Improving Ohio State’s defense likely starts up front

Coach Larry Johnson called the last one key.

“It’s a long season, and I’m not sure one guy can carry all the reps,” Johnson said. “It just can’t happen. So they’ll end up playing. Now we just have to get them stronger, get them ready to play and hope we can play ‘em early and hope we have a chance to have them make a really big jump down the stretch.”

He was speaking specifically of his young defensive ends Caden Curry and Kenyatta Jackson, but the statement would seem to apply to the whole group.

Johnson had three players log more than 400 snaps last season, led by J.T. Tuimoloau’s 503. The team’s other starting end, Zach Harrison, logged 483, while tackle Taron Vincent played 484.

Tuimoloau is back for his junior season, but the other two are gone so many players are preparing for larger roles this fall.

That likely starts with Jack Sawyer, a classmate and fellow five-star recruit of Tuimolau, for whom the light has yet to fully come on.

If Sawyer lives up to his recruiting billing, the Buckeyes will have a formidable pass rush duo with second-year players Curry and Jackson able to supplement them.

Mitchell Melton, a fourth-year player from Maryland with roots in the Dayton area, could also be a wild card after missing the last two seasons with knee injuries.

“He’s a great pass rusher,” Johnson said of Melton. “You guys haven’t seen it very much, but he can rush the passer. He’s tough, he’s fast. He can play relentless. All the good things you wanna have guys playing, Mitchell Melton is that.

“We’re counting on those guys.”

Inside, Ty Hamilton was a regular as a sophomore, and Johnson expects to see bigger and better things from him.

Third-year players Tyleik Williams and Mike Hall Jr. are also in position for breakout seasons after flashing play-making ability but struggling to find consistency.

“Ty’s very strong,” Johnson said. “He’s physically strong, and inside he can manage himself at 295 pounds because he’s so strong and that’s the thing we saw him do in the spring. So that’s what we can do in the fall.

“Then Tyleik, the same thing, and Mike Hall. You can do on-and-on with guys. (Fourth-year junior) Jaden McKenzie had a great spring, a really great spring. So it’s all a matter of time. We’ll see what happens. We’re a long ways from starting. In August you get going and we’ll see how it goes.”

Last season, the Buckeyes shaved more than 50 yards per game off their opponents total, but they still allowed more than 5.1 yards per play bringing in big-money defensive coordinator Jim Knowles.

They also registered only 34 sacks — three fewer than during a disappointing 2021 — and 96 tackles for loss, three more than ‘21.

So whoever is out on the field this fall, Ohio State could use more production, and that means the Buckeyes have more to do this summer and in the preseason.

“I think we’re not where I want them to be right now,” Johnson said about a month after the conclusion of spring practice. “I think we’re getting close. I thought we had some good moments in the spring football. I thought our guys played hard. It’s what you want them to do, play hard. I thought technique was much better on videotape than I’ve seen. And now I just want to get the group to come together and play for each other.”

They might not be able to do much real football activity during the summer, but Johnson pointed to the weight room when he asked where his players can improve between April and late July when preseason practice starts.

He also wants to see them build a bond off the field that can translate to better play on it.

“I think the biggest thing you see is the unity, the brotherhood right?” Johnson said. “Guys playing for each other. I think they’re always key. And we’ve got to start playing for each other as a defense. And it’s another year under our belt of playing in the defense so that’s a bonus, too. So now the guys have a familiarity with the defense and what it’s all about, what Coach Knowles wants them to do.”