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GeorgiaBuck2
Buckeye For Life
Hmm interesting. Houston didn't have a great performance against Grambling. I'd have to go back and see how he did vs OU. Didn't hear his name called too often.
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Tywone Malone Jr. Making Unexpected Surge to Starting Role in Fifth Season: “His Mindset's Changed”
By Andy Anders on October 2, 2025 at 12:14 pm @andyanders55
Adam Cairns/Columbus Dispatch/USA TODAY NETWORK via Imagn Images
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Three seasons at Ohio State. Five total seasons of college football. And yet, coming into the 2025 season, it looked as though Tywone Malone Jr. might end his collegiate career never being a consistent starter.
He made his first career start last season against Marshall, only to see his usage tank the rest of the season. He wasn’t sitting atop the depth chart at defensive tackle entering 2025. But with back-to-back starts over sophomore Eddrick Houston and improving evaluations from Ryan Day, Malone has begun to take up the mantle as the Buckeyes’ top three-technique DT.
“He's been consistent in his approach,” Day said on Wednesday. “I think he graded out his best game that he's graded out so far this year against Washington. So, I think his confidence is improving. You're seeing more consistency. He's using what he's doing in practice and learning about what needs to be done, in terms of taking on blocks in the run game, and also in the pass rush. Using the tools that Coach (Larry) Johnson and Coach (Matt) Patricia are giving him, and now they're starting to show up on the field. And it's a mindset, and his mindset's changed, and because of that you're seeing better play.”
Through 2023 and 2024, after Malone transferred to Ohio State, much of the conversation in speaking with him and Johnson revolved around how things could change now that his full focus was on football.
Malone was a touted prospect in the recruiting class of 2021, a top-70 recruit in the 247Sports composite. The Buckeyes pursued him hard, but he ultimately signed with Ole Miss, in part because he wanted to continue playing baseball, a desire the Rebels accommodated. But it diverted attention from his primary sport and hurt his development. When he transferred to Ohio State, he dropped baseball and had to learn to approach football like a pro.
“It was a long (process),” Malone said. “Sitting every time with Coach J, just talking about what can I do to improve on my game. Watching films on other guys, like I mentioned before, and seeing how they handle themselves in situations, how they handle themselves on the field. How they handle themselves in the film studies, practice, stuff like that.”
Malone saw little playing time in his first year at Ohio State. He carved out a rotational role in 2024 and made the aforementioned start in game three vs. the Thundering Herd, then opened at three-tech again vs. Michigan State in game four when regular starter Tyleik Williams was injured. But Malone played at least 10 snaps in a game just once after that, against Purdue in the Buckeyes’ ninth game. He saw 11 snaps combined in their four College Football Playoff games.
Houston emerged as the heir apparent to Williams, a first-round pick of the Detroit Lions in the 2025 NFL draft, in that timeframe. The then-freshman Houston made his first career start over Malone against Purdue when Williams was sidelined again. Houston solidified himself as the backup three-tech for Ohio State’s entire CFP run.
A five-star prospect, Houston seemed destined to capitalize on that momentum this year, even if an injury on the first day of preseason camp set him back a few weeks while he worked back to 100 percent. But Malone stayed motivated alongside the rest of a defensive line room hungry to prove it wasn’t just table scraps left over after all four starters from the Buckeyes’ 2024 front four started careers in the NFL.
Tywone Malone Jr. Making Unexpected Surge to Starting Role in Fifth Season: “His Mindset's Changed”
A mindset shift and dedicated approach in the film room have propelled Tywone Malone Jr. to the top of Ohio State's DT depth chart in his fifth and final collegiate season.
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scarletngray
Gold Pants
Awesome that Malone has experienced a breakthrough. Highly thought of coming out of HS. Now as a Senior he has found his groove. He'll only get better as the season progresses.
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