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- Thread starter MD Buckeye
- Start date
- “Mitch has grown a lot at the defensive end position ... Mitch is very smart, very level-headed.” Added that it will be a matter of ensuring his tools aren’t lessened by playing the “Jack.”
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ScriptOhio
Everybody is somebody else's weirdo.
Ohio State Defensive End Mitchell Melton Standing Out in Spring Practice, Aiming to Stack Healthy Seasons for First Time
Aiming to stack healthy seasons together for the first time in his career, Mitchell Melton is making some noise at defensive end this spring.
OHIO STATE DEFENSIVE END MITCHELL MELTON STANDING OUT IN SPRING PRACTICE, AIMING TO STACK HEALTHY SEASONS FOR FIRST TIME
Blocking Mitchell Melton at Student Appreciation Day 10 days ago looked like a waking nightmare for Ohio State’s offensive tackles.
The fifth-year senior backup defensive end invaded the backfield constantly, putting pressure on quarterbacks, grabbing a sack or two and blowing up plays.
“I think for a majority of the spring I’ve been feeling more confident in my abilities,” Melton said. “Even with everything that’s happened in the past, I still think I have a lot to give and a lot to give to this program.”
A lot has certainly happened to Melton in his first four years with the Buckeyes. Specifically on the injury front.
The 2024 season offers his first chance to string healthy seasons together. In 2021, Melton tore his left ACL in spring practice. After a season of rehab, Melton tore his right ACL in the 2022 spring game.
But off a year without major injuries, he’s starting to play his way into a serious rotational role behind Jack Sawyer and JT Tuimoloau off the edge.
“You’ve seen Mitchell Melton get in the backfield as a rush end,” Ryan Day said after the Student Appreciation Day practice. “He got a couple sacks, I think, today. We’re looking for three guys at each position because all those guys are gonna play. We’re gonna roll it this year because we know it’s gonna be a long season.”
Robbed of two seasons by ACL tears and playing just one game in his COVID-19-ravaged freshman season in 2020, Melton felt like a first-year all over again in 2023.
“I feel like last year was my freshman year, kind of, just getting my feet under myself, figuring out how to play college football again,” Melton said. “Now I feel more renewed than ever and, I think, more comfortable in the position I’m playing now. I’m playing end. Got a lot of extra work with the guys and Coach (Larry Johnson) off the field, so it’s definitely helped me get into a more comfortable spot on the field.”
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ScriptOhio
Everybody is somebody else's weirdo.
The process has not been easy for Melton, but throughout it all, he has had support to keep him focused on his ultimate goals.
“I think my support system has been great,” he told the media last week. “My family and my teammates, they’ve all reached out and given me the resources I need to stay mentally enthused and motivated because I understand my ability and what I can do on the field.”
Now that he has been healthy for over a year, and has a full season in the rotation under his belt, Melton is now slotted into a defensive end spot that will hopefully take full advantage of his natural athleticism and pass-rushing ability. His ability to finally contribute to the team in the way that he has always wanted to is leading to a much different mindset from the fifth-year player.
“It’s definitely a mental struggle,” Melton said. “Teaching my mind to not let the little parts of the game or something that held me back before keep holding me back in the future ... I’ve never loved football so much until right now. I think that was the biggest thing coming back, was trying to find a love for it and keep my confidence at a high level. I think I’ve done that ... I feel great.”
Despite how great Melton feels, it’s still not exactly clear how defensive coordinator Jim Knowles and defensive line coach Larry Johnson see him working into the defense. Though he came in as a linebacker, all of his 2023 snaps were on the line. For years, he has been held up as a potential example of what the “Jack” or “Leo” position could be in a Knowles defense, but that spot has never really materialized for anyone. So how exactly will Melton be deployed on the field this season?
“We call it playing basketball on grass,” Johnson said. “That’s what he has. That crossover move in basketball, he can put you to sleep. Just with his head movement. He’s really unique, he’s fast, he’s coming.”
Melton is clearly it is as an edge rusher, in the way that we have seen OSU’s defensive line work in recent seasons. But Jack Sawyer and J.T. Tuimoloau are firmly entrenched as the starters, and then last year’s backups Kenyatta Jackson and Caden Curry return to bring even more depth to the rotation. So, just how many snaps are available for a healthy Melton, especially when five-star end Eddrick Houston is also likely competing for playing time?
Just sayin': Our Lads has him listed as 3rd string LDE.
2024 Ohio State Buckeyes Football Depth Chart | Ourlads.com
The most respected source for NFL Draft info among NFL Fans, Media, and Scouts, plus accurate, up to date NFL Depth Charts, Practice Squads and Rosters.
| LDE | 33 | Sawyer, Jack RS JR | 92 | Curry, Caden JR | 17 | Melton, Mitchell RS SR |
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