Similar to Carnell Tate last season, Inniss can make a giant impact as the third receiver on the depth chart this season
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When discussing the Ohio State wide receiver room for the upcoming season, most of the attention is focused on Jeremiah Smith, and any remaining attention is focused on Carnell Tate. However, another formerly top-ranked recruit has patiently waited for his moment, and this season could be just that.
The man in question is rising junior, Brandon Inniss.
The 6-foot, 200-pound junior from Fort Lauderdale, Florida, is entering the season as the likely third receiver, slotting in behind Smith and Tate and right in front of Mylan Graham, at least to start the season.
As a prospect, he was a high four-star, ranked as the No. 5 receiver, the No. 9 player in Florida, and No. 35 overall in the 2023 class. Andrew Ivins, the Director of Scouting for 247Sports, praised Inniss highly in his recruiting scouting profile.
“Arguably the most established prospect in the class of 2023. Burst onto the scene making plays as an eighth grader down in South Florida and never left racking up accolade after accolade,” Ivins said in his evaluation. “Listed as a wide receiver and will likely get paid one day to catch passes, but could also be labeled as just a straight up alpha as he’s someone that absolutely hates to lose and will do whatever it takes to win.”
He continued to say Inniss, “has evolved as a wide receiver over the years and seems to be settling in as a game-changing inside receiver that can work all the different numbers of the route tree.”
He also projected him as a first-round pick and compared him to the Detroit Lions star Amon-Ra St. Brown. He had offers from Florida State, Miami, Alabama, Oklahoma, and many more.
However, he has been behind multiple first-round picks and has only gotten spot opportunities thus far.
In his career, Inniss has 15 catches for 234 yards and two touchdowns, which is good for 15.6 yards per reception. During his freshman season, he had one catch for 58 yards and a touchdown in eight games, and during his sophomore season, he recorded 14 catches for 176 yards and one touchdown in 16 games.
Still, he showed up in some big moments this past season, scoring a touchdown against Penn State and recording a big first down in the national championship game against Notre Dame.
On special teams, Inniss had 14 punt returns for 107 yards and three kick returns for 47 yards with no touchdowns. He averaged 7.6 yards per punt return and 15.7 yards per kick return.
Adam Cairns/Columbus Dispatch / USA TODAY NETWORK via Imagn Images
“When you feel like now’s your time, your mentality also changes,” Inniss told 247Sports in April. “And last year, still being the ‘backup,’ now the opportunity to be a starter, now your mentality totally changes. And I feel like the number change, my body’s changing, and it’s all coming together.”
There is still a lot in front of Inniss, as Smith and Tate will see the lion’s share of targets, and new tight end Max Klare is one of the best in the country, but Inniss has waited long enough and knows how to take advantage of his opportunity when it knocks.
“We call it competitive excellence, making the play when your number’s called,” Inniss said. “And I feel like every time I get the opportunity to get in the game, it’s either I’m putting good stuff on film or bad things, and I don’t want to put bad things on film. So that was just my mindset every play. Just put everything on film.”
Look for Inniss to be a contributor in his third season. As teams try to clamp down on Smith and Tate, that can open up more opportunities for the junior.