Coming into the first of Ohio State’s 15 spring practices, which began Tuesday, there were questions surrounding the Buckeyes’ wide receiver room, particularly who would line up alongside star wideout Jeremiah Smith and slot receiver Brandon Inniss.
Ohio State head coach Ryan Day offered an early glimpse of how the receiver rotation could take shape on the opening day of spring practice.
On the first day of spring practice, Devin McCuin opened with Ohio State’s starting receiver group during the 11-on-11 period, while fellow transfer Kyle Parker out of LSU also rotated in with that unit.
McCuin spent most of last season lined up on the outside with UTSA Roadrunners and he continued in a similar role Tuesday. Parker, meanwhile, was positioned outside as well, away from the slot spot where he saw much of his action last season with LSU Tigers football.
Day mentioned both transfers as early standouts during the opening practice, pointing to their experience and comfort level early on in the Buckeye offense.
“Kyle and Devin both came in and had really good practices today,” Day said. “On day one, I saw a couple veteran guys go out there and make plays and know exactly what they’re doing. They’re pros already, you can just see it now. We’ll see when the pads come on, what that looks like.”
Among a wide receiver group that Day called the “deepest (Ohio State) has been in a while,” the Buckeyes’ head coach appears to be leaning toward the veteran additions over younger talent such as freshman and former five-star prospect Chris Henry Jr.
McCuin arrives in Columbus after recording 152 receptions for 1,696 yards and 16 touchdowns across three seasons at UTSA, including a 65-catch, 726-yard, eight-touchdown season in 2025.
Parker brings slightly less production but still valuable experience, totaling 34 catches for 385 yards and five touchdowns in two seasons at LSU.
With both transfers making an early impression, Ryan Day emphasized that their contributions are just one part of what he believes could be one of the deepest wide receiver groups Ohio State Buckeyes football has had in recent years.
Day also highlighted former four-star prospect Phillip Bell, who played 21 snaps for the Buckeyes in 2025, along with De’Zie Jones, who did not see game action last season.
He also pointed to three of Ohio State’s incoming freshmen as additional depth pieces, noting that several younger Buckeye receivers are already pushing for roles and could factor into the rotation as spring practice progresses.
“We also have some other guys pushing in those areas, like Phillip Bell and De’Zie Jones,” Day said. “Then you have the young guys, and they’re coming too, so it’s fun to watch that. They flash what they were doing all day today, but they were working at it. Chris Henry Jr., hit a big post, Jerquaden Guilford hit an over and Brock Boyd had a couple nice plays. All those guys have bright futures here, all three of them in different ways. So it’s a deep group.”
