Ohio State football: Don’t sleep on this defensive end
By Del Barris
People shouldn’t forget about one defensive end the Ohio State football team has despite all of the hype surrounding the incoming freshmen.
When talk begins of the Ohio State defensive ends, it tends to center around the usual suspects. Zach Harrison is projected to be a first-round pick in next spring’s NFL Draft. There are expectations of a big season from Tyreke Smith.
Before an injury that will keep him out for most of the season, Tyler Friday was expected to provide his usual solid performance. The excitement surrounding true freshmen Jack Sawyer and J.T. Tuimoloau is so palpable you can almost touch it. The guy who often gets overlooked is redshirt junior Javontae Jean-Baptiste. Let me give you some advice: do not sleep on this guy in 2021.
It isn’t like Jean-Baptiste has not played. He’s appeared in twenty games over two seasons and has made two starts, including the national championship game. He has twenty tackles, 3½ tackles-for-loss, and 2½ sacks in his Ohio State football career.
He’s not seen the field as much as Smith, Friday, and Harrison, but has been used in key situations. Remember the 2019 Big Ten championship game against Wisconsin mounted a drive after the Buckeyes had taken a 13-point lead in the fourth quarter? On fourth down, Chase Young dropped Jonathan Taylor for a loss and ended the threat.
Want to take a guess who was the defensive end on the other side? It was Jean-Baptiste. The Ohio State coaching staff has known of his potential, but there has always been one thing missing. Size.
When the Buckeyes recruited a 6’5”, 215-pound linebacker out of Bergen Catholic High School in New Jersey, they saw someone they could convert to a pass-rushing defensive end. They also knew the transformation would not happen overnight.
He spent his redshirt freshman season on the scout team defense as he worked to get stronger and add weight. Everyone in the Ohio State football program raved about his athleticism that year. It’s been an exercise in patience waiting for his body to fill out. He’s now a robust 255 pounds. Hopefully, that patience shown by the Buckeyes is going to pay off in a big way this season.
When I think of Jean-Baptiste’s size and athleticism I think of Chase Young. I’m not going out on a limb here and saying he’s going to be that kind of player. I’m saying that combination makes me think of the former OSU All-American and leads me to believe Jean-Baptiste can be a handful for offenses.
Reports from the early part of camp say he is standing up at the line of scrimmage instead of being in a three-point stance. This makes me think he’s going to be more of a pass rush specialist. It also makes me wonder if the OSU defensive staff is planning to move him around in obvious passing situations. Athleticism equals versatility. This is pure speculation on my part, but the Buckeyes may be planning to use Jean-Baptiste in a variety of ways.
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Don’t sleep on this guy. I’ve been as guilty as anyone of overlooking him among the defensive ends. Not anymore. I really believe Javontae Jean-Baptiste can be an impact player for the Buckeyes in 2021.