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WITH HIS FOCUS NARROWED, OHIO STATE DEFENSIVE TACKLE TYWONE MALONE COULD HAVE “GREAT IMPACT”
Tywone Malone knows that the pressures of hard work make diamonds, but to realize a gem of a football career, he had to let his ambitions go on another type of diamond.
His whole life, the Ohio State transfer portal addition had played baseball. He desperately wanted to pursue both sports in college, to the point that the Buckeyes were eliminated from contention in his initial recruitment when they only offered him a chance at one.
After two seasons at Ole Miss, however, reality set in. Malone’s football career had started to take off. He saw the field in 13 games in 2022 and made 10 tackles. As for baseball, he only appeared in six of the Rebels’ first 29 baseball contests and went a measly 1-for-10.
It was time for a change, both in attention and in location. Malone retired from baseball and entered the transfer portal.
“I had been playing it my whole life,” Malone said. “It’s different not playing it, but I just feel like it was the best opportunity for me and my family to focus on football.”
With His Focus Narrowed, Ohio State Defensive Tackle Tywone Malone Could Have “Great Impact”
Now that he’s concluded his baseball career and come to Ohio State, Tywone Malone feels his growth is accelerating. Larry Johnson thinks he’ll contribute in 2023.
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Ole Miss transfer defensive tackle Tywone Malone also made a pair of tackles to double his total for the season.
www.elevenwarriors.com
Ohio State vs. Michigan State Notebook: Lathan Ransom’s Injury is “Long-Term,” Cade Stover Comes Back Strong and Defensive Dominance Continues
Ryan Day says Lathan Ransom’s injury is “long-term,” Cade Stover ties his career-high in catches in just one half and Ohio State’s defense holds Michigan State to 182 yards.
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Ohio State Coaches Impressed by Tywone Malone Against Marshall But Looking for More Consistency from Defensive Tackle Depth
By Dan Hope on September 25, 2024 at 3:40 pm @dan_hope
Barbara J. Perenic/Columbus Dispatch/USA TODAY NETWORK via Imagn Images
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Tywone Malone might have earned a bigger role in Ohio State’s defensive tackle rotation with his performance on Saturday against Marshall, but Ohio State’s coaches still have concerns about their overall depth at the position.
The Buckeyes turned to a trio of defensive tackles to fill in at 3-technique against Marshall with Williams out. Hero Kanu started the game while Jason Moore was the second player in at the position, yet it was Tywone Malone who ended up playing the second-most snaps among defensive tackles behind only starting nose tackle Ty Hamilton.
Malone earned more playing time over the course of the game because of how he performed when called upon. He was the Buckeyes’ most productive defensive tackle against Marshall, recording three tackles with a tackle for loss. He actually should have had two tackles for loss, as he also blew up a 4th-and-1 run attempt by Marshall quarterback Stone Earle but didn’t get credit for the tackle because Earle slipped on his own before Malone would have hit him.
That play was one of multiple from Malone against Marshall that stood out to Ohio State coach Ryan Day.
“The fourth-down stop by Tywone Malone was a really good play. He took an adjustment that happened in game that happened on the sideline and he made it on the field and made that play,” Day said. “I thought he had a really good play on a screen; put his foot in the ground, redirected and made a play.”
Ohio State defensive coordinator Jim Knowles was also impressed with Malone, singling him out when asked how he thought the defensive tackles performed against Marshall.
“I thought Tywone showed up, definitely,” Knowles said. “Kind of flashed a couple times in terms of being athletic and running to the ball. So I thought he made some good strides for himself and the team.”
Malone hasn’t played much since transferring to Ohio State from Ole Miss last season. While the initial expectation was that Malone would earn a spot in Ohio State’s two-deep last year, he ended up playing only 49 total defensive snaps, sixth-most among Buckeye DTs. Until Saturday, it didn’t look like Malone would have much of a role in this year’s defense either, as he played just nine total snaps in the first two games of the season.
His performance against Marshall, though, may have been enough to earn him a spot on the two-deep – or potentially even start this week against Michigan State if Williams, who is considered “day-to-day” even though he was expected to practice this week, is unable to return against the Spartans.
“We haven't really discussed that yet because we're hopeful on Tyleik, but I think there's a chance,” Knowles said when asked if Malone would start if Williams can’t play.
Ohio State Coaches Impressed by Tywone Malone Against Marshall But Looking for More Consistency from Defensive Tackle Depth
Ryan Day and Jim Knowles were impressed with Tywone Malone against Marshall but are looking for more consistency from all of Ohio State’s backup defensive tackles.
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I mean, more playing time contributes to more consistency right? Sometimes these coaches seem to be their own biggest obstacles when it comes to player development. Practice is all well and good but there are a lot of people who need the guy in front of them to have a different uniform on to maximize their potential. I know I never could "show out" in practice but had several games where I was a different animal. "Just sayin"
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scarletngray
Gold Pants
We are going to need Malone, Moore and Mensah to take it to the next level in '25. Tywone has shown flashes at times, he just needs more consistency.
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Captain Buckeye
Assistant Coach
Yep and have to include Will Smith Jr too… we should evaluate the DT portal after spring as well.
If we really are moving toward a hybrid defense that’ll certainly help. Because I know the staff loves Styles, Reese, Pierce, and Hicks.
That doesn’t even include Pettijohn who’s likely going to contribute year 1.
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Yeah, spring portal will be interesting, because 6 DTs is a lot for a position that usually plays 4 max in the season
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It all depends on how our two-deep from this season and down develop, but it is going to be very interesting. McDonald seems poised to be a big factor and same for Eddrick if we keep him at DT (he will be a big contributor regardless of where he plays). But there is no doubt Malone is going to have to step it up and now is his chance. I would rather not have to hit the portal but grabbing one quality DT depending on how the staff feels about the DTs returning.
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billmac91
Head Coach
Not a knock on McDonald but I just do not see him as (3) down DT….he’s great at what he does, but at his size and mobility, I don’t see him getting the same snap count as Tylik Williams or Hamilton last year.
He’s incredibly productive when on field, I just think he’s going to need more blows….which is why the loss of Hero Kanu sucks so much….really wish he had stuck it out now that it’s been mentioned he left bc he thought Knowles scheme wasn’t going to be productive for him.
He’s incredibly productive when on field, I just think he’s going to need more blows….which is why the loss of Hero Kanu sucks so much….really wish he had stuck it out now that it’s been mentioned he left bc he thought Knowles scheme wasn’t going to be productive for him.
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That may be true, but that's where Malone comes in. They can keep each other fresh by splitting reps and Tyleik wasn't a 3 down guy to start either. I expect a fresh rotation at DT next year and we need Malone to be a big part of that.
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scarletngray
Gold Pants
Sometimes, with more playing time, a player has the needed motivation to do the extra work needed to take that next step. TM has the physical tools, he just needs to put it all together. Hopefully this is the year that it all comes together. It might start with him being the first person in the building and the last person out. He needs to find that edge somewhere.
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