Ohio State football player preseason award tracker for 2025

We keep track of all of the Ohio State football player preseason watchlists, awards, and notes for the 2025 season.

It's preseason award and watchlist season Ohio State football fans. And if that's the case, with a program behemoth like the one residing on the banks of the Olentangy, you can bet there are plenty of players getting notoriety -- especially since the Buckeyes might have the two best players in the country.

We're keeping track of all of the preseason honors and watchlists for all of the Ohio State football players entering the 2025-2026 season as they become available via announcements. For guys like safety Caleb Downs and receiver Jeremiah Smith, the list will only continue to grow, but there's more than that.

And, of course, these preseason watch lists can and will change as the season goes on based on actual production on the field, but it's a good starting point to see which players on Ohio State are expected to do big things this fall. We'll update the players and their preseason accolades as the announcements are made and as we steam ahead towards the start of the Ohio State football season.

Caleb Downs, Safety

Ohio State safety Caleb Downs smiles during a game against Purdue.

2025 Preseason Honors

  • Pro Football Focus No. 2 College Player
  • Thorpe Award watch list
  • Bronko Nagurski Trophy watch list
  • Lott IMPACT Trophy watch list
  • Preseason All-American (Walter Camp, Pick Six Previews, Phil Steele, Athlon’s)
  • Big Ten Preseason Honors list

Eddrick Houston, Defensive End

Mar 7, 2024; Columbus, OH, USA; Ohio State Buckeyes defensive end Eddrick Houston (96) works with defensive line coach Larry Johnson during spring football practice at the Woody Hayes Athletic Center.

2025 Preseason Honors

  • Outland Trophy watch list

Davison Igbinosun, Cornerback

Jan 20, 2025; Atlanta, GA, USA; Ohio State Buckeyes cornerback Davison Igbinosun (1) reacts after a play against the Notre Dame Fighting Irish during the first half the CFP National Championship college football game at Mercedes-Benz Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Brett Davis-Imagn Images

2025 Preseason Honors

  • Thorpe Award watch list

Max Klare, Tight End

Ohio State Buckeye Scarlet Max Klare (86) celebrates a touchdown catch against team Gary in the 1st half during the spring game at Ohio Stadium on April 12, 2025.

2025 Preseason Honors

  • Preseason All-American (Pick Six Previews)
  • Second Team Preseason All-American (Phil Steele)
  • Fourth Team Preseason All-American (Athlon’s)

Arvell Reese, Linebacker

Michigan State's Jaron Glover, center, runs after a catch as Ohio State's Arvell Reese, left, and Davison Igbinosun close in during the second quarter on Saturday, Sept. 28, 2024, at Spartan Stadium in East Lansing.

2025 Preseason Honors

  • Butkus Award watch list

Jeremiah Smith, Wide Receiver

Ohio State Buckeyes wide receiver Jeremiah Smith (4) celebrates a first down catch during the second half of the College Football Playoff quarterfinal against the Oregon Ducks at the Rose Bowl in Pasadena, Calif. on Jan. 1, 2025. Ohio State won 41-21.

2025 Preseason Honors

  • Pro Football Focus No. 1 College Player
  • Preseason All-American (Walter Camp, Pick Six Previews)
  • Phil Steele, Athlon’s)
  • Biletnikoff Award watch list
  • Maxwell Award watch list
  • Big Ten Preseason Honors list (only unanimous selection)

Sonny Styles, Linebacker

Ohio State Buckeyes safety Sonny Styles (6) celebrates a defensive stop during the first half of the Cotton Bowl Classic College Football Playoff semifinal game against the Texas Longhorns at AT&T Stadium in Arlington, Texas on Jan. 10, 2025.

2025 Preseason Honors

  • Second Team Preseason All-American (Pick Six Previews, Phil Steele, Athlon’s)
  • Butkus Award watch list
  • Bronko Nagurski Trophy watch list
  • Lott IMPACT Trophy watch list
  • Big Ten Preseason Honors list

Carnell Tate, Wide Receiver

August 31, 2024; Columbus, Ohio, USA;
Ohio State Buckeyes wide receiver Carnell Tate (17) slips away from Akron Zips cornerback Devonte Golden-Nelson (3) during the first half of Saturday’s NCAA Division I football game at Ohio Stadium.

2025 Preseason Honors

  • Second Team Preseason All-American (Athlon’s)
  • 3rd Team Preseason All-American (Pick Six Previews)
  • Biletnikoff Award watch list

Tegra Tshabola, Offensive Line

Ohio State Buckeyes offensive linemen Ian Moore (69) and Tegra Tshabola (77) motion during spring football practice at the Woody Hayes Athletic Center on March 17, 2025.

2025 Preseason Honors

  • Third Team Preseason All-American (Pick Six Previews);
  • Outland Trophy watch list

This article originally appeared on Buckeyes Wire: Ohio State football: 2025 preseason award tracker

Category: General Sports