COLUMBUS, Ohio — Ohio State’s defense in 2024 could be the best Ryan Day has ever had as head coach, and that’s taking into account both quality and skill.
Much of the talent from the full 2023 roster is back. Where there were departures, elite transfers or highly rated recruits ready to contribute are emerging as potential reinforcements. That made for a pretty boring camp in terms of questions about position battles, because there really was only one.
Instead, the door was opened to look at things on a more macro level and imagine what a team with so much talent and so much experience might look like in the third year of Jim Knowles’ tenure.
This is what it should look like on opening day:
Defensive end
Starters: Jack Sawyer and JT Tuimoloau
Security: Caden Curry and Kenyatta Jackson
There are a handful of third-year guys who probably envisioned themselves as starters when they were recruits because the guys ahead of them would be in the NFL by then. Curry and Jackson are among them who instead find themselves backing up Sawyer and Tuimoloau.
But does being another year older allow us to have more rotation in 2024? Or will we see a repeat of what we saw last year with Sawyer and Tuimoloau playing every important snap, which in some games meant generally every snap?
Defensive Tackle
Starters: Ty Hamilton and Tyleik Williams
Security: Kayden McDonald and Hero Kanu OR Jason Moore
Ohio State could have six players ready to play on the interior in 2024, and that would be best for the two best players. It starts at the top with Hamilton and Williams, but the more players Larry Johnson can rotate, the better.
Knowles continues to highlight McDonald in a way that makes him the most interesting addition to the rotation. Kanu has flashed plenty of times in the past and may now be ready to do so consistently. Moore is the definition of the eye test.
The only thing standing in the way of implementing a six-man rotation is the question of whether Tywone Malone’s transition from part-time baseball player to full-time football player is progressing properly.
Mike Linebacker
Starter: Cody Simon
Security: Gabe Powers OR Arvell Reese
Simon will be OSU’s first linebacker to experience what it’s like to have a defensive coordinator’s voice in his head on the field. He’s the best linebacker and defensive leader, which puts him on a short list of guys you could argue probably shouldn’t leave the field.
But in a one-sided game, there may be an opportunity to build depth. Reese could be special, even if he needs another year to reach his full potential. Powers seems ready to make the jump. They need Simon for what happens come October. In the meantime, James Laurinattis can use this month to give several guys a chance to see how they handle the responsibilities that come with the mike linebacker position.
Will Linebacker
Starter: Sonny Styles
Security: CJ Hicks
It appears Styles’ transition from safety to linebacker went smoothly, so what does this mean for Hicks? Knowles believes it puts the former five-star in the same position Simon was in the last two years as a productive third man, which he wanted to play more for two years but never could.
This season, Hicks has a role where he can make an impact. Whether that role will be more than just an idea in 2024 is still uncertain.
Corner
Starters: Denzel Burke and Davison Igbinosun
Security: Jermaine Mathews and Calvin Simpson Hunt
Ohio State hasn’t been this confident about its cornerback position in a long time. The starters are both among the top 10 players in the country. If something happens to either of them, they know who will have to step in because one of the backups would have been a good starter if Burke had turned pro.
Tim Walton could rotate if he wanted to. He probably won’t, but the option to have up to three players like the Buckeyes did in 2016 isn’t quite as crazy with Burke, Igbinosun and Mathews.
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nickel
Starter: Jordan Hancock
Security: Jermaine Mathews OR Lorenzo Styles Jr.
Did you notice that I put Mathews’ name in two places?
At the start of fall camp, Mathews’ role was described to me as “being next in everywhere,” which is why he was used as both a nickelback and outside cornerback. This was partly because Styles hadn’t been at full speed all fall, but it was also a chance to build depth.
Who takes that spot on Saturday may depend on the scenario. If something happens to Hancock in the first half, Mathews will probably come on the field. In the second half of a decisive game, when the regulars are taken out of the game, it will probably be Styles.
Security
Starters: Caleb Downs and Lathan Ransom
Security: Malik Hartford and Jayden Bonsu OR Jaylen McClain
Downs and Ransom have a good chance of being the best safety duo in the country. They will play every important snap for the Buckeyes this season. But the way defensive coordinator Jim Knowles has talked about the depth behind them isn’t exactly reassuring.
Hartford, Bonsu and McClain have all shown flashes of talent this offseason. Even Leroy Roker
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