2026 tOSU Defense Discussion.

[RB07OSU]

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.

I'm with you, I don't think we expected it simply because of numbers. We had to have most of these guys start or be regular contributors. Now we've gotta scramble to have a semblance of what we saw last year on defense. Reese and Downs had to be presumed to be gone, but the rest of the departures are concerning if we don't kill it in the portal.

 

[osuvictory1]

Honestly, who cares about jbook's opinion? What is his credibility?

Honestly I know very little about him. I am a little concerned about the lack of portal movement myself, but OSU got a nice pick up today.

 

[CMic]

Honestly, who cares about jbook's opinion? What is his credibility?

He knows people who talk to people who know things.
In the twitter-verse, that makes him an expert.

 

[RugbyBuck]

I guess this bitch would be better placed in the special teams thread, but it underscores my earlier concerns about our transfer portal bailouts. This morning Eleven Warriors has a feature on a new transfer player... our new long snapper and why he chose tOSU. What?

 

[Captain Buckeye]

what we are seeing IMO is a change of philosophy.

We can’t afford to pay on potential. Then they watch these old teams fuck up our developed here talent and that had to confirm some things.

We are going to pay the starters starter money and then pile in the freshman for reserves. The ones who show the ability to start will be retained and the ones who don’t are gone.

Then we rinse and repeat in the portal. I’ve got a good understanding now of what they’re trying to do and I couldn’t agree more with it.

For example, instead of a first year starter at both NB and S it seems likely we’ll plug in two players who both were all conference players, both have multiple years in college football with starting experience, and both have 4 int in one season (assuming we get the Duke kid).

That’s way better than Delane and Scott who haven’t done anything.

Quoting the great Gordon Gekko- “ I don’t throw darts at a board. I bet on sure things”.

 

[SEREbuckeye]

Added another name for defensive back/Safety depth

 

[osuvictory1]

Ok, OSU is going for older established players. I likey.