Roster Reset: Examining Buckeyes retooled tight end room
Ohio State went 11-2 last season, but the loss to Michigan at the end of the regular season and to Missouri in the Cotton Bowl soured tastes entering this offseason. But some of the key players from that Buckeyes team is returning — and the Buckeyes made moves in the transfer portal to bolster the roster. Lettermen Row is going position by position to reset the roster and look ahead at what’s next for the Buckeyes as winter workouts continue.
COLUMBUS — Ohio State found how valuable a tight end can be in the receiving game during the last two years.
The Buckeyes hope to expand on that even further moving forward. All the pieces are there to make it happen, even after losing team captain and great tight end Cade Stover.
Ohio State has the talent in the room to be one of the top tight end rooms in college football. And Lettermen Row is breaking down the Buckeyes unit in the fourth Roster Reset of the winter. Let’s dive in.
Buckeyes tight end departures
Fifth-year Cade Stover (captain)
Cade Stover came to Ohio State as a four-star linebacker in the class of 2019. He leaves the program as one of the most prolific tight ends in program history. In the last two seasons, his first two as a full-time tight end, Stover had 77 receptions for 982 receiving yards and 10 touchdown grabs. Those two years put him in rare territory of Ohio State tight ends history. Oh, and he was one of three team captains for the Buckeyes. He won’t be easy to replace at all.
Fourth-year tight end Joe Royer
Ohio State had high hopes for Joe Royer in each of his final two seasons with the program. But an off-the-field tragedy and a few minor injuries kept him from reaching his full potential in the Buckeyes tight end room. He transferred back home to the Cincinnati Bearcats. Don’t be surprised if he thrives in the Big 12 next season.
Third-year tight end Sam Hart
After three years with the Buckeyes, Sam Hart is moving on to the next chapter of his college football career. The Colorado native hasn’t found a new home yet. He’ll likely land in the Power Five with a chance to be a playmaker elsewhere.
Additions to Ohio State tight ends room
Ohio transfer Will Kacmarek
A redshirt sophomore from St. Louis, Missouri, Will Kacmarek will have two years of eligibility remaining at Ohio State. Kacmarek has 42 catches for 507 receiving yards and two touchdowns in his college career. Where Kacmarek thrived, though, was on the line of scrimmage as a blocker because of his work ethic and low ego, according to a Lettermen Row source. He’s expected to come in and help Ohio State due to his big 6-foot-6, 240-pound frame and add depth to the room. An Ohio State source told Lettermen Row that Kacmarek will help the Buckeyes ‘in a big way’ in 2024.
Four-star recruit Max Leblanc
Max LeBlanc is a four-star tight end originally from Montreal, Canada. He played at Chattanooga (Tenn.) Baylor School. The 6-foot-5, 225-pound tight end chose Ohio State over Michigan, Tennessee, North Carolina and Kentucky. He was the first tight end to commit and sign with new position coach Keenan Bailey running the room for the Buckeyes. Even though he won’t be an early enrollee, LeBlanc will be a critical addition to the Buckeyes’ roster moving forward and for years to come.
Three-star recruit Damarion Witten
Damarion Witten is a three-star tight end from Cleveland, Ohio, and played his high school career at Glenville High School. He is a two-time Division IV state champion and a two-time First-Team All-State player. Witten held over 25 offers but chose Ohio State over Kentucky, Michigan, Texas and more.
Witten took the state by storm during his junior season. He was a mismatch nightmare for opposing programs as Glenville played its way toward its first state championship in program history. Witten has lined up at wide receiver, tight end, running back and wildcat quarterback. His versatility caught the attention of Ohio State with its ever-expanding offensive prowess. He could even play wide receiver for the Buckeyes — once he arrives this summer.
Biggest question for Buckeyes tight ends
How does new offense impact tight ends?
Ohio State began using the tight ends in the passing game more than ever in the last two years, stemming heavily from the influence of former offensive coordinator Kevin Wilson. Does that change now with Bill O’Brien entering the fold as the new play-caller for the Buckeyes? It shouldn’t. Need an example? Take Alabama’s 2021 offense, called by O’Brien, as proof of how effective tight ends can be in his offense. Cameron Latu and Slade Bolden, the Tide’s top two tight ends that year, had a combined 68 catches for 818 yards and 11 touchdown grabs in their run to the national title game, a game they lost to Georgia.
Ohio State has the talent at tight end to see stellar production from that unit in O’Brien’s offense. And as much as the Buckeyes have used the tight ends in the passing game during the last couple of seasons, they might even target them more under O’Brien.
Tight end
Projected starters: Gee Scott Jr., Will Kacmarek, Jelani Thurman
Ohio State utilized multiple tight ends at nearly every point this past season, and formations dictated who was out on the field. It should be no different this upcoming season, especially after the Buckeyes added former Ohio tight end Will Kacmarek from the transfer portal. He is a capable blocker who will pair well with pass-catching threats like Gee Scott Jr. and the emergence of Jelani Thurman. The Buckeyes have a room capable of producing and making up for the loss of Cade Stover, who leaves as one of the best tight ends in program history.
Projected backup: Bennett Christian
After serving a season-long suspension for a prohibited substance, Bennett Christian will be back for another year to try making an impact. He has an ideal frame for the Buckeyes at tight end. Don’t be surprised if he finds a role in the offense, even if this room appears to have talent and depth ahead of him in the pecking order.
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