Can the Buckeyes be #1 in scoring defense for a third straight year?
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- Thread starter BB73
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Captain Buckeye
Assistant Coach
Certainly can but depends what we return. The offenses we play this year will be no joke as well. Have to imagine Oregon will be solid, IU, USC, and Texas should be better equipped too.
Have to get some help on the DL though. I’d think KJ will come back but if by some miracle McDonald comes back then we are in business. I don’t think he will be who knows.
As it is we are looking at Houston and Jackson returning on the DL which is a pretty good start. We also have Matthews (more than likely) and McClain returning so that’s 4 starters returning.
This defense is going to be different though so it’ll be interesting to see what Matt Patricia does. He has discussed tailoring his defenses to what he has. So knowing that it’s going to look different without the two 6’5 245 pound head hunters. We won’t be lining up these LBs at defensive end for example.
I’d expect much more traditional looks from this group and the pressure to come from the interior (lb blitzes from a traditional depth) unlike this year where it was from the outside.
Will be interesting to see what they add in the portal.
Have to get some help on the DL though. I’d think KJ will come back but if by some miracle McDonald comes back then we are in business. I don’t think he will be who knows.
As it is we are looking at Houston and Jackson returning on the DL which is a pretty good start. We also have Matthews (more than likely) and McClain returning so that’s 4 starters returning.
This defense is going to be different though so it’ll be interesting to see what Matt Patricia does. He has discussed tailoring his defenses to what he has. So knowing that it’s going to look different without the two 6’5 245 pound head hunters. We won’t be lining up these LBs at defensive end for example.
I’d expect much more traditional looks from this group and the pressure to come from the interior (lb blitzes from a traditional depth) unlike this year where it was from the outside.
Will be interesting to see what they add in the portal.
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Captain Buckeye
Assistant Coach
Yeah I hear ya but he’s got basically no experience. Not sure you can just hope that works out,
But we’ll see what they do! We are going to have to add some veteran players regardless but it’ll be interesting to see where they think we are solid. Who knows maybe they love our safety room.
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ScriptOhio
Everybody is somebody else's weirdo.
It's too early to know; it will really depend on who else we get from the transfer portal.
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For awareness of where we’re at.
Ohio State 2026 DE
Currently on Roster
Kenyatta Jackson Jr, RS-SR, 6'6" 265 lbs
Beau Atkinson, RS-SR, 6'6" 265 lbs
Joshua Mickens, RS-JR, 6'3" 250 lbs
Zion Grady, SO, 6'4" 258 lbs
Epi Sitanilei, SO, 6'4" 239 lbs
Incoming Freshmen
Khary Whilder, FR, 6'4" 260 lbs
Dre Quinn, FR, 6'4" 228 lbs
Braxton Rembert, FR, 6'5" 200 lbs
Ohio State 2026 DL
Currently on Roster
Eddrick Houston, JR, 6'3" 292 lbs
John Walker, RS-JR, 6'4" 324 lbs
Will Smith Jr, RS-JR, 6'4" 292 lbs
Jason Moore, RS-JR, 6'6" 303 lbs
Incoming Freshmen
Emanuel Ruffin, FR, 6'4" 295 lbs
Damari Simeon, FR, 6'3" 275 lbs
Jamir Perez, FR, 6'4" 360 lbs
Darryus McKinley, 6'3" 270 lbs
Ohio State 2026 DE
Currently on Roster
Kenyatta Jackson Jr, RS-SR, 6'6" 265 lbs
Beau Atkinson, RS-SR, 6'6" 265 lbs
Joshua Mickens, RS-JR, 6'3" 250 lbs
Zion Grady, SO, 6'4" 258 lbs
Epi Sitanilei, SO, 6'4" 239 lbs
Incoming Freshmen
Khary Whilder, FR, 6'4" 260 lbs
Dre Quinn, FR, 6'4" 228 lbs
Braxton Rembert, FR, 6'5" 200 lbs
Ohio State 2026 DL
Currently on Roster
Eddrick Houston, JR, 6'3" 292 lbs
John Walker, RS-JR, 6'4" 324 lbs
Will Smith Jr, RS-JR, 6'4" 292 lbs
Jason Moore, RS-JR, 6'6" 303 lbs
Incoming Freshmen
Emanuel Ruffin, FR, 6'4" 295 lbs
Damari Simeon, FR, 6'3" 275 lbs
Jamir Perez, FR, 6'4" 360 lbs
Darryus McKinley, 6'3" 270 lbs
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Ohio State 2026 DB group… a little thin, a little bit worried.
Currently on Roster:
LCB
Jermaine Mathews Jr, SR, 5'11" 190 lbs
Devin Sanchez, SO, 6'2" 198 lbs
SS
N/A
FS
Jaylen McClain, JR, 6'0" 201 lbs
Leroy Roker, RS-SO, 6'0" 197 lbs
RCB
N/A
NB
Miles Lockhart, RS-SO, 5'9" 197 lbs
Incoming Freshmen (All 4
️)
CB Jay Timmons, FR, 5'11" 185 lbs
S Blaine Bradford, FR, 6'1" 207 lbs
CB Jordan Thomas, FR, 6'0" 189 lbs
CB Khamari Bing, FR, 6'0" 190 lbs
S Simeon Caldwell, FR, 6'1.5" 195 lbs
S Kaden Gebhardt, FR, 6'2" 200 lbs
Currently on Roster:
LCB
Jermaine Mathews Jr, SR, 5'11" 190 lbs
Devin Sanchez, SO, 6'2" 198 lbs
SS
N/A
FS
Jaylen McClain, JR, 6'0" 201 lbs
Leroy Roker, RS-SO, 6'0" 197 lbs
RCB
N/A
NB
Miles Lockhart, RS-SO, 5'9" 197 lbs
Incoming Freshmen (All 4
️)CB Jay Timmons, FR, 5'11" 185 lbs
S Blaine Bradford, FR, 6'1" 207 lbs
CB Jordan Thomas, FR, 6'0" 189 lbs
CB Khamari Bing, FR, 6'0" 190 lbs
S Simeon Caldwell, FR, 6'1.5" 195 lbs
S Kaden Gebhardt, FR, 6'2" 200 lbs
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Ohio State 2026 DB group… a little thin, a little bit worried.
Currently on Roster:
LCB
Jermaine Mathews Jr, SR, 5'11" 190 lbs
Devin Sanchez, SO, 6'2" 198 lbs
SS
N/A
FS
Jaylen McClain, JR, 6'0" 201 lbs
Leroy Roker, RS-SO, 6'0" 197 lbs
RCB
N/A
NB
Miles Lockhart, RS-SO, 5'9" 197 lbs
Incoming Freshmen (All 4
CB Jay Timmons, FR, 5'11" 185 lbs
S Blaine Bradford, FR, 6'1" 207 lbs
CB Jordan Thomas, FR, 6'0" 189 lbs
CB Khamari Bing, FR, 6'0" 190 lbs
S Simeon Caldwell, FR, 6'1.5" 195 lbs
S Kaden Gebhardt, FR, 6'2" 200 lbs
Going from Downs to NA might suck a little.
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shocking - the rabble rouser of retards is seeing nothing but doom and gloom. No way! That never happens!
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RugbyBuck
Our church has no bells.
I count seven defensive players in the portal that I would’ve expected to compete to start or see substantial playing time next season. That’s a number that makes me question what we saw and read all season. Why sit behind Downs, Iggy, McDonald, and Curry only to then leave when they do? Is the culture that we keep being fed not quite what we’re fed? Why would you leave the opportunity to be on a top ten defense playing for Matt Patricia about whom we heard nothing but effusive praise all season? The fact that we’ve been quiet in the portal (great LB pickup, notwithstanding) makes me wonder if this exodus caught us by surprise.
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