COLUMBUS, Ohio — If Ohio State is going to successfully navigate one of its most difficult schedules in years, it will need to rely on more than just another talented starting lineup. It’s going to need to lean on its depth, too, as we saw in its national title runs in 2014 and 2024.So, which non-starters could play major roles for Ohio State this season or set the tone for bigger roles in the future? Here are 11 names to know.Quarterback: Tavien St. ClairSt. Clair is going to be one of the most-watched backup quarterbacks in college football this season. With Heisman Trophy finalist Julian Sayin back, St. Clair is on a short list of young five-star quarterbacks in backup roles, joining the likes of Houston’s Keisean Henderson, Oregon’s Dylan Raiola, LSU’s Husan Longstreet and Ole Miss’ Deuce Knight.St. Clair is entering a crucial year in which he needs to show progress behind the scenes as the quarterback of the future, with his first real chances to audition. He was the third-string quarterback last year, but with Lincoln Kienholz gone to Louisville, St. Clair is in line for more significant snaps. Last year, Kienholz played 61 snaps behind Sayin, while St. Clair played 12 and threw only two passes as a true freshman.If he shines as a backup, the excitement regarding the Bellefontaine, Ohio, native will only grow into next offseason, with Sayin possibly heading to the NFL.Ohio State's brutal scheduleBruce Feldman and Ralph D. RussoRunning back: Isaiah WestBo Jackson is the running back who gets all the hype — which he should after tallying 1,090 yards as a freshman — but West completes the stellar one-two punch of sophomores after they arrived together last year.West was a three-star recruit, but he is a powerful back who jumped into a prominent role in the middle of last season. He rushed for 310 yards and two touchdowns on 59 carries. Now, he will have to adjust to remain consistent as opposing teams include him on their scouting report.If West can build on his strong freshman season, the Buckeyes should feel confident in a running back trio of West, Bo Jackson and Florida transfer Ja’Kobi Jackson to get the job done behind an improved offensive line.Wide receiver: Devin McCuinThe Athletic’s NFL Draft expert, Dane Brugler, published his preseason wide receiver rankings this week, and Jeremiah Smith is unsurprisingly leading the group. But the second-highest Ohio State receiver is McCuin.The UTSA transfer is the No. 9 available senior, and while he doesn’t have the high recruiting ranking of Brandon Inniss or come from a Power 4 program like LSU transfer Kyle Parker, McCuin will be a major part of this team and may even start after catching 65 passes for the Roadrunners last year.Ohio State still has to work out its rotations, but the five players who seem to be leading the charge are Smith, Inniss, Parker, McCuin and five-star freshman Chris Henry Jr.I chose McCuin here because of his versatility. He’s a 6-foot receiver who is good with the ball in his hands and can play multiple positions, not just the slot. He also has proven to be a willing blocker. At the end of the season, I think we’ll be looking back at McCuin as a surprisingly effective transfer get for new receivers coach Cortez Hankton.Tight end: Hunter WelcingWith Max Klare and Will Kacmarek gone, Welcing needs to continue to grow after his best year as a pass catcher. He totaled one catch in his first four years at Northwestern, then broke out with 28 catches for 296 yards and two touchdowns last year in Evanston.This is his last season of eligibility, so he’s not someone to watch for the future, but his 6-foot-3 frame should give Ohio State options in the passing game alongside top tight end Nate Roberts. As long as his blocking is at the level that tight ends coach Keenan Bailey requires, Welcing’s size could make him an impact player and a major help in the red zone.Offensive line: Gabe VanSickle and Josh PadillaVanSickle started against Miami and struggled, like everybody else, in the Cotton Bowl, but there’s still a belief that he can develop into a capable starting guard. As for Padilla, he’s the center of the future once Carson Hinzman leaves.The question for both is whether they’ll be able to jump into the main rotation this year. Barring injury, the only offensive line positions already locked up are center with Hinzman and left guard with Luke Montgomery. Right guard is open for VanSickle, a more traditional guard, or Padilla to jump in.I don’t think Ohio State’s best grouping is with one of them at guard, but in terms of the future, these might be two of the most important players on this list.Defensive tackle: Jamir PerezThe Cleveland native out of Glenville High arrived in Columbus at 360 pounds and brought excitement about his future because there aren’t many 18-year-olds with that type of size.Perez is down on the depth chart, as you’d expect for a freshman, but now, with the five-year eligibility rule, there’s no need to limit him to just four games and a redshirt. That could lead to more freshmen playing this year, and if so, Perez is near the top of that list for me, even though he was just a three-star recruit.It usually takes freshmen time to adjust to the demands of Big Ten football on the field and in the weight room, but this preseason camp will be important for him. I don’t think it’s out of the realm of possibility for Perez to be in the top six at defensive tackle and crack the rotation to earn some situational snaps.Defensive end: Zion GradyI can’t get over how impressive Grady was last season in a limited role. He had 13 tackles and one sack in his freshman season and is in a position to lock himself into Ohio State’s two-deep.Beau Atkinson is likely to start, but Grady is going to play a lot this year. He’s an athletic edge player with a strong motor who has made a good impression on defensive line coach Larry Johnson.I wouldn’t be shocked if Grady is second on the team in pressures, even if he doesn’t finish near the top in snaps. If he can do that, he’ll solve one of the major questions hanging over Ohio State’s defense.Linebacker: TJ AlfordAfter a strong spring, the No. 13 linebacker in the 2025 recruiting class is pushing hard to get playing time on defense. I’m not sure he’ll break into the starting two, but can he be the third linebacker on some occasions? Yes. Can he be on the goal-line unit? Absolutely.Preseason camp is going to be fascinating for the linebackers because there’s a group of four with Alford, Payton Pierce, Riley Pettijohn and Wisconsin transfer Christian Alliegro giving a lot to sort out for linebackers coach James Laurinaitis.Alford has a chance to make a big impact for years to come, even if he’s not starting this season.Cornerback: Jay TimmonsAfter losing two corners to the transfer portal, the Buckeyes are rebuilding depth, including bringing in Cam Calhoun (Alabama) and Dominick Kelly (Georgia) via the portal.Timmons is not being talked about enough as a potential instant-impact freshman. I don’t see the five-star corner playing the 311 defensive snaps that Devin Sanchez got a year ago as a freshman, but there’s a possibility that Timmons is the fourth corner right away.I would bet Timmons generates more buzz during preseason camp. He has already garnered compliments from teammates like Smith, who thinks the freshman can be special.Mix his natural athleticism with his ability to cover in space and willingness to blitz, tackle and compete, and there’s a reason Ohio State worked so hard to flip him from Florida State. If fans watch one defensive freshman this year, it should be Timmons.Safety: Leroy RokerDespite the Buckeyes adding two upperclassmen from the portal at safety, they are very high on Roker. The second-year safety was among the starters for much of the spring, and it wouldn’t surprise me if he is with the first team when Ohio State opens camp.I think Duke transfer Terry Moore will take over, but Roker is going to play a lot of football this year, more than the 79 defensive snaps he got as a freshman. There’s still a lot to be worked out regarding Ohio State’s safety rotation, but at worst, Roker will be a special teams player and a second-team safety.The question is, when they use their dime package, do the Buckeyes bring on another corner, or move Roker up top and utilize the versatility of Moore and nickel Earl Little Jr. in different ways?