Ohio State stats: Fleming has 53 catches for 693 yards and seven touchdowns in his Buckeyes career.

Biggest strength: Quickness. Fleming was known for his speed in high school, and he’s able to get open with ease on the outside. But it’s his quickness that allows him to make people miss, force defenders off of him and find the ball in the air.

Third-year wide receiver Marvin Harrison Jr.

Height: 6-foot-4

Weight: 205 pounds

High school: St. Joseph’s Prep (Philadelphia, Pennsylvania)

On3 Ranking: Marvin Harrison Jr. was ranked as the No. 28 player in the country, the No. 3 wide receiver and the No. 2 player in Pennsylvania in the class of 2021.

On3 Industry Ranking: Harrison Jr. was ranked as the No. 73 player in the country, the No. 11 wide receiver and the No. 4 player in Pennsylvania.

Picked Buckeyes over: Marvin Harrison Jr. picked Ohio State over nearly every top program in the country, although he shut his recruitment down and picked Ohio State early in the process.

Ohio State stats: Harrison Jr. has 88 catches for 1,402 yards and 17 touchdowns in his Buckeyes career. He has an outside chance to break some career records this fall.

Biggest strength: Everything. There are no weaknesses to Harrison Jr.’s game, as he is known as the top receiver in college football and sure-thing first-round pick next spring. Harrison Jr. can beat any coverage and has the ability to take the top off a defense.

Third-year wide receiver Emeka Egbuka

Height: 6-foot-1

Weight: 205 pounds

High school: Steilacoom (Steilacoom, Washington)

On3 Ranking: Emeka Egbuka was ranked as the No. 42 player in the country, the No. 5 wide receiver and the No. 2 player in Washington in the class of 2021.

On3 Industry Ranking: Egbuka was ranked as the No. 15 player in the country, the No. 1 wide receiver and the No. 2 player in Washington.

Picked Buckeyes over: Egbuka picked Ohio State over Oklahoma, Alabama, Washington and Stanford

Ohio State stats: Egbuka has 83 catches for 1,342 yards and 10 touchdowns in his Buckeyes career, as well as 11 carries for 87 yards and two touchdowns. He also has an outside chance to break some career records this fall.

Biggest strength: Getting open. Much like Jaxon Smith-Njigba before him, Emeka Egbuka does most of his damage from the slot receiver position. Simple as this: he knows how to get open. His crafty route-running style allows him to find green grass and get upfield after the catch.

Third-year wide receiver Jayden Ballard

Height: 6-foot-2

Weight: 196 pounds

High school: Massillon Washington (Massillon, Ohio)

On3 Ranking: Jayden Ballard was ranked as the No. 66 player in the country, the No. 10 wide receiver and the No. 4 player in Ohio in the class of 2021.

On3 Industry Ranking: Ballard was ranked as the No. 85 player in the country, the No. 14 wide receiver and the No. 4 player in Ohio.

Picked Buckeyes over: Ballard picked Ohio State over Notre Dame, Penn State, Michigan State, Washington State and Maryland.

Ohio State stats: Ballard has 9 catches for 159 yards and a touchdown in his Buckeyes career.

Biggest strength: Speed. Ballard has consistently been mentioned as one of the fastest players on the entire roster. He is certainly among the quickest offensive weapons the Buckeyes have. The junior receiver is a deep threat, for sure. If he adds to his arsenal, he could be even better.

Second-year wide receiver Kyion Grayes

Height: 6-foot

Weight: 185 pounds

High school: Chandler (Chandler, Arizona)

On3 Ranking: Kyion Grayes was ranked as the No. 139 player in the country, the No. 22 wide receiver and the No. 2 player in Arizona in the class of 2022.

On3 Industry Ranking: Grayes was ranked as the No. 104 player in the country, the No. 19 wide receiver and the No. 2 player in Arizona.

Picked Buckeyes over: Grayes picked Ohio State over Arizona. He decommitted from the Wildcats and, shortly after, committed to the Buckeyes.

Ohio State stats: Grayes has one catch for 2 yards in his Ohio State career.

Biggest strength: Grayes is a shifty route-runner with a good amount of speed. He doesn’t have the size others do in the slot for the Buckeyes, but he can get open and make plays in the open field.

Second-year wide receiver Kojo Antwi

Height: 5-foot-11

Weight: 194 pounds

High school: Lambert (Suwanee, Georgia)

On3 Ranking: Kojo Antwi was ranked as the No. 60 wide receiver and the No. 35 player in Georgia in the class of 2022.

On3 Industry Ranking: Antwi was ranked as the No. 191 player in the country, the No. 31 wide receiver and the No. 19 player in Georgia.

Picked Buckeyes over: Grayes picked Ohio State over Texas A&M and Georgia.

Ohio State stats: Antwi has 0 catches in his Ohio State career.

Biggest strength: Antwi didn’t earn much playing time last fall, so it’s hard to mention his strengths and weaknesses to date. He is improving as a route-runner, especially for his smaller frame compared to others in the receiver room. His route-running is arguably his biggest strength — so far.

First-year wide receiver Brandon Inniss

Height: 5-foot-11.5

Weight: 185 pounds

High school: American Heritage (Ft. Lauderdale, Florida)

On3 Ranking: Brandon Inniss was ranked as the No. 94 player in the country, the No. 16 wide receiver and the No. 19 player in Florida in the class of 2023.

On3 Industry Ranking: Inniss was ranked as the No. 35 player in the country, the No. 5 wide receiver and the No. 10 player in Florida.

Picked Buckeyes over: Inniss picked Ohio State over Texas A&M, Miami, Florida, Alabama, USC, Oklahoma and dozens of other top programs.

Ohio State stats: Inniss has 0 catches in his Ohio State career. He arrived on campus to begin his time with the Buckeyes this summer.

Biggest strength: Developed, competitive wide receiver who has been on the national radar dating back to middle school. Emerged as a college prospect while playing on varsity as an eighth grader. Possesses a filled-out frame at around 5-foot-11.5, 195 pounds with a 29.75-inch arm. Has a technically advanced skill set with quickness both in his releases and at the top of his routes. Can break off defensive backs with his change of direction. Extremely competitive and embraces matchups with other top prospects. A standout on the camp and 7-on-7 circuit. Tests as a good athlete in the combine setting. Not as productive as some other top receivers as a junior in part due to being forced to play quarterback for part of the season. Rebounded with a very productive senior season, catching 73 passes for 1,336 yards and 15 touchdowns. Lacks length, which naturally limits his catch radius, but has shown strong, reliable hands and the ability to win in contested situations. Fights for yardage after the catch. More of a choppy than smooth mover. Does not appear to have the physical upside of most other top-ranked wide receivers but is a high-floor prospect who should be set up to contribute early in his college career.

First-year wide receiver Carnell Tate

Height: 6-foot-2

Weight: 180 pounds

High school: IMG Academy (Bradenton, Florida, originally from Chicago)

On3 Ranking: Carnell Tate was ranked as the No. 47 player in the country, the No. 7 wide receiver and the No. 11 player in Florida in the class of 2023.

On3 Industry Ranking: Tate was ranked as the No. 41 player in the country, the No. 8 wide receiver and the No. 11 player in Florida.

Picked Buckeyes over: Tate picked Ohio State over Texas A&M, Miami, Tennessee and dozens of other top programs.

Ohio State stats: Tate has 0 catches in his Ohio State career. He arrived on campus to begin his time with the Buckeyes in the winter and scored a touchdown in spring ball after an impressive 15 practices.

Biggest strength: Polished receiver with technical savvy and a sizable catch radius. Checked in at around 6-foot-1, 180 pounds as a senior. Has plus length with arms that measure 32.5 to 33 inches with big hands. Highly coordinated with the ability to track, adjust and high-point the football in contested situations. Has shown some encouraging route-running skills. Doubles as a dangerous return man due to his change of direction and open-field vision. A consistent performer when facing to cornerbacks while playing a national schedule at IMG Academy. More quick than fast. Will need to continue adding improving his burst and long speed as he has yet to run a verified 40-yard dash faster than 4.72 seconds. Well-rounded technical skill set and battle-tested resume against top competition points to a high floor with his ultimate ceiling being determined by his continued athletic development.

First-year wide receiver Noah Rogers

Height: 6-foot-2

Weight: 194 pounds

High school: Rolesville (Rolesville, North Carolina)

On3 Ranking: Noah Rogers was ranked as the No. 26 player in the country, the No. 3 wide receiver and the No. 1 player in North Carolina in the class of 2023.

On3 Industry Ranking: Rogers was ranked as the No. 52 player in the country, the No. 9 wide receiver and the No. 2 player in North Carolina.

Picked Buckeyes over: Rogers picked Ohio State over North Carolina, North Carolina State and dozens of other top programs.

Ohio State stats: Rogers has 0 catches in his Ohio State career. He arrived on campus to begin his time with the Buckeyes in the winter and scored a touchdown in spring ball after an impressive 15 practices.

On3 Scouting summary: Athletic, twitchy pass-catcher who had one of the more productive high school careers among receivers in the 2023 cycle. Has one of the better combinations of size and speed among pass catchers in 2023. Measured around 6-foot-2, 193 pounds with a 6-foot-6 wing-span. Posted an electronically-timed 4.49 second 40-yard dash prior to his junior season. A twitchy, bouncy athlete who shows the ability to get vertical with ease due to his long speed. Has often made big plays as a deep threat, both at the high school level and in neutral settings. Shows some springy tendencies and the ability to come down with acrobatic, high-point grabs. Also capable of taking short passes or end arounds to the house. Continued to improve his routes and change of direction as a senior. Had a fantastic junior season with 1,430 receiving yards and 22 touchdowns while averaging over 20.5 per catch. Was not a high volume target as a senior, but was highly efficient, catching 39 passes for 799 yards and 15 touchdowns. Has solid to good ball skills but can continue improving his strength and consistency at the catch point.

First-year wide receiver Bryson Rodgers

Height: 6-foot-2

Weight: 194 pounds

High school: Winegrass Ranch (Zephyrhills, Florida)

On3 Ranking: Bryson Rodgers was ranked as the No. 56 wide receiver and the No. 67 player in Florida in the class of 2023.

On3 Industry Ranking: Rodgers was ranked as the No. 356 player in the country, the No. 65 wide receiver and the No. 55 player in Florida.

Picked Buckeyes over: Rodgers picked Ohio State over Florida, Florida State, Georgia, Auburn, Penn State, among others.

Ohio State stats: Rodgers has 0 catches in his Ohio State career. He arrived on campus to begin his time with the Buckeyes in the winter and went through spring practice.

On3 Scouting summary: Technician at receiver who is one of the best route-runners in the 2023 cycle. Has outstanding change of direction. Advanced with his releases. Shows the ability to stack cornerbacks off the line of scrimmage. Breaks off defensive backs at the top of the route. A coordinated mover. Runs with pace after the catch. Shows some play strength as he fights through contact. Plays both outside and in the slot for his high school. Likely projects as a slot long-term. Caught 42 balls for 642 yards and 14 touchdowns as a junior. Has a thinner, slight frame, measuring at 6-foot-0.5, 173 pounds with a 30.75-inch arm and smaller hands. Older for the class, turning 18 years-old during his junior year.