The Ohio State Buckeyes have a wide receiver room that is led by none other than the best player in college football, Jeremiah Smith. However, the question remains: who will be the WR2 behind Smith in 2026? The answer is not so clear-cut, and it's one of the biggest question marks for the Buckeyes as they head into the season.
Smith has already amassed impressive stats, with 163 catches for 2,558 yards and 27 touchdowns in just 29 games. He has also shown his versatility, running for 68 yards and two scores on nine carries. A national champion and unanimous All-American, Smith is on the cusp of adding the Biletnikoff Award and the Heisman Trophy to his already impressive list of accomplishments. But the question remains: who will be his partner in crime?
The Buckeyes have a lot of talent and depth at wide receiver, but they don't have a clear-cut WR2. Cortez Hankton, the new wide receivers coach, has brought in two transfers this offseason, but they've never had a big role in a program like Ohio State. Will these transfers be able to step up and fill the void?
One of the transfers, Devin McCuin, has already made an impact with 152 catches for 1,696 yards and 16 touchdowns in 32 games. However, in three games against Power Four opponents, he has only notched 15 receptions for 95 yards. Will McCuin be able to become a reliable, consistent contributor against Power Four competition?
Another transfer, Kyle Parker, has also shown promise with 34 catches for 385 yards and five touchdowns in 21 games at LSU. But he hasn't proven to be a big-time contributor at the college level yet. Will Parker's fourth season – and first at Ohio State – be the perfect recipe for his first standout season?
The Buckeyes also have a lot of potential candidates who could step up, but all of them have something to prove entering the 2026 season. Brandon Inniss, a former five-star in the 2023 class, has totaled just 51 catches for 505 yards and five touchdowns in his first three seasons at Ohio State. Will he finally be able to break out in his fourth season?
The Buckeyes have always answered the call at wide receiver, even in some seasons when a group lacked depth. They have landed a five-star wide receiver in six straight recruiting classes and have had at least two future first-round picks playing major roles in their receiving corps each of the last seven seasons. But the biggest question is: who will be the second star at wide receiver alongside Smith in 2026?
The answer is not so clear-cut, and it's one of the biggest question marks for the Buckeyes as they head into the season. Will Hankton be able to find a clear-cut WR2, or will he play a handful of wideouts to try to make up for not having a clear-cut WR2? Only time will tell.
