Ohio State Football: Defensive Tackle Room is Crowded and Loaded

Nov 26, 2016; Columbus, OH, USA; Ohio State Buckeyes defensive end Nick Bosa (97) celebrates his sack with teammate Dre'Mont Jones (86) during the first overtime at Ohio Stadium. Ohio State won 30-27. Mandatory Credit: Joe Maiorana-USA TODAY Sports
Nov 26, 2016; Columbus, OH, USA; Ohio State Buckeyes defensive end Nick Bosa (97) celebrates his sack with teammate Dre'Mont Jones (86) during the first overtime at Ohio Stadium. Ohio State won 30-27. Mandatory Credit: Joe Maiorana-USA TODAY Sports /
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The Ohio State DT unit is a strength now.

A year ago at this time most Ohio fans were nervous about how the defensive tackles would perform in the 2016 season. It was a valid concern because there were only two players returning with any experience.

Of the other six tackles on the roster, five were redshirt freshmen and one was a true freshman. That was definitely a concern because it usually takes most players until about the third year in a program before he can handle the pounding a tackle has to take.

It even took Adolphus Washington and Michael Bennet that long until they began playing at a high level, and they were NFL draft picks. There also was another reason to wonder how well the tackles would play, and how they would hold up. A couple had been recruited as defensive ends.

Then, at the beginning of the ’16  season Tracy Sprinkle went down with a season ending injury. Since he was one of the returning players, panic set in for some.

Not to worry, Michael Hill held down the nose tackle position as Robert Landers continued to grow into the position. Others helped at that spot as well.

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Now the other tackles, especially Dre’Mont Jones, had bulked up but kept their quickness with a year of coach Mick’s strength and conditioning. Now those tackles were ideally suited for the three technique which allowed them to use their quickness to shoot the gaps. In fact, they penetrated the offensive backfield so well,  coach Larry Johnson called the defensive line the fastest he had ever coached.

The Ohio State defense was one of the best in the nation last season. That could only happen because of the stellar play of the defensive tackles.

Nearly the entire unit is back this year and Tracy Sprinkle will be back for the beginning of the season. Here is a list of the tackles on the roster and the last two are incoming recruits. And boy are they good ones.

  • Joshua Cornell   So.  6’3  280
  • Davon Hamilton  So.  6’4  300
  • Robert landers  So.  6’1  283
  • Michael Hill  6’3  305
  • Dre’Mont Jones  6’3  296
  • Dylan Thompson  6’5  280
  • Malik Burrow  6’2  290
  • Haskell Garrett  6’2  288
  • Jerron Cage  6’1,5  275

Next: More Praise for the Running Backs

As you can see the defensive tackle is loaded now, and boy is it talented. And it is now very experienced as well. That’s a far cry from where the unit was just one short year ago.