Eric Boggs
While it was no surprise to see juniors Caleb Downs and Carnell Tate declare for the NFL Draft, Ohio State received equally important news for the future of its roster this week when Brandon Inniss announced he will return for his senior season, stabilizing a wide receiver room undergoing major change.
Inniss confirmed his decision Thursday with a simple message: “I got business to handle. I’m back.” His return gives Ohio State one of its most important offensive building blocks for 2026, as he joins Jeremiah Smith, who already confirmed his own return, as the Buckeyes’ two returning starting wide receivers. Just as importantly, Inniss brings leadership, entering his senior season as one of Ohio State’s top locker-room voices after serving as a team captain in 2025.
Although his first year as a starter did not produce the eye-popping numbers many expected — 36 catches for 271 yards and three touchdowns — context matters. Inniss was part of a deep, constantly evolving offense, and with Tate now headed to the NFL and Mylan Graham, Quincy Porter and Bryson Rodgers all transferring, the offense will lean far more heavily on Inniss’ experience in 2026. His return provides continuity and stability at the position at exactly the moment Ohio State needed it most.
At the same time, the Buckeyes continued strengthening the roster through the transfer portal with the addition of Christian Alliegro, a veteran linebacker from Wisconsin who arrives in Columbus for his final season of eligibility. Alliegro brings proven Big Ten experience and production to a linebacker group that already set the national standard in 2025 behind All-Americans Sonny Styles and Arvell Reese.
Alliegro’s trajectory at Wisconsin tells the story of a player who was coming into his own before injury slowed his momentum. After flashing late in the 2024 season, he opened 2025 playing some of his best football, collecting 48 tackles, six tackles for loss and two sacks over his first seven games before suffering a broken arm — an injury he initially played through against Ohio State before missing two games and returning limited. Even with that setback, he finished the season with 53 tackles, eight tackles for loss and four sacks, showing the physical, instinctive style that makes him a natural fit in Ohio State’s defense. His ability to play either Mike or Will linebacker gives the Buckeyes valuable flexibility, especially with competition expected from rising contributors Payton Pierce and former five-star Riley Pettijohn.
Alliegro becomes Ohio State’s fifth transfer addition for the 2026 class, joining John Walker, Devin McCuin, Mason Williams and Dalton Riggs, as the Buckeyes continue to carefully reshape their roster around returning stars and proven veterans. With Inniss’ leadership secured and Alliegro’s experience added to the defensive core, Ohio State enters the 2026 offseason not in rebuild mode, but in deliberate championship preparation.
For anyone wanting to stay on top of every departure and arrival, The OHIO Podcast has a Transfer Portal Tracker so that no one will miss any players leaving or coming to Ohio State via the transfer portal in 2026. Just click on the Tracker above and you will be taken to the portal hub.
