Ohio State football making big push for defensive linemen

The Ohio State football team does a really good job recruiting defensive linemen and continues to make a push for them in the recruiting cycle.

The Ohio State football team needs defensive linemen. When I began to research my article for Saturday looking at the state of the defensive ends and how top-recruit J.T. Tuimoloau could fit, I discovered just how thin the Buckeyes could be at the position after this season. The interior of the defensive line is in a very similar situation.

Ohio State is loaded with defensive ends…for now. Seniors Tyreke Smith, Tyler Friday, and Javontae Jean-Baptiste could all be gone after this year. I really think two of the three will not return, but one of them will take advantage of the extra year of eligibility the NCAA has granted because of the COVID-affected 2020 season.

My prediction as to which will return? Jean-Baptiste. I think another year of development physically and as a player will really help him. Junior Zach Harrison is universally seen as a first-round pick in next spring’s NFL Draft, so I don’t see him returning.

That’s at least three of the top four (for now) at this position who will probably not return. Behind them, you have true freshman Jack Sawyer, who is going to be a good one, and redshirt sophomore Noah Potter. That’s it for scholarship defensive ends. There are a few guys on the interior who could be moved, but I’ve not seen any discussion of that happening.

The tackle group could lose its top four as well at the end of this season. Haskell Garrett and Antwuan Jackson will be gone after 2021. With good seasons, I think you’ll see Jerron Cage and Taron Vincent leaving as well.

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One of Cage or Vincent could be back next year, but the Buckeyes are still going to lose a lot here. Behind them there are four scholarship players. Redshirt freshman Darrion Henry-Young and sophomore Cormontae Hamilton are listed simply as defensive linemen and could provide help on the interior or outside.

It isn’t hard to figure out why the Buckeyes are pushing hard to land defensive linemen. They hosted some of the better ones in the country for official visits this weekend. No less than five were on campus.

Hollywood, Florida defensive end Kenyatta Jackson has expert predictions by 247 Sports for both Ohio State and Clemson, while Rivals has him becoming a Buckeye. The country’s number five edge rusher was impressed by Buckeye defensive line coach Larry Johnson. Don’t expect a quick decision from him. He plans on making it back to Columbus for a game and will probably take more visits.

The Buckeyes are probably a longshot to land the nation’s second-ranked defensive lineman, Gabriel Brownlow-Dindy of Lakeland, Florida. He enjoyed his visit to Columbus, but Bucknuts’ recruiting expert Bill Kurelic feels he will choose between Oklahoma and Texas A&M.

Both of his parents went to Oklahoma and his father recently took a job in College Station, Texas, which is where A&M is located. Before you say it, I know what you’re thinking, but I’m staying away from any accusations.

Enai White of Philadelphia sees himself as more of an outside linebacker in a 3-4 defense, but Ryan Day and Larry Johnson spent a great deal of time explaining why they think he’s perfect for Ohio State’s 4-3.

All reports indicate 247 Sports’ top defensive end in the 2022 recruiting class liked what he heard and said Johnson’s plan for him is different from what other schools told him. He plans on waiting until the fall or early winter to make a decision

Defensive tackle Chris McClellan has always wanted to play for Larry Johnson. The Owasso, Oklahoma native was impressed by Johnson’s attention to details when they talked. He said he could decide without taking any more visits.

Although Florida is a major player here, Kurelic has made OSU the favorite to land the nation’s number fourteen defensive lineman (according to 247 Sports’ rankings). Rivals has given a prediction of McClellan joining the Buckeyes.

Defensive lineman Kenneth Grant of Merriville, Indiana was also on campus this weekend. He’s a massive 6’4”, 335 pounds. No predictions have been given yet, but he raved about his visit to the Buckeyes. He said he will choose between OSU, Michigan, and Wisconsin.

That’s two out of the five who visited this weekend appearing to be leaning towards the Buckeyes and another who now appears to be seriously considering them. I can certainly live with those numbers. June visits are over as recruiting now moves into an NCAA dead period.

July will be a month of waiting to see if Ryan Day can add to his top-rated recruiting class and do some much-needed replenishing of his defensive line.