Could the next Kayden McDonald already be in the Ohio State Buckeyes' locker room? Should OSU defensive line coach Larry Johnson expedite that player's ascension and let him loose during the 2026 College Football season?
These were the questions that Cleveland.com's Stephen Means and Andrew Gillis attempted to answer on the most recent episode of Buckeye Talk. Means pondered whether Johnson's strong recent track record could include Ohio State's Florida Gators flip, Jamir Perez, after this coming campaign is done. Gillis raved about the unique role the nose tackle could serve for the Buckeyes as a 360-pound freshman.
“What if it is this is like Kayden McDonald situation, where it’s like we’re looking back on it in three years and going man 6′4 360 if that just like if you just shed 15 pounds and turned it into muscle and got him with Larry Johnson, who is about to have back-to-back years with a first round defensive tackle. I don’t know, maybe this dude was underrated,” Means said.
“I do think there is a possibility that Jamir Perez is just not somebody body type-wise they have on the roster, which I think is important. And we’re going to talk about another guy like that with the linebackers with just didn’t have. So, I do think it’s important to have this guy on the roster,” Gillis said.
UCF transfer John Walker is Ohio State's planned Kayden McDonald replacement
With McDonald off to the NFL draft this April, UFC Knights transfer John Walker is expected to start in his stead this coming fall. Walker had 39 tackles, a sack, and a forced fumble this past season in Orlando and was UCF's second-highest graded defender against the run (79.7).
Walker is expected to terrorize the B-gap, but there should be room for multiple trench defenders chipping in to replicate McDonald's production. Perez has opportunities to make an impact from the jump, even if James Smith, Eddrick Houston, Will Smith Jr., and Jason Moore will be names you hear more.
Ohio State has the future in mind, but the Buckeyes have reloaded the present. Members from both eras will be needed to contend with OSU's 2026 gauntlet.