The Buckeyes need to reload their vaunted D-line after losing all four starters to the NFL.
From now until preseason camp starts in August, Land-Grant Holy Land will be writing articles around a different theme every week. This week is all about the most important questions yet unanswered for the season. You can catch up on all of the Theme Week content and our ”Burning Questions” articles here.
I recently wrote a piece on Ohio State’s red zone defense during our “Most Telling Stat” theme week, explaining how the 2024 team’s ability to get stops when backed up to the goal line — and how the reputation gained while doing it during the regular season — helped the Buckeyes win a national championship.
Not all of that success comes down to the defensive line. Linebackers like Cody Simon and Sonny Styles filled gaps, safeties Lathan Ransom and Caleb Downs were critical both in coverage and stuffing the run, and the cornerbacks had to be sharp on the condensed field.
But it’s safe to say the defensive line is the most critical part of that, with defensive ends setting the edge and the tackles getting penetration — or at least stalemates — at the line of scrimmage.
If Ohio State is going to compete in 2025, it will come down to not only replacing all four defensive line starters who were drafted by NFL teams this spring, but the backups will also need to step up to fill in for the previous key reserves who will take those starting spots.
To get a sense of how good the Buckeyes were on the defensive front, one can simply look at the 2025 NFL Draft. The Detroit Lions selected defensive tackle Tyleik Williams in the first round (No. 28 overall). Defensive end JT Tuimoloau went to Indianapolis in the second round (No. 45). Pittsburgh snapped up fellow edge rusher Jack Sawyer in the fourth round (No. 123), with the Rams claiming tackle Ty Hamilton in round five (No. 148).
(Side note: Simon and Ransom both went in the fourth round, which will require further replacements and could be noticeable in short-yardage situations, but this is a piece about the defensive line.)
Ohio State used mutliple players to spell the starters or to take over in the second half of lopsided games. A couple of those who could have helped in 2025 — defensive lineman Hero Kanu and outside rusher Mitchell Melton — have moved on through the transfer portal.
Ultimately, the new starters will need to become productive in their own right if the 2025 team is going to avoid slipping from its lofty defensive rankings from last year’s championship season.
The Buckeyes led the nation in scoring defense (12.9 points per game against) and total defense (254.6 yards allowed per game) and ranked third nationally in both rush defense (87.63 yards allowed per game) and pass defense (167 yards allowed per game). Ohio State compiled the second-most sacks (53) in the FBS a year ago.
Pressure on the quarterback came not only from edge rushers Tuimoloau (12.5) and Sawyer (9), but also up the middle from Hamilton (3.5) and Williams (2.5).
The replacements for the four starters seem to be set in stone, but key backups must be identified and they must produce. Caden Curry has flashed at defensive end in a backup role, providing 4.5 sacks over the last three seasons, and now he’ll be tasked with being on the field for a lot more snaps. Opposite from him will likely be Kenyatta Jackson, Jr., who has chipped in three sacks of his own from 2022-2024.
The bulk of the work will be theirs now, while Idaho State transfer Logan George and outside linebacker C.J. Hicks will push them and, when needed, spell them. North Carolina transfer Beau Atkinson is an unknown commodity who can help, while younger players like Zion Grady and veteran backups such as Joshua Mickens can also play a role.
Inside, Kayden McDonald and Eddrick Houston seem the logical starters at nose tackle and the 3-technique, respectively. Both players shone brightly at times during Ohio State’s 2024 season. However, there’s a big difference between spelling a tired starter or playing a worn-down team in the second half of blowouts and stepping up one’s game to provide consistent stability week in and week out from the first snap. There are a lot of questions beyond those two on the interior defensive line.
Tywone Malone, Jr., and Eric Mensah are two players who could break out in 2025. Will Smith, Jr., and Jason Moore are in the mix as well.
If Ohio State’s defensive replacements — especially on the line — can contribute at or near the level of those for whom they are taking over, and if Larry Johnson, Jr., can get as much out of his defensive linemen in Matt Patricia’s system as he did a year ago under Jim Knowles, the Buckeye defense should again be one of the best in America.
But, at least for now, that remains one of the most burning questions of this offseason.