Eric Boggs
As the second day of fall camp wrapped up in Columbus, Ohio State offensive coordinator Brian Hartline spoke with a tone of calm confidence. His offense is deeper, stronger, and more experienced, but more importantly, it’s tighter—built on connection, accountability, and an expectation to grow, together.
“You don’t really have a Day One anymore,” Hartline explained Friday. “We do so much in the offseason, so it’s just a continuation of spring and summer. The guys have gotten bigger, stronger, faster—now their job is to apply that to the game.”
Hartline emphasized that execution and consistency are now the focus, with leadership playing a massive role in how far the Buckeye offense can go in 2025. And no one is setting the tone more than Emeka Egbuka’s successor in spirit: Brandon Inniss. While Inniss may not have had a massive snap count last fall, his off-field influence has never been in question.
“Brandon’s always been a big part of our receiver room culturally,” Hartline said. “He drives it, helps run it… and now Carnell [Tate], JJ [Smith], and David Adolph are stepping up too, but B.I. is at the forefront of that.”
Hartline’s message is clear: leadership doesn’t just come from production—it comes from pulling others along. “There’s some guys who take care of themselves, and some guys who take care of themselves and bring others with them. Brandon’s becoming that second kind.”
Another rising leader up front is offensive lineman Austin Siereveld, who Hartline praised for his quiet consistency. “He just continually does his job at a high level,” Hartline said. “It feels like he’s really believed in himself more and more… He’s not a guy you hear a lot about, and that’s usually a good thing for a lineman.”
But it’s not just veterans and known names making waves. Newer faces like Mylan Graham are flashing signs of readiness. Graham continues to benefit from being a mid-year enrollee. “When you come in early, by your second year, you almost feel like it’s your third,” Hartline said. “Mylan’s now fully acclimated, and I expect him to earn special teams roles first—which is how we’re built here.”
That rotational depth—both in the receiving corps and across the offense—is something Hartline sees as essential, not just optional. “You’re either playing at the level of the starters or you’re not,” he said. “The film tells you who should be on the field. It’s about consistency. What you do most often is exactly who you are.”
And that includes at quarterback, where Julian Sayin and Lincoln Kienholz are still building rhythm. According to Hartline, consistency in cadence and communication is improving, and their willingness to bond away from football with the rest of the team matters just as much.
“Anytime you work together off the field, you build camaraderie,” he said. “You can’t challenge a relationship you don’t have. So the faster you build that bond, the quicker you can get to uncomfortable conversations—and that’s how you grow.”
That off-field bond has even spilled into some poolside competitiveness. Hartline shared a story about a fierce round of pool basketball, where players like Inniss, Tate, and Kienholz refused to let up—even against their coaches.
“I mean, we’re literally trying to win. They didn’t care. No fouls. Just who could execute,” Hartline laughed. “Coaches included. My poor son gets evaluated on everything, even in pool basketball.”
But that edge, even in recreation, reflects something larger about the 2025 Buckeye offense: a belief that competition breeds connection. Hartline believes that energy is what will shape the unit’s identity moving forward.
As for Kienholz’s athleticism? Hartline sees it everywhere. “It’s his competitiveness,” he said. “It shows up in everything. Baseball, basketball, practice—it’s just enjoyable doing sports with him. He’s on your side.”
With camp still in its early stages, Hartline is hesitant to make bold declarations, preferring to let the body of work build over time. But one thing is certain: this offense has leaders emerging from every corner, and Hartline is giving them the space to grow into their roles.
“We’re just chasing consistency,” he said. “It’s early, but we’re building something special.”
