It'd be surprising if the 2024 Ohio State Buckeyes' defense isn't the best in the nation this fall. Returning most of their top stars from last year's unit, the Buckeyes plan to ride their defense to the College Football Playoff.
We're predicting the Ohio State defense's two-deep depth chart as training camp continues. Who will start, and which key depth pieces will make an impact this college football season?
2024 Ohio State Two Deep on Defense
Defensive End
LDE- Jack Sawyer
LDE- Caden Curry
RDE- JT Tuimoloau
RDE- Kenyatta Jackson Jr.
The starting defensive ends for Ohio State are an easy projection. Boasting elite run defensive capabilities and solid impact as pass-rushers, the pairing of Jack Sawyer and JT Tuimoloau is a safe bet to be very good. Will they be great, though? Sawyer is on the trajectory to be an impact starter, but Tuimoloau's ceiling is closer to very good than great.
It's more interesting to see which players will earn playing time after these two. While Sawyer and Tuimoloau eat up a ton of snaps, the Buckeyes have to do better to rotate in fresh legs. Third-year classmates Caden Curry and Kenyatta Jackson Jr. only combined for three sacks last year, so each must be given more leash to develop.
Linebacker
MLB- Cody SimonMLB- Arvell Reese
WLB- Sonny Styles
WLB- C.J. Hicks
Cody Simon is fully locked in for the middle linebacker spot. Despite being the third linebacker, Simon finished third on the team in tackles, so he'll inevitably become the leader in 2024. I'd go so far as to say he'll break 100 tackles this fall.
Sonny Styles has seemingly taken a bit of a lead in the outside linebacker spot, but Jim Knowles has been clear that both he and C.J. Hicks will be on the field often. Whether it's rotating or on the field together, expect to see a ton of this trio in 2024.
Cornerback
LCB- Denzel Burke
LCB- Jermaine Mathews Jr.
SCB- Jordan Hancock
SCB- Lorenzo Styles Jr.
RCB- Davison Igbinosun
RCB- Aaron Scott Jr.
Ohio State's secondary will be the best in the nation . Denzel Burke, Jordan Hancock, and Davison Igibosun are hands-down studs if not stars. The question is, who plays, if any, were to miss time, and can they be trusted?
Aaron Scott Jr. was the top recruit of this last cycle, and Jermaine Mathews actually played last year, so they earned the early nod. The underrated storyline to watch is whether former Notre Dame receiver Lorenzo Styles Jr. can make a case to get playing time as a fifth-year senior at a new position.
Safety
FS- Caleb Downs
FS- Malik Hartford
SS- Lathan Ransom
SS- Keenan Nelson Jr.
Adding Caleb Downs to this roster is insanely fun. Despite being only a sophomore, Downs is Ohio State's best overall player. His impact will be immeasurable, but his backup Malik Hartford, has only 10 career tackles.
The same can be said for Lathan Ransom's backup, Keenan Nelson Jr. It's possible the former South Carolina defender loses out to Jayden Bonsu or Jaylen McClain, but I tend to think Knowles wanted someone who has multiple years of being within the college football world as a backup.
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