Ohio State Defensive Tackle Kayden McDonald Producing Like No Buckeye Nose Guard Has in Recent Memory​

By Andy Anders on November 6, 2025 at 10:10 am @andyanders55

Samantha Madar / Columbus Dispatch

• OSU Football

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The Ohio State football program hasn’t seen a nose guard as disruptive and productive as Kayden McDonald since first-team All-American Johnathan Hankins terrorized opposing offensive lines in 2012.
That statement isn’t made without data to back it up. McDonald is the first Buckeye nose guard to record eight tackles in a game since Hankins did that season, and just like Hankins that year, he’s done it twice. But while the recently-retired 12-year NFL veteran did so against weaker competition in Cal and UAB, McDonald’s eight-tackle outbursts were against Texas and Penn State.
“I'm a game-wrecker,” McDonald said on Wednesday. “I find the ball very easily because of my teammates. And Coach Patricia does a great job of letting us play and not, like, have us playing one gap and just letting us let it free.”

Great defense starts in the middle. Ohio State has a great defense in 2025 – by historic standards, thus far – and a central piece of that greatness is McDonald, its monstrous nose guard.
“He's a huge part of our defense,” Ryan Day said. “We say inside out, and he's the middle of it all. He's, every day, getting better, more consistent, more experienced, more mature just in his approach, and he's a very important guy on our defense, and his production has increased as the season's gone on.”
McDonald added a seven-tackle outing at Washington to his eight-tackle ones, that game perhaps being his most dominant as he added three tackles for loss and two sacks. Each of his season totals is beyond eye-popping for a man often forced to eat double-teams in the middle of the line of scrimmage: He has 37 tackles, six tackles for loss and three sacks just eight games into the season.

Iowa

You can see why this fucking weirdo wanted to play for Harbaugh. Peas in a pod.

Yeah that game should have been a blowout 20 point win or so. Knowles went soft coverage after IGB got that flag on 3rd and a mile halfway through the 3rd.

Am too old to annoint 'the best' team ever that wore S&G. This story is still being written. So far, it's been a rousing tale. But it's always the ending that leaves the memory. Let's just enjoy, and wish them the best. Go Bucks!

SEREbuckeye said:

What a fuckin cornball.

All this after: 14-25, 143 yds, 2 TDs, 1 INT

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Send him back to the Tardhatch

Jaxbuck said:

I used to enjoy MACtion for whatever reason.

Now I just realize how bad these guys are.

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I've cut back on the weeknight drinking myself.

Surprising, but maybe not, as eyes are always focused on Jeremiah. Not to denigrate him, but DB1 and 3 are on Jeremiah, and he gets DB2. No biggie, but do so enjoy the bon mots from the pro scouts who are noticing - and they notice everything, who recognize him as a potential first rounder. I'll let the more learned folk compare him to whomever, just keep catching those balls/TDs Carnell. Great store here.

pnuts34 said:

What a time

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SEC Numbers Guy is a dipshit.

Don't recollect seeing a better pair of LBs in S&G. I know, I know, there's going to be several mentioned, but none playing in a 4-2-5 scheme. Would expect that both would be first rounders in the NFL draft.

ummmmmm

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I agree, there's a certain amount of instinct that you just can't coach, but he's also making it look so smooth and easy because of the mental development and, as I think most of the defense has said all year in various interviews, Patricia's coaching lets him play faster.

They got any punters on the Club team?

What a time

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Don't know how many frosh have played in their fourth game yet, but this would be a great time to exercise the twos. Jump out to a significant lead, and then rest the starters. Or, said another way, try out some OL combos in live fire, instead of 'walk-thrus' during practice. And of course, give the starters some heal up time. I know, I know, they are coming off second 'off' week end before PSU, but still. The PSers are sold, and only without their coach and QB1, the rest are still those that were pre-season #1. Or maybe Day & Co will pad the stats of the 1's, especially Jeremiah and Juilian, who are pushing for Heisman honors, and the rest of the team who have been nominated for post-season honors. Like most of them...Go Bucks!

OregonBuckeye said:

These games really do feel like scrimmages where we're working out issues with the run game

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1926Buckeyes said:

Not bored, but I know what you mean. I can’t think of another season with complete control in every game. It’s rare to see teams capable of being this deliberate. The schedule isn’t killer and they’re not stacking 50 point blowouts, but the offense is just now flexing the passing game and the defense sits back in zone until they want to dial up a sack.

I don’t think this team (relative to their potential) has played more than a B game all year. That’s a huge compliment, but also doesn’t mean they’ll peak by season’s end. After ‘19, I try not to get my hopes up, but it’s exciting watching them strangle teams every week and see so much left in the tank.

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System_id said:

They're a 'boring' dominant team but I haven't been bored watching them. It's honestly been really pleasant. They just go in, handle business, and get out with minimal drama.

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tOSU loses one, gets a higher rated one.....

Not until we see the 'nanners on this page.....