Five Ohio State Buckeyes for Ducks fans to know heading into Week 10

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Five Ohio State Buckeyes for Ducks fans to know heading into Week 10

Bjorn Bergstrom, Ducks Wire · Ducks Wire

Wed, November 4, 2026 at 8:22 PM UTC ·

4 min read

QB Luke Fahey

Ohio State Buckeyes quarterback Luke Fahey (13) looks at the scoreboard for a replay during the NCAA football game against the USC Trojans at Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum on Oct. 31, 2026.

Surprisingly winning the backup job over 2025 five-star Tavien St. Clair, Luke Fahey filled in for Sayin in Ohio State's loss to the Trojans last week. He was solid, completing 21-of-38 passes for 260 yards and a touchdown with no turnovers, but he struggled to finish drives with the Buckeyes settling for four field goals. Fahey has some dual-threat ability, though he never quite broke loose in his first career start. At 5-foot-11 and 206 pounds, the Mission Viejo, CA, native drops farther back than most quarterbacks, giving himself space to see over the linemen. While he doesn't have the strongest arm, Fahey was lauded in high school for his accuracy and anticipation, two things he showed at times versus USC.

RB Bo Jackson

Ohio State Buckeyes running back Bo Jackson (25) celebrates a first down run behind USC Trojans cornerback Jontez Williams (0) during the NCAA football game at Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum on Oct. 31, 2026. Ohio State lost 30-18.

The bell cow in the Ohio State backfield for the entirety of his true freshman campaign in 2025, Bo Jackson is back in that role in 2026. He hasn't had the same type of results, as his yards per carry is down from 6.1 to 5.0, largely due to a struggling running game as a whole. Jackson is tough to take down and uses his strong 6-foot, 218-pound frame to shake off tacklers at the point of attack. He's not too dissimilar to Oregon's Jordon Davison in his combination of physicality and nimbleness for a bigger running back.

WR Jeremiah Smith

Ohio State Buckeyes wide receiver Jeremiah Smith (4) leaves the field following the NCAA football game against the Indiana Hoosiers at Memorial Stadium Stadium in Bloomington, Ind. on Oct. 17, 2026.

There's not a lot that needs to be said about Jeremiah Smith, but we'll say it: He's the consensus top player in college football, and that notion was realized during his College Football Playoff run as a true freshman. Since then, Smith has more than lived up to expectations, catching 62 passes for 1,067 yards and 13 touchdowns already in eight games this fall. Smith's 6-foot-4, 222-pound frame makes it impossible for defenses to completely eliminate him from the game, as he's special at plucking the ball out of the air while running crisp, precise routes to get open underneath. His track-star speed is just another plus on top of it all. If not for quarterbacks consistently going No. 1, Smith would be the sure-fire top pick in the 2027 NFL Draft.

DE Kenyatta Jackson Jr.

Oct 10, 2026; Columbus, Ohio, USA; Ohio State Buckeyes defensive end Kenyatta Jackson Jr. (2) runs to the line during the second quarter against the Maryland Terrapins at Ohio Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Joseph Maiorana-Imagn Images

Tying for second in sacks last season (6.5) with eventual top-5 pick Arvell Reese despite serving in a rotational role, Kenyatta Jackson Jr. may just be the next great Ohio State pass rusher in the pros. At 6-foot-6 and 263 pounds, Kenyatta has the ideal edge rusher build, complete with impressive strength and speed around the edge. With more attention from offenses this season, the Miami Gardens native is down to just three sacks and one forced fumble but still has the ability to change the game if he's not accounted for.

S Jaylen McClain

Ohio State Buckeyes safety Jaylen McClain (8) celebrates an interception during the NCAA football game against the Iowa Hawkeyes at Kinnick Stadium in Iowa City on Oct. 3, 2026. Ohio State on 31-14.

Playing alongside superstar safety Caleb Downs, the No. 11 pick in 2026, last season, Jaylen McClain has stepped out Downs' shadow and emerged as perhaps the most vital piece of this Buckeyes defensive unit. The junior safety is third on the team with 37 tackles while notching two interceptions, a sack and a forced fumble. Oftentimes stationed near the line of scrimmage while guarding slots, McClain is more than willing to come upfield and stick running backs and will be tough for the Ducks' receivers to block. McClain is right there with Jackson as a projected Day 2 NFL pick.

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