Ryan Day has things heavily unsettled on both sides of the ball right after a championship year. It’s pretty unfortunate that the Buckeyes lost nearly eight senior starters on the defense. They lost two-star coordinators of the offense and defense, Chip Kelly and Jim Knowles, respectively. With the costly departures of game-changer guys like Jack Sawyer, JT Tuimoloau, Ty Hamilton, and Tyleik Williams, the defense may not be able to repeat its 2024 feat. The Buckeyes allowed only 12.9 points per game and topped the chart in scoring defense, points per drive, total defense, and yards per play. However, the offense looked a little better as more and more WRs were losing their developing tags. Quincy Porte, the standout four-star commit, is now officially a Buckeye.
On Student Appreciation Day, cited as Ohio State’s 11th spring practice, Porter finally earned his stripe as a reliable force in catch-pass and took off his black stripe. The 6-foot-4, 205-pound receiver touched a unique milestone, becoming the first freshman and fifth scholarship Buckeye to do so (shedding the black stripe in 2025), joining the would-be elite room of cornerback Miles Lockhart, tight end Max Klare, defensive end Dominic Kirks, and defensive tackle Eric Mensah.
Sounds like Ohio State wide receiver Quincy Porter became the first freshman to lose his black stripe this spring after Saturday’s scrimmage.
— Patrick Murphy (@_Pat_Murphy) April 5, 2025
Well, it’s not the end of his early legacy in Columbus. He became the fastest Buckeye in the history of his class to earn the trust of Coach Ryan Day. Getting a flashback of newbie Jeremiah Smith a year back! Well, that’s what. If you have been heavily involved in who will carry the torch in the future, it might be a subtle sign for you to believe the next generation is amping up to give you a sweet, nostalgic taste. The other premium receivers on the list who became the fastest of their respective classes to lose the noob cocoon were Carnell Tate (2023), Garrett Wilson (2019), and Austin Mack (2016).
The feat came after Porter impressed the Ohio State higher-ups, showcasing extreme work ethic in the formative days in the camp. However, even before he did that, Day seemed to be sure of his potential. Thanks to a lofty high school stat under his belt. As a senior at Bergen Catholic (Oradell, New Jersey), Porter caught 57 passes for 969 yards and 11 touchdowns. In four years with the Crusaders, Porter had 133 catches for 2,624 yards and 38 scores.
“I think Quincy really is a bigger receiver who is a different style than we’ve probably had,” Day said last December after taking him on board. “Obviously Jeremiah’s big, but Quincy really – we loved his film going into last year. We felt like the game that he had against Chaminade, against Jeremiah’s team the year before, was the one that really separated him for us. He really competed well, played well, and then you saw the season he had for Bergen Catholic this year.”
Porter might not immediately get the spotlight. However, he will have ample time and scope to exhibit his class under the shadow of Jeremiah Smith and Carnell Tate during his freshman year. Now, is it safe to say Julian Sayin will have solid weapons on the field, even though the roster saw a huge reshuffle? Well, that’s a different debate. But the primitive one is: will Sayin really win the intense QB battle in Columbus? Maybe, maybe not. But the page is slowly turning.
The QB conundrum continues to draw heat at Columbus
Julian Sayin has been the frontrunner in the ongoing QB race. But heading into the first scrimmage of the spring, he looked a bit off-the-place. He was not at his best last Saturday during practice. Rather, analysts kept Lincoln Kienholz a bit ahead of him on that day. He looked sharper while taking the first reps. Sayin has a robust arm and the ability to quick-release. No doubt, he’s still the favorite to make the cut.
But as we dive deeper into the spring, the minute variations will be more prominent, leaving Day in a serious dilemma to make the final call. From what we have seen so far, Kienholz has great mobility to pose a real threat to Sayin. However, there was another point that you shouldn’t miss taking into account.
During Saturday’s live, Kienholz was in a vulnerable position and was free to be hit anytime. If we are aware of the common practices, you must know that they are the last to do the same with their projected starting QB. The injury risk is too much to afford for their future crown jewel. So, is it still Julian Sayin who holds the key? Well, time will tell. But with an enhanced promise from the receiver room, the QBs (whoever is concerned) can breathe a sigh of relief.
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