A Hidden Weakness Behind an Explosive Passing Attack
Ohio State’s passing game produced plenty of highlights in 2025, but buried underneath the touchdowns and big numbers was a real structural weakness one the coaching staff has spent the entire offseason trying to fix. For the first time in the transfer portal era, Ohio State brought in not one but two wide receivers through the portal, while also hiring a new receivers coach and a new offensive coordinator. Some of that turnover was standard offseason attrition, and some was tied to Brian Hartline’s departure for South Florida. But a significant part of it traces back to one specific issue: Ohio State’s passing attack simply wasn’t generating enough yards after the catch.
Just How Bad Was Ohio State’s YAC Problem in 2025?
The numbers tell a clear story. Ohio State finished the 2025 season with 3,755 total receiving yards as a team, but only 1,595 of those yards — an average of 5.1 yards after catch per reception — came after the catch, according to Pro Football Focus. That mark ranked as the 15th-worst figure among all Power Four programs, and it represented Ohio State’s worst full-season YAC average since 2020, when the Buckeyes posted a 4.5 mark during a COVID-shortened schedule.
The issue became even more pronounced in Ohio State’s biggest games. After averaging 5.2 yards after catch per reception during an undefeated regular season, that number dropped to just 4.7 across Ohio State’s two postseason losses — 4.0 against Indiana and 5.3 against Miami. Here’s how Ohio State’s YAC average has trended throughout the Ryan Day era:
Ohio State YAC/Reception by Season (Ryan Day Era)
- 2025: 5.1
- 2024: 6.2
- 2023: 6.3
- 2022: 6.0
- 2021: 6.8
- 2020: 4.5
- 2019: 4.7
Elite Talent, Limited Explosiveness After the Catch
What makes the numbers especially striking is the level of individual talent Ohio State had at wide receiver last season. The Buckeyes rostered two of the best receivers in the country — a top-four pick in the 2025 NFL Draft, plus a player many consider the best in college football in both 2025 and 2026 — yet the group as a whole didn’t generate many game-changing plays once the ball was in their hands.
Only five Buckeyes finished with more than 100 yards after catch in 2025, led by Jeremiah Smith, whose 378 YAC tied for 50th-most nationally. While 10 different Ohio State players averaged more than 5.0 yards after catch per reception, only two of them topped 100 total YAC, and none of the receivers among that group had more than six total receptions on the year.
Top 5 Buckeyes in Yards After Catch, 2025
- Jeremiah Smith: 378 YAC (4.3 per reception)
- Carnell Tate: 231 YAC (4.5 per reception)
- Max Klare: 224 YAC (5.2 per reception)
- Bo Jackson: 196 YAC (10.3 per reception)
- Brandon Inniss: 158 YAC (4.4 per reception)
For context, the two teams that beat Ohio State last season — Indiana and Miami, who also met in the national championship game — posted far stronger numbers, with Indiana generating 1,712 yards after catch (5.9 per reception) and Miami producing 2,384 (6.7 per reception). Nationally, Florida’s Malachi Toney led the country in the category with 841 yards after catch at a 7.7 average.
Ryan Day has been direct about the need for improvement, describing yards after catch as a clear point of offensive emphasis heading into 2026 despite believing the unit has performed reasonably well in the category in the past. Jeremiah Smith echoed that sentiment. After posting 491 yards after catch at a 6.5 average as a true freshman in 2024, his production in the category dropped to 378 yards and a 4.3 average in 2025 and by his own admission, the drop-off wasn’t limited to him individually, but reflected a broader lack of explosiveness across the entire receiving corps.
Hiring Cortez Hankton to Fix the Problem
Ohio State’s first major step toward addressing the issue was hiring Cortez Hankton to replace Brian Hartline as wide receivers coach. Hankton, a college receivers coach since 2012, brings a proven track record of developing pass-catchers who thrive after the catch, particularly during his time at LSU and Georgia.
YAC/Reception for Teams Coached by Cortez Hankton (Last 5 Years)
- LSU 2025: 5.9
- LSU 2024: 6.2
- LSU 2023: 7.1
- LSU 2022: 5.4
- Georgia 2021: 7.1
Hankton has described developing yards-after-catch ability as core to his coaching identity, noting that it was an area he immediately identified as a priority when he joined Ohio State’s staff in January — a point of emphasis that aligned directly with what Ryan Day was already hoping to improve. Since arriving in Columbus, Hankton has focused heavily on teaching receivers like Smith how to run through soft shoulders and consistently make defenders miss in space, a coaching point Smith has said he expects to show up clearly on tape in 2026. Brandon Inniss, entering his fourth season in Columbus, has echoed that same emphasis, describing a offseason built around repeated yards-after-catch drills both during practice and on his own time.
New Transfer Additions Built for Explosiveness
Beyond the coaching change, Ohio State’s roster additions at wide receiver and tight end are also central to the plan for a more explosive passing attack in 2026, particularly transfers Devin McCuin and Kyle Parker.
2025 YAC/Reception for Ohio State’s Current WRs/TEs
- TE Mason Williams: 7.4 (192 YAC)
- WR Kyle Parker: 5.5 (172 YAC)
- WR Devin McCuin: 5.4 (352 YAC)
- WR David Adolph: 5.3 (16 YAC)
- TE Hunter Welcing: 4.8 (134 YAC)
- WR Brandon Inniss: 4.4 (158 YAC)
- WR Jeremiah Smith: 4.3 (378 YAC)
- TE Bennett Christian: 1.8 (9 YAC)
- TE Nate Roberts: 0.8 (3 YAC)
Parker, a 5-foot-10, 195-pound receiver known for his speed and quick burst, gives Ohio State a genuine playmaking threat after the catch. McCuin brings an even more proven track record, having racked up 152 catches for 1,696 yards and 16 touchdowns across three seasons at UTSA. Hankton has praised Parker’s physicality and football IQ, while singling out McCuin’s elite speed and acceleration once the ball is in his hands as a major asset for the 2026 offense. True freshmen Chris Henry Jr., Brock Boyd and Jerquaden Guilford round out a group that could add further explosiveness, though their impact remains harder to project entering their first college seasons.
It Takes a Whole Offense, Not Just Receivers
Improving yards after catch isn’t viewed strictly as a wide receiver issue inside the Ohio State program. Running backs coach Carlos Locklyn has emphasized that his own position group plays a direct role in the equation, pointing to the importance of running backs sprinting to throw blocks downfield even when they don’t have the ball — the same effort receivers are asked to give on the perimeter — as a key factor in generating YAC production as a unit rather than relying on receivers alone.
Quarterback play factors in as well. Julian Sayin was already the most accurate passer in college football during the 2025 season, but continued development — paired with added strength and experience — could help him deliver the ball to receivers in better positions to pick up yards after the catch. New offensive coordinator Arthur Smith, a former NFL head coach and offensive coordinator, is also expected to prioritize getting the ball out of Sayin’s hands quickly, giving Ohio State’s playmakers more room to operate in space. Hankton has framed the larger mentality clearly: no matter what type of catch a receiver makes, the expectation is that every touch carries the potential to turn into a touchdown.
Why This Matters for Ohio State’s National Championship Hopes
The stakes attached to fixing this issue go well beyond a single statistical category. Looking at recent national champions, a strong yards-after-catch profile has been a common thread across the sport’s best offenses:
YAC/Reception by National Champion, Ryan Day Era
- 2025 (Indiana): 5.9
- 2024 (Ohio State): 6.2
- 2023 (Michigan): 5.1
- 2022 (Georgia): 6.9
- 2021 (Georgia): 7.1
- 2020 (Alabama): 7.2
- 2019 (LSU): 6.5
If Ohio State wants to win a national championship for the second time in three seasons, becoming a more explosive after-the-catch passing attack looks like a near-necessity especially given the sheer level of talent already on the roster at wide receiver. Between Hankton’s coaching addition, the transfer portal additions at receiver, a full offseason of dedicated YAC-focused practice reps, and a new offensive coordinator built around quick, playmaker-friendly passing concepts, Ohio State has clearly made this a top priority heading into the season. Now, it’s simply a matter of proving it on the field.
Final Thoughts
Ohio State’s 2025 passing attack put up strong overall numbers, but a closer look reveals a real explosiveness problem that limited just how dangerous the offense could be, particularly in its biggest games. With a new receivers coach known for developing YAC production, two transfer additions built specifically for playmaking in space, and buy-in across the coaching staff — from the quarterback room to the running backs room Ohio State has assembled every piece it believes it needs to fix the issue heading into 2026. Whether that translates into results on the field will go a long way toward determining if the Buckeyes can get back to the top of college football.
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