Ohio State football: Most important player who needs to improve in 2021

The Ohio State football team will enter 2021 with plenty of talent and enormously high expectations, but there is a player who must improve in order for the Buckeyes to reach their goals.

The Ohio State football team accomplished almost all of their goals in 2020, with the sole exception being winning the National Championship. Even though there are many key players including Justin Fields, who are leaving for the NFL this Spring, the Buckeyes will still be expecting to win the Big Ten and compete in the playoffs.

If Ohio State is going to achieve these goals, there are several players who will need to step up. However, one player on defense needs to step up more than anyone else.

That player is Zach Harrison. The former five-star recruit has been on the rotation for Ohio State for two years now and has yet to become the dominant defensive end the Buckeyes are used to seeing. After being spoiled with the Bosa brothers followed by Chase Young, Ohio State became accustomed to greatness coming off the edge.

Last season was more of rushing the quarterback by committee. While this technique worked fine and the Buckeyes run defense was very strong the pass defense last year struggled.

Ohio State will once again be breaking new players into the secondary and that unit enters the season with a lot of question marks. One way that the Buckeyes can cover up deficiencies in the back half, is by getting to the quarterback quickly and consistently.

Zach Harrison has the ability to be a difference-maker for the entire defense by stepping up and playing like a Bosa or Young. If Harrison is able to become a household name across the country, that will put the Buckeyes in a great position to win a National Championship. Entering his Junior season, Harrison needs to step up into the role of game-changer.