5 things we saw at Ohio State football's second preseason practice

Ohio State continued preseason training camp with a second practice on Aug. 7.

Here are five notable developments, including early standouts on offense and rotations at position groups that are more in flux.

Transfer receiver off to fast start

Devin McCuin has been a standout through two practices.

When he was lined up opposite Jeremiah Smith during an 11-on-11 period, he made a string of highlight-reel catches.

McCuin beat safety Brenten Jones deep to catch a pass from quarterback Julian Sayin of around 50 yards and later leapt in the air to haul in a high throw over the middle. He also pulled down an over-the-shoulder grab along the sideline.

It was little surprise that McCuin, a senior who transferred to Ohio State from UTSA in January, ran with the first-team offense. He took first-team reps throughout spring practice.

But his start to camp has generated buzz between his flashy catches and consistency.

“I feel like he’s a dog,” safety Earl Little Jr. said. “He gets in and out of his routes smooth. He can block. He’s physical at the point of attack.”

McCuin was productive during his previous three seasons at UTSA, catching 152 passes for 1,696 yards and 16 touchdowns from 2023-25.

Offensive line movement

Austin Siereveld returned to left tackle after he opened camp at right guard the previous day.

The move by Siereveld allowed for Josh Padilla to slide in as the right guard with the first-team offensive line.

The Buckeyes have multiple options to fill their starting spot at right guard vacated following Tegra Tshabola’s transfer to Kentucky.

Siereveld, who made six starts at left guard in 2024 before moving to left tackle last year, could be a candidate for the role on the interior. It would also clear a spot for Ian Moore at left tackle. Both were part of their initial offensive line arrangement at the start of camp.

But the second practice revealed the Buckeyes are also giving Padilla a look as another potential starter on the line.

Early push in the backfield

Isaiah West continued to build momentum for a larger role in the backfield this year.

He saw all of the first-team carries during 11-on-11s while Bo Jackson was with the second-team.

Both sophomore running backs had been limited during spring drills following shoulder surgeries. But West has made more of an impression early in camp, especially with multiple breakaway runs during their latest practice.

While the Buckeyes have not transitioned into padded practices, West has shown a combination of balance and burst.

West found a role as a freshman. He ran for 310 yards and two touchdowns in 10 games, though he was not the breakout star as Bo Jackson ran for 1,090 yards and six touchdowns in his debut, making the initial pecking order an intriguing development.

Freshman gets opportunity at nickel

Jay Timmons was one of the three five-star recruits to sign with Ohio State in December, and it looks as if he’ll be in the mix for an immediate role.

He lined up as the nickel back with the first-team defense while Dominick Kelly and Devin Sanchez were the outside cornerbacks.

Timmons, the son of Lawrence Timmons, a former Pro Bowl linebacker with the Pittsburgh Steelers, flipped his commitment from Florida State to Ohio State a month before the early signing period late last year.

Defensive tackle pairings

While the Buckeyes found additions at defensive tackle through the transfer portal in January, their returning linemen have been with the first-team defense.

Eddrick Houston and Will Smith Jr. have taken the first-team reps ahead of James Smith and John Walker through two practices.

Smith arrived as a transfer from Alabama and Walker from UCF.

Joey Kaufman covers Ohio State football for The Columbus Dispatch. Email him at  [email protected]  and follow him on  @joeyrkaufman on X.

This article originally appeared on The Columbus Dispatch: 5 things we saw at Ohio State football's second preseason practice

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