-
New here? Register here now for access to all the forums, download game torrents, private messages, polls, Sportsbook, etc. Plus, stay connected and follow BP on Instagram @buckeyeplanet and Facebook.
- Thread starter LordJeffBuck
- Start date
Upvote
0
ScriptOhio
Everybody is somebody else's weirdo.
Ohio State Players Expecting Big Things from Kenyatta Jackson Jr. in 2025: “He Looks Like A First-Round D-End”
Sonny Styles, Jeremiah Smith and Caleb Downs all praised Kenyatta Jackson Jr. at Big Ten Media Days, saying he’s stepped up as a leader and has first-round NFL talent.
Jeremiah Smith, who’s known Jackson for many years since they both played their high school football at Chaminade-Madonna College Preparatory School, also sees first-round draft potential in the 6-foot-6 defensive end.
“Kenyatta been had it. I seen it in high school,” Smith said. “He just had to wait his turn. Now this year, he’s going to turn it up a notch, and y’all are just gonna see a monster that I've seen in high school that could be a first-round draft pick.”
Upvote
0
Upvote
0
Upvote
0
Kenyatta Jackson Jr. Overcame Early Doubts to Become One of Ohio State’s Top Leaders Entering 2025 Season
By Dan Hope on August 21, 2025 at 8:35 am @dan_hope
Email this ArticleShare on RedditShare on TwitterShare on Facebook
5 Comments
At first, Kenyatta Jackson Jr. was overwhelmed when he realized it was his time to be the leader of Ohio State’s defensive line.
When Ohio State began winter workouts this offseason, Jackson didn’t feel ready to take on that responsibility. As he became an elder statesman of a defensive line tasked with replacing Jack Sawyer, JT Tuimoloau, Ty Hamilton and Tyleik Williams, the weight initially felt like too much to carry.
Jackson persevered through those early doubts, however, and became comfortable with his leadership role by the middle of winter workouts. Now, the redshirt junior DE is embracing that role fully as he steps into a starting role for the first time.
“I'm going to be honest: I did not want to be the leader of this room at first,” Jackson told reporters last week. “In the winter, you know, it was tough. I don't tell nobody this, but there would be times, there would be days where (director of sports performance Mickey Marotti) and the other coaches would be hard on the D-line. And it would be tough. And I would go home and shed tears, like, real talk.
“It hit me where I had to be the guy. I had to be one of the leaders in the room. So it was kind of scary. But I stuck with it. The (coaches) helped me along with it. And we're here now.”
Over the past month, Jackson has drawn consistent praise from his coaches and teammates for how he’s stepped up as a leader. Even as Jackson dealt with his early internal struggles, new Ohio State defensive coordinator Matt Patricia said Jackson was one of the first players who stood out to him as a leader for the defense he inherited when he arrived at OSU in February.
“I think Kenyatta has just really from day one that I walked in the building, stepped forward and said, ‘OK, hey, let me be in front. Let me do the drill first. Let me learn. Let me do the lift,’” defensive coordinator Matt Patricia said. “Whatever it is, it's like ‘Get me out in front. Let me go compete. Let me push myself.’ I think that everyone sees how hard he is pushing himself, and you can't help but gravitate towards that saying, ‘If this guy is working this hard, man, I got to get my stuff together. I got to go work as hard as he is,’ because he is setting the standard as we go forward. And I think everybody feels that.”
Kenyatta Jackson Jr. Overcame Early Doubts to Become One of Ohio State’s Top Leaders Entering 2025 Season
Kenyatta Jackson Jr. was initially overwhelmed by the responsibility of leading Ohio State’s defensive line. Now, the fourth-year DE enters 2025 as one of the Buckeyes’ top leaders.
Upvote
0
OregonBuckeye
Semper Fi Buckeyes
This shit is what I loved about college football before the transfer portal days. Very rewarding seeing someone like Kenyatta stick it out and become successful at the same school
Upvote
0
Buckeneye
I lead, you follow.
.... this
You can have all the perimeter talent you want, but at the end of the day the IDL are the tone setters. You lost two draft picks in the middle, 1 of them a 1st rounder.
That is no easy task to replace. If KJ is as good as advertised, you'll still need to see steady play across the rest of the front before the defense can be even near as good as last season.
Upvote
0