Ohio State football has always been a machine built on tradition, raw talent, elite coaching, and top-tier development. The Buckeyes’ offense, in particular, has become synonymous with explosive plays, NFL-ready quarterbacks, and dominating offensive lines that make everything else click. But with the 2025 season looming and the team looking to make a definitive return to the College Football Playoff after missing out in recent years, the spotlight is shifting not just toward the skill positions, but to the trenches—where the foundation of any great offense is laid. In a candid moment during summer media availability, one of Ohio State’s most promising linemen, Donovan Jackson, opened up about a surprising yet critical element he believes could define the Buckeyes’ offense in 2025: communication and continuity on the offensive line.
Jackson, a senior leader and All-Big Ten lineman, didn’t mince words. “People don’t realize how important our chemistry is,” he said. “You can have five-star talent across the board, but if we’re not playing in sync—if the left tackle and left guard aren’t thinking the same way pre-snap, it breaks down everything else. That’s what we’ve been focused on the most.”
That statement speaks volumes, especially in a year where Ohio State will feature a relatively new quarterback under center—whether that’s Will Howard, Devin Brown, or one of the highly-touted freshmen. Whoever wins the starting job won’t just need time in the pocket; they’ll need trust that the five men in front of them are functioning as a single, unbreakable unit. And Jackson’s insight offers a rare glimpse into the soul of what makes a great offense more than the sum of its parts.
Ohio State’s offensive line has gone through a gradual transformation in the past few seasons. After sending multiple players to the NFL—including stars like Paris Johnson Jr. and Dawand Jones—the Buckeyes have focused on recruiting players who are not just physically dominant but mentally sharp. Offensive line coach Justin Frye has prioritized what he calls “pre-snap IQ” among his players. That includes understanding defensive fronts, recognizing stunts and blitz packages, and—most importantly—talking through it all as a unit before the ball is even snapped.
That’s where Jackson believes the biggest strides have been made. “This year, our communication is on another level,” he said. “We’ve spent hours not just watching tape, but talking through what we’re seeing, what we expect from different fronts. Our center, Carson [Hinzman], has been phenomenal in setting protections, and the tackles are learning how to identify second-level threats quicker.”
That type of cohesion could be the missing link for Ohio State’s offense to not just be good, but elite in 2025. It’s not that the Buckeyes lack talent. They boast one of the deepest receiver rooms in the nation, highlighted by returning stars like Emeka Egbuka and breakout candidates such as Carnell Tate and Jeremiah Smith. They have a loaded backfield featuring TreVeyon Henderson and Dallan Hayden. But none of that matters if the offensive line can’t protect long enough to let plays develop.
Last season exposed just how critical that protection can be. In key moments, especially in losses to Michigan and Missouri, breakdowns in pass protection and missed assignments up front derailed promising drives. It wasn’t always a matter of being overpowered; often it was a matter of miscommunication—of one lineman seeing a blitz and another not reacting quickly enough. That split-second delay can be the difference between a 25-yard completion and a 10-yard sack.
Jackson’s comments reflect a maturity that’s often absent from conversations about offensive production. “When fans think of offense, they think of the quarterback or the wide receiver making a highlight play,” he said. “But none of that happens if we don’t do our job. And for us to do our job, we have to trust each other like brothers. That’s been our biggest focus this offseason.”
Trust is built not just on the field, but off it. Several Buckeye linemen have taken extra steps to improve their cohesion. Jackson shared that the entire offensive line room has made weekly dinners a tradition, using the time to talk, bond, and even go over assignments. “You’d be surprised what one plate of chicken parm and two hours of film talk can do for a unit,” he joked. But there’s truth in his humor.
This kind of team-building is something that resonates deeply with Coach Ryan Day, who has emphasized leadership and accountability heading into the new season. Day knows that the offensive line must be the most disciplined and synchronized unit on the field if Ohio State wants to challenge SEC powerhouses and win a national title. With Michigan reloading and Penn State still knocking on the door, the margin for error in the Big Ten has never been thinner.
Another dimension to Jackson’s insights is how the offensive line’s communication could influence the playbook itself. If the Buckeyes’ front five can handle more complex protections and identify blitz packages with consistency, it opens the door for more ambitious play-calling. That means more five-step drops, more deep routes, and more opportunities for big plays. It also means the quarterback—especially if it’s a younger or less experienced one—can focus on executing rather than adjusting protections on the fly.
It’s no coincidence that the most successful Ohio State teams of the past decade featured dominant and cohesive offensive lines. The 2014 national championship team, led by the likes of Taylor Decker and Pat Elflein, was anchored by a unit that rarely made mental mistakes and often dictated the tempo of games. That allowed even a third-string quarterback like Cardale Jones to shine under the brightest lights.
The 2025 Buckeyes are hoping to replicate that formula, with Jackson playing a central leadership role. “I want to be the guy that the young players look to in tough moments,” he said. “If the line is calm, the rest of the offense feeds off that.”
There’s also a mentorship angle to consider. Jackson has taken several underclassmen under his wing, including freshman phenom Ian Moore, a highly-recruited tackle from Indiana. Moore is widely seen as the future of the Buckeyes’ line, but Jackson is focused on making sure he’s ready for the present. “I’ve been in his shoes,” Jackson said. “Everything moves fast, and you’ve got to grow up quick. I’m just trying to give him the support I wish I had when I started.”
Support. Communication. Trust. These words aren’t typically the flashy buzzwords you see in preseason coverage. But for Ohio State, they may be the very elements that separate another solid 10-win campaign from a national championship run.
Jackson’s focus on these intangibles is exactly why NFL scouts already have him pegged as a Day 1 draft pick. He has the size, strength, and technique, but it’s his football IQ and leadership that elevate him into the rare echelon of elite linemen. And if his vision for the offensive line comes to fruition, the ripple effects could be felt across the entire Buckeyes’ offense.
Already, the early reports from fall camp are promising. Scrimmage sessions have shown improved communication at the line of scrimmage, quicker adjustment to disguised blitzes, and even an uptick in screen pass execution—something Ohio State struggled with last year. If those trends hold into September, the offense could take on a whole new level of unpredictability and explosiveness.
Ultimately, Jackson’s revelation isn’t about drawing attention to himself. It’s about setting the tone. As he put it, “We don’t need to be the stars. We just need to be the engine that makes the machine run.”
With an eye on redemption, a stacked roster, and a renewed sense of purpose, the Buckeyes are poised to make noise in 2025. And if Donovan Jackson and the offensive line have their way, the rest of the nation will soon understand just how vital the “engine room” really is.
