Ohio State is cruising through its 2025 season at a perfect 7-0 so far. But the Buckeyes aren’t resting on their laurels. Their dominance is clear with an average margin of over 25 points per game, including a recent 34-0 shellacking of Wisconsin. But Ryan Day is still keen on tweaking the roster for sustained success. After losing 14 players to the NFL Draft, OSU has been busy reshaping both depth and starting lineups. And this time, the call is coming from the WR room, where Jeremiah Smith and Carnell Tate are becoming nightmare weapons.

As of now, Smith has racked up 602 yards on 49 carries and has even entered the end zone seven times. On the other hand, Carnell Tate is just trailing behind, racking up 587 yards on 34 carries. He also scored six TDs. It’s almost like the Buckeyes are having their own WR competition right in the middle of the season. But Ryan Day wants more. And by more, he means more trustworthy weapons. “Ryan Day said Jeremiah Smith and Carnell Tate would benefit from Ohio State having more WR depth,” OSU writer Chase Brown posted on X. “That includes Bryson Rodgers, whom Day said the Buckeyes hope to get back this week.”

“It’s a long season. They need that depth. It’s important. The team needs it,” Day said. “(Porter) and Mylan (Graham) — and hopefully we’re gonna get Bryson Rodgers back this week — these guys can help because we need them.” For Jeremiah Smith, it’s his framework that does the magic. At just under 6-foot-3 and 222 pounds, he’s got the kind of physicality that can straight-up overpower defensive backs. On top of that, Smith’s route running is surgical. Last season, Smith racked up 1,315 receiving yards and 15 touchdowns, leading the Big Ten in both categories.

On the other hand, Tate’s season numbers tell a story of dominance and reliability. Tate is trailing Smith by just 15 yards. On top of that, he boasts a perfect catch rate with zero drops on the season. All this is fine, but both Smith and Tate are OSU’s most reliable weapons, and injuries are an everyday news item this season. Like in a game against Illinois, Smith suffered a minor injury when he landed on his back. Plus, even Tate suffered a minor injury against Wisconsin with an ankle injury. While both these injuries are minor, they raise questions about the depth chart. Quincy Porter played two games this season, where he racked up 45 yards on 3 carries in total.

Mylan Graham also had the same number of games this season, with 33 yards on carries. Lastly, Bryan Rodgers. Rodgers only appeared against Grambling State, where he covered 22 yards on 2 carries. These three are reliable candidates for the Ohio State’s “wide receiver university” reputation. But they need to be a little polished, like Smith and Tate.

More depth in the WR room?

Ryan Day is not really stopping in flaunting his reliable weapons. Tegra Tshabola is the kind of offensive lineman whose presence you feel. And Day occurs that same feeling. “I think his journey has been a story of somebody who each week is taking what he gets on the field, learning and growing and getting back to work,” Day said. “He’s a guy that shows up every day ready to work.”

Born into a Congolese family, Tegra’s journey from the Democratic Republic of Congo to Ohio stirs up a classic underdog vibe. Before finding his home on the offensive line, Tegra started out playing defensive line as a freshman before switching sides of the ball, where he’s truly thrived. His commitment paid off early when he earned Division I first-team All-Ohio honors as a junior in high school.

Football runs in Tegra’s family veins. His older brothers, Dan and Michael, dominated the high school football scene at Lakota West, laying down a blueprint that Tegra was determined to follow. He hasn’t seen any playing time this season as of now. But the way Ryan Day is speeding the process in the WR room, he might see some playtime.