Ohio State Football: Preseason depth chart projection for 2022

These are the projected starters on defense for the Ohio State football team

DE: Zach Harrison, Jack Sawyer

DT: Taron Vincent, Jerron Cage

LB: Steele Chambers, Tommy Eichenberg

CB: Denzel Burke, Cam Brown

S: Ronnie Hickman, Tanner McCalister, Josh Proctor

The Buckeyes move to a 4-2-5 base set under Jim Knowles, but they will play multiple defensive styles. I projected the starters based on the base defense, which includes three safeties. This is the first time in recent Ohio State football history that this is the base defense.

On the defensive line, I put Sawyer there because he has mostly been spotted playing the “Jack” position as the hybrid defensive end/linebacker. I have no doubt that Javontae Jean-Baptiste will get a lot of snaps at his position too, so it’s really more like a 1A/1B situation there.

Eichenberg has been impressive every since the Spring, so he gets the nod opposite of Chambers here. Things could certainly still change in the Fall. The only positions that are truly locked in on defense in my view are the two cornerbacks. Both of those guys are good.

Safety seems fairly set in stone too, although Proctor starting out of the gate might not be true as he still works his way back from his broken leg. I wouldn’t be shocked to see someone else back there instead early in the season, but right now I think it’s his spot to lose.

Again, these are just early preseason projections based on one practice that has been had. I think this is the lineup that we see in just under a month when the Fighting Irish come to town.