Ohio State starts spring football on Tuesday, which means it’s time to start previewing the 2024 season.
We talked about some offensive players to watch on Wednesday and now here are a few defensive players.
GO DEEPER
Ohio State players who can make an impact on offense this spring
The Buckeyes are loaded on the defense. They are losing just four starters from last year’s roster and are headlined by the talented edge rushing duo of J.T. Tuimoloau and Jack Sawyer along with a deep secondary.
We know the starters, but with an expanded College Football Playoff on the line, depth is as important as it’s ever been. That will be the key this offseason for the defense, so here are a few players to watch this spring.
It’s time for Jackson and Curry to make the jump.
The assumption last season was that the Buckeyes would lose both Tuimoloau and Sawyer to the NFL Draft and have to rely on Jackson and Curry this season.
But the Buckeyes got the news in the winter that both were returning, so it gives them another offseason to develop Jackson and Curry. This is a crucial spring for that.
Last season, Jackson played 167 snaps, while Curry played 162, according to TruMedia. That was a bump from the 24 snaps Jackson played in 2022 and 79 Curry played in 2022.
So while it didn’t seem like they got enough playing time, they did get more than the year before. With a strong spring, that number could, and should, jump again, but that will only happen if they can make a difference on the field.
At times last year, especially early, it seemed like Ohio State couldn’t do much if Tuimoloau or Sawyer was off the field. That can’t be the case this year, Curry and Jackson have to be impact players and part of that falls on them.
They have to make a difference this spring, much like last year. Jackson was one of the stars of the spring a year ago and Curry played well, too. But it’s also on defensive line coach Larry Johnson to get them involved early in the season. The duo has to build confidence and the only way to do that is through in-game experience.
I think both can be game-changers for Ohio State this season, but it begins on Tuesday for them.
Kenyatta Jackson Jr. recorded three solo tackles and 1.5 sacks in 2023. (Joseph Maiorana / USA Today)
People have been pleading to see more of Hicks since he arrived on campus as a five-star and the No. 1 linebacker prospect in the 2022 class. The Dayton native played less than 100 snaps on defense last season but was stuck behind Tommy Eichenberg, Steele Chambers and Cody Simon, so his lack of playing time made sense in a two-linebacker system.
Now is his time to jump into the lineup and he should be a frontrunner for a starting spot, alongside Simon. Even if Ohio State moves Sonny Styles to linebacker — which I think it will but maybe in more of a hybrid role — Hicks is going to see the field a lot this season.
This spring, though, is his chance to cement himself as the No. 2 linebacker and eliminate any questions of his readiness.
If he’s going to be an every-down linebacker, which he should be, this spring is the time to show that he can be a consistent force in the run game and pass game.
Ohio State thinks he can be that, but it’s just a matter of doing it on the field now. The talent is there, but the experience is the main question mark.
If he can live up to the hype, Ohio State’s biggest defensive question mark, the linebacker position, will go away.
I think Mathews is going to be a star at Ohio State.
He played 183 snaps last season and made plays in some big games like against Penn State.
If Carnell Tate was the best offensive freshman in the spring, Mathews was that on the defensive side of the ball. He quickly adjusted to the college game and showed no fear as a competitor from the start.
That translated to fall camp, allowing him to jump Jyaire Brown in the depth chart. He’s going into the offseason as the established backup to outside corners Davison Igbinosun and Denzel Burke. And his success early in his career has put coach Tim Walton in a tough spot.
That type of potential has to find its way onto the field in year 2, but how? With Burke, Igbinosun and Jordan Hancock all back, there are only so many snaps to go around.
I’m less interested in how Mathews performs this spring because he’s going to do well, but more so how Ohio State is going to use him.
I can foresee a Dime package that includes him with the other three corners on the field at the same time. The Buckeyes used it in the Cotton Bowl on one snap and it helped force an incomplete pass on the play.
This could be a situation like last year where Mathews continues to grow into his own, earns playing time in certain spots and becomes a starter the following season with the rest of Ohio State’s young and talented corner room.
Regardless, there’s no doubt Mathews has an extremely bright future and this spring is a chance for him to build on that.
Another young defensive back, Hartford made an immediate impression on Jim Knowles and the Ohio State coaching staff.
To some, it was a surprise to see Hartford earn a start against Youngstown State, but he made a name for himself before that.
I’m curious how he will build on that freshman season. He played 148 defensive snaps last year and tallied five tackles and two pass breakups. He looked the part even if he was a step slow at times, which is what you expect from a freshman.
This offseason, though, he’s in a great position.
Ohio State did a good job filling Josh Proctor’s role with freshman All-American Caleb Downs and got the good news that Lathan Ransom was going to return for his fifth year. With Styles already on the roster, that puts Hartford in a position where there’s not as much pressure on him entering the spring. He doesn’t have to be ready to start for the Buckeyes.
Instead, he can gain more experience and help provide crucial depth to a position that always needs it with all of the injuries that pile up there.
Hartford is going to see the field in 2024 and play important snaps. This spring is crucial to see how he responds. He shouldn’t let up on the competitive nature and high sense of urgency that helped him make a good impression right away, but he’s also not pressed to step into a larger role right away. That’s a good thing for Ohio State because his development is still on track and a priority.
We’re hitting on a lot of young players today.
There are a few places I could’ve gone with the interior defensive line. Hero Kanu is a guy I want to see, but he seems ready to step into that third defensive tackle spot. Tywone Malone is another one who needs to have a good spring, but I’m excited to see more of McDonald.
A freshman last season, he played 35 defensive snaps, but had some good flashes in camp and could help provide depth at a position that really needs it this season.
Ohio State is unlikely to go five deep at defensive tackle this season, so McDonald would need a strong spring to push for playing time.
Can he beat out Kanu or Malone for a second rotation spot? Ohio State coaches already have high hopes for McDonald, but if he’s able to break through this spring, his future could be extremely bright.
(Top photo of Caden Curry and Jack Sawyer: Joseph Maiorana / USA Today)
