Scarlet and Game
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Ohio State Football: Buckeye defensive line set to dominate

By Thomas Scurlock

COLUMBUS, OH - SEPTEMBER 08: Acting head coach Ryan Day of the Ohio State Buckeyes looks on before the game against the Rutgers Scarlet Knights at Ohio Stadium on September 8, 2018 in Columbus, Ohio. (Photo by Joe Robbins/Getty Images)
COLUMBUS, OH - SEPTEMBER 08: Acting head coach Ryan Day of the Ohio State Buckeyes looks on before the game against the Rutgers Scarlet Knights at Ohio Stadium on September 8, 2018 in Columbus, Ohio. (Photo by Joe Robbins/Getty Images) /
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INDIANAPOLIS, INDIANA – DECEMBER 01: Chase Young #2 of the Ohio State Buckeyes chases down Clayton Thorson #18 of the Northwestern Wildcats in in the third quarter at Lucas Oil Stadium on December 01, 2018 in Indianapolis, Indiana. (Photo by Joe Robbins/Getty Images)
INDIANAPOLIS, INDIANA – DECEMBER 01: Chase Young #2 of the Ohio State Buckeyes chases down Clayton Thorson #18 of the Northwestern Wildcats in in the third quarter at Lucas Oil Stadium on December 01, 2018 in Indianapolis, Indiana. (Photo by Joe Robbins/Getty Images) /

With Larry Johnson at the helm, every year you can expect the Ohio State defensive line to be one of the best in college football. It will be more of the same in 2019.

The Ohio State defensive line routinely gets publicity heading into every season with Larry Johnson always having a terrific unit. The 2017 group was especially praised, which is understandable considering the starting front four included Nick Bosa, Sam Hubbard, Tyquan Lewis and Dre’mont Jones.

I think the 2019 group will be even better.

Despite losing Bosa for the season against TCU last September, the line managed to have a productive season while the overall defense struggled.

Bosa’s injury forced Chase Young and Jonathan Cooper to step up and both did. That experience will pay dividends this year.

Here is an early preview for the Rushmen, a unit with a nice blend of seniors, highly touted sophomores with a star junior on the end:

Returning Starters

Chase Young:

Battling injuries and double-teams most of last year did not stop Young from having a great sophomore season, his first as a full-time starter.

He finished with 10.5 sacks and 39 tackles while making play after play throughout the year.  No highlight was more special than tackling Miles Sanders behind the line of scrimmage to secure the win over Penn State.

Young’s quickness and athleticism makes him the ideal defensive end and he is rightfully getting pre-season All-American recognition.

Robert Landers:

Defensive tackles rarely get the notoriety they deserve.  Landers certainly falls into that category.

I just view him as Mr. Reliability.  When a run-stuffing play is needed, Landers is the man making life difficult in the trenches for opponents.

Jonathan Cooper:

It took Bosa’s injury for Cooper to get his chance to be a full-time starter, but he showed why the drop off from starter to backup is minimal at Ohio State.

He finished the season with 2.5 sacks and 25 tackles. Both of these stats will rise dramatically this year.  I predict he will earn first-team All-Big Ten.

Now for the impressive backups.

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