Ohio State Football: Defensive MVP is returning for 2023

We know that the Ohio State football season ended in two disappointing losses. It was an extremely disappointing way to end the season, especially after watching how the National Championship Game ended up. Ohio State should be champions right now.

The reason they aren’t national champions is because of the defense. The defense blew a 14-point lead in the Peach Bowl against Georgia. I won’t rehash it any further, but it was bad. That doesn’t mean the defense had all bad players on it this year though.

In fact, the MVP of the defense had a really strong year after not being nearly as good in 2021. That player is Tommy Eichenberg. Eichenberg was all over the field this year, recording 120 tackles, 2.5 sacks, and a pick-six. He was Ohio State’s best player by far on defense.

Eichenberg was the one player that Ohio State could count on to be in the right place at the right time. This was the best year of his career by far. Shockingly, he has decided to return to the Ohio State football program and should once again lead the defense next season.

While the secondary had its fair share of issues, Eichenberg was the steady player in the middle of the field stopping the run and dropping back into coverage on running backs and tight ends. If Jim Knowles didn’t have him, the defense would have been much worse.

I’m sure Eichenberg wishes he could have done more at the end of the season. He was named Second-Team All-American and First-Team All-Big Ten. There’s not much more the Ohio State football team could have asked from him this season.

Eichenberg was great. I just wish the rest of the defense was able to play up to his level this past season. Hopefully, they can play better around him next season.