Ohio State Football: 5 most important Buckeyes on defense

No. 4: Taron Vincent, defensive tackle

Taron Vincent will be called upon to provide a steady force in the middle of this Buckeye defensive line. After losing its top three defensive tackles from a season ago, the pressure will be put upon this former top 20 national recruit to deliver.

Missing all of last season with a shoulder injury, Vincent will be back to 100 percent when the season starts next fall. And that’s good for Ohio State as they will need to quickly get this talented player on the field and able to produce.

While Vincent is probably the most talented defensive tackle on the Ohio State roster, his fellow tackles such as Tommy Togiai, Haskell Garrett and Antwuan Jackson will all be relied upon to step-up this season and form a solid rotation.

But if Vincent can live up to all the hype he had coming into this Ohio State program then that would massively help the Buckeyes chances at a return to the College Football Playoffs.

No. 3: Sevyn Banks, cornerback

Sevyn Banks will be asked to either start at the slot cornerback position or on the outside. Either way, both positions are massively important to the Buckeyes success. Banks, who played a lot on special teams over the past two seasons, is one of the fastest player on this team and getting his speed on the field will surely help next season.

But it will be his coverage abilities that will be most important to the team’s success next season. With Jeff Okudah and Damon Arnette entering the NFL, the Buckeyes are losing two top flight cornerbacks, and it will be up to Sevyn Banks to step in and ease that burden.

And it’s most certainly a good sign that Banks made Lettermen Row’s Austin Ward’s list of Buckeyes who flashed during the first week of spring practice. Banks will need to continue his growth as spring ball rolls along, and he will need to take over one of the openings at corner for Ohio State next season.