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Ohio State Football: Top 3 questions heading into spring practices

By Frank Teriaca

EVANSTON, ILLINOIS - OCTOBER 18: Head coach Ryan Day of the Ohio State Buckeyes and his players prepare to take the field before the game against the Northwestern Wildcats at Ryan Field on October 18, 2019 in Evanston, Illinois. (Photo by Quinn Harris/Getty Images)
EVANSTON, ILLINOIS - OCTOBER 18: Head coach Ryan Day of the Ohio State Buckeyes and his players prepare to take the field before the game against the Northwestern Wildcats at Ryan Field on October 18, 2019 in Evanston, Illinois. (Photo by Quinn Harris/Getty Images) /
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COLUMBUS, OH – NOVEMBER 09: Javon Leake #20 of the Maryland Terrapins is tackled by Pete Werner #20 of the Ohio State Buckeyes at Ohio Stadium on November 9, 2019 in Columbus, Ohio. (Photo by G Fiume/Maryland Terrapins/Getty Images)
COLUMBUS, OH – NOVEMBER 09: Javon Leake #20 of the Maryland Terrapins is tackled by Pete Werner #20 of the Ohio State Buckeyes at Ohio Stadium on November 9, 2019 in Columbus, Ohio. (Photo by G Fiume/Maryland Terrapins/Getty Images) /

No. 2: How will the defense look in the spring?

This Ohio State defense will be drastically different from the 2019 version. The Buckeyes lost a ton of depth in the secondary and defensive lines as they will be leaning on young talented players to step into those spots and produce.

This Ohio State defense will lose six starters from a year ago including its best players in Chase Young, Jeff Okudah, Malik Harrison and Damon Arnette. Can they reload from losing all this talent to the NFL Draft?

Kerry Coombs takes over Jeff Hafley’s old spot. How will he transition into calling the defensive plays? This will be a big spring for Coombs as he leads the entire defense with the help of Greg Mattison.

A key piece to this defense will be Jonathan Cooper. Here is what the Dayton Daily News said about his return to this defense in 2020:

"Jonathon Cooper, who is returning after an ankle injury derailed what was supposed to be his final season in Scarlet and Gray. The 2019 captain took a redshirt and will provide a veteran presence for an end group that does not have any other seniors but also doesn’t lack talent."

This spring will be also huge for defensive tackles such as Tommy Togiai, Taron Vincent, Haskell Garrett and Jerron Cage as they all look to earn significant playing time this spring. Who will step up between Sevyn Banks, Cam Brown and the incoming freshman to provide depth at corner?

All this will begin to sort itself out as spring ball comes rolling along.

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