Julian Sayin, Lincoln Kienholz, and Tavien St. Clair Shine in Passing Drills with Jeremiah Smith and Zone 6 at Practice Three
The third preseason practice of 2025 brought even more clarity to the Ohio State quarterback room and reinforced what many have expected all offseason: Zone 6 is as deep, polished, and dangerous as ever. On a humid morning at the Woody Hayes Athletic Center, the Buckeyes’ trio of quarterbacks—Julian Sayin, Lincoln Kienholz, and Tavien St. Clair—took turns orchestrating a sharp, efficient, and often dazzling passing display with a loaded wide receiver corps that includes stars like Jeremiah Smith, Carnell Tate, and Brandon Inniss.
While competition remains at the quarterback spot, what became evident during the session is how much trust the quarterbacks already have in their targets and how synchronized the passing attack appears this early in camp. Sayin, the freshman phenom who arrived with immense expectations, continues to validate the buzz surrounding his recruitment. His poise, timing, and ball placement on intermediate routes and deep sideline fades gave coaches and onlookers reason to believe he’s capable of competing sooner rather than later.
During 7-on-7 and full-team drills, Sayin connected repeatedly with Jeremiah Smith, the former No. 1 overall recruit and projected future first-rounder. Smith showcased his elite body control and acceleration, creating separation with ease and catching everything thrown his way. On one standout rep, Sayin dropped a perfectly lofted pass into the corner of the end zone, where Smith elevated over a defender and toe-tapped for the score. The crowd of media, boosters, and former players erupted as if it were already a game Saturday.
Lincoln Kienholz, the redshirt freshman who’s grown significantly in comfort and command since last season, delivered a steady, smart session. His timing with Brandon Inniss and Carnell Tate stood out as he often worked the short and intermediate areas of the field with quick decision-making and impressive anticipation. Kienholz doesn’t have the raw arm strength of Sayin or the long-term upside of St. Clair, but his ability to keep the offense on schedule and avoid negative plays was a major takeaway.
Inniss in particular benefited from Kienholz’s rhythm passing. Whether on slants, comebacks, or slot fades, the two appeared to have spent considerable time building chemistry this offseason. One rep on a dig route saw Inniss snap off his break with authority, catching the pass in stride and turning upfield for a simulated gain of over 20 yards. Tate, meanwhile, looked like a man on a mission—frequently beating his coverage on double moves and showing an improved ability to shield defenders at the catch point.
Then there’s Tavien St. Clair, the highly touted five-star early enrollee who may not be in the starting conversation just yet but continues to impress with every touch. St. Clair’s mechanics and release are smooth and repeatable, and he displayed an advanced sense of timing on crossing patterns. Working with the second unit, he completed multiple passes to up-and-coming receivers like Mylan Graham and Jeremiah McClellan, both of whom flashed big-play potential.
McClellan, in particular, stood out during red zone drills. On a designed rollout, St. Clair threw back across his body to the left pylon, where McClellan had settled into a soft spot between defenders. It was the type of connection that’s more common in November than in August, but the freshman duo made it look routine. Graham’s explosiveness after the catch gave defensive backs fits all morning, and his role as a rotational weapon looks increasingly secure.
But while the quarterbacks and receivers put on a show, the real story might be the consistency across every rep. From warm-ups to competitive periods, Zone 6 looked sharp. There were few drops. Routes were crisp. Spacing was precise. And with Brian Hartline overseeing the unit with his usual precision and intensity, the receivers knew that every step, every route stem, and every finish mattered.
Jeremiah Smith continues to set the tone. Now the unquestioned alpha of the group, he brought a different energy to the session. Whether catching deep posts from Sayin or short hitches from Kienholz, Smith operated like a veteran pro—attacking leverage, adjusting to off-target throws, and routinely winning in contested situations. His rapport with Sayin is especially intriguing, as both seem to elevate each other’s games. On a sequence of three straight reps during a situational third-down drill, Sayin and Smith connected on an out route, a back-shoulder fade, and a slant—each showcasing different aspects of their developing chemistry.
Carnell Tate, who saw significant action last season, looked like a future WR1 in his own right. His route tree is expanding, and his physicality at the top of routes has noticeably improved. He caught a touchdown on a fade from Kienholz in the red zone where he physically separated from the corner, shielded the ball with his frame, and got both feet down just inside the boundary. That kind of play—technically sound and physically dominant—is becoming a routine part of his practice film.
Even the younger receivers got in on the action. Bryson Rodgers caught a deep dig from St. Clair that went for a long gain, and Jeremiah McClellan made several contested catches in traffic that suggest he may see rotational snaps earlier than expected. With Emeka Egbuka now in the NFL, the opportunity for a new hierarchy in the receiver room is wide open, and these practices are starting to define that pecking order.
One under-the-radar note is how efficiently the quarterbacks cycled through reps. The coaching staff kept the pace brisk, with each signal-caller getting multiple sets in rapid succession. Sayin and Kienholz often alternated snaps, while St. Clair worked in with the twos and threes. The tempo allowed for maximum reps and also tested each quarterback’s ability to process defenses quickly—a key emphasis for offensive coordinator Chip Kelly, whose schemes require fast decisions and precision timing.
Kelly was hands-on throughout the morning. Whether pulling Kienholz aside to discuss a read progression or gesturing mid-route to adjust spacing, his fingerprints were all over the Buckeye offense. He seemed particularly pleased with Sayin, who not only made big-time throws but also corrected a misread on a dig-sit concept after quick feedback. The freshman’s mental processing and willingness to take coaching are perhaps his most underrated traits, and they were on full display during the session.
It wasn’t all perfect. There were a couple of miscommunications—one between Kienholz and Graham on an option route that resulted in an incompletion and another between St. Clair and Rodgers where the ball sailed out of bounds. But those moments were few and far between, and more often than not, the offense recovered with better execution on subsequent reps.
The defense did make some plays, particularly in the latter portion of team drills, with Denzel Burke breaking up a deep ball to Smith and Malik Hartford nearly intercepting a seam route intended for Inniss. But overall, this day belonged to the quarterbacks and the receivers, whose connection and timing felt far ahead of schedule.
With fall camp still in its early stages, it’s important not to overreact. But for those who have followed Ohio State’s receiver tradition over the past decade, there’s reason to believe that this version of Zone 6 could be the most complete yet—from top-end talent to rotational depth, from proven veterans to freshmen ready to contribute. And with a quarterback competition that looks more like a showcase of strength than a scramble for answers, the pieces are starting to come together in compelling fashion.
There will be tougher days ahead. Pads will go on. Defensive backs will get more physical. Pressure will ramp up. But on this third day of camp, as Julian Sayin floated perfectly timed spirals to the nation’s most talented receiver group and the rhythm of Ohio State’s passing game clicked into gear, the message was clear: the Buckeyes aren’t just reloading—they’re evolving. And they’re doing it with a passing game that may soon be the envy of college football once again.
