Ohio State’s Projected WR Depth Chart – 2023

“Next man up.”

An elite recruiter and arguably the greatest wide receivers coach in the nation, the newly promoted Ohio State Offensive Coordinator Brian Hartline has done one thing better than almost anyone else: replacing outgoing elite receivers with equal or greater talent on a consistent basis. The secret to success at the collegiate level is simple – aggressively recruit and rotate top-tier talent into the program to remain at an elite level year in and year out.

In Harline’s first season as the wide receivers coach, Parris Campbell, Terry McLaurin, and K.J. Hill terrorized secondaries, to be followed up only two years later with Chris Olave, Garrett Wilson, and Jaxon Smith-Njibga, the latter group each being selected in the first round of the NFL Draft between 2022-23. In total, all six of these receivers were drafted and five are currently on active rosters in the NFL. So, with Jaxon Smith-Njigba being the most recent Buckeyes to head to the NFL, who is next up for Ohio State?

Headlined by returning stars Marvin Harrison Jr, Emeka Egbuka, and Julian Fleming, as well as incoming top-rated recruits Carnell Tate and Brandon Inniss, there will be some new faces lining up under Brian Hartline’s offense on Saturday afternoons.

Projected Week One Roster

WR-X – 

1. Marvin Harrison Jr
2. Carnell Tate
3. Kojo Antwi

MHJ as the #1 receiver is a no-brainer here. A “Biletnikoff Award” finalist last season, Harrison led the Buckeyes in receptions, yards, and touchdowns and solidified himself as a premier receiver in the nation. Even with C.J. Stroud NFL bound, Harrison is primed to have another big year in a WR room that is loaded with talent.

WR-Z –

1. Julian Fleming
2. Jayden Ballard
3. Noah Rogers

Lined up opposite of MHJ, Julian Fleming is the one. Third on the team in yards and touchdowns, Fleming had his best season to date last year by pulling in 34 catches for 533 yards and six touchdowns, including opening the season with five straight games with at least one touchdown catch.

WR – SLOT

1. Emeka Egbuka
2. Xavier Johnson
3. Brandon Inniss

Emeka Egbuka finished second in team receptions, yards, and touchdowns last season, trailing only MHJ, to cement himself as the #2 receiver for Ohio State. Scoring a touchdown in nine out of thirteen games last season, including six games with over 100 receiving yards a piece, Egbuka is primed for another big year for the Buckeyes.