Ohio State Football: 5-Stars need to step up on defense
Former 5-star recruits on the Ohio State football team need to step up their games in order for the defense to round into form.
Coming into the final stretch of the season with four regular season games left, Ohio State has got to figure their defensive struggles out. With big games coming up to finish the season, the coaches know what they are going to get out of the offense; it is the defensive side of things that need to change.
With Nick Bosa leaving it hurt our defense significantly, which is expected when he is projected to be the #1 draft pick. In reality, our line is not where the Buckeyes struggles have been on defense.
It has been loss of coverage with our linebackers, cornerbacks getting burned it seems every play, and safeties not helping out the cornerbacks.
The two players who need to step up for this Ohio State defense is Jeffrey Okudah and Baron Browning, two 5-Star recruits who need to start making a name for themselves.
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Browning is fighting for playing time between Tuf Borland, Pete Werner, Malik Harrison, and Justin Hilliard. Big things were expected from Browning and those things haven’t happened yet.
He has made some plays this year, but if he can reach his potential of what the Buckeyes recruited him for, he would elevate the defense.
As for Okudah, another 5-Star recruit who played in all 14 games last season as a true freshman, the Buckeyes are looking for another jump from him coming down the stretch. Okudah has the potential to be a Denzel Ward or an Eli Apple kind of corner and that is what Ohio State fans are looking for but they have not really seen it yet this season.
Yes, he has made plenty of good defensive plays, but Ohio State does not settle for good.
If the Buckeyes want to make a strong run during the stretch drive, their defense has got to be better and Browning and Okudah have to be guys to step up for them.
Next. Buckeyes enter November primed for a run. dark
With games coming up against Nebraska, Michigan State, Maryland, and Michigan, it is a tough four game stretch and Ohio State will have to play great football. And that will mean the Buckeyes will have to be strong on the defensive side of the ball.