As the Ohio State football team continues going through spring practice, they are looking for players who will make an impact on the 2026 season. With 51 new players on the roster, the Buckeyes are using the spring to identify who has an early upper hand in positional battles.
Spring is also the time when players who have been on the roster for a while try to finally make a name for themselves. For a few Ohio State Buckeyes, this is the last chance that they will have to get meaningful snaps in Columbus. That's especially true for one particular player.
Defensive tackle Jason Moore has been stuck buried in the depth chart over the last three years. He has yet to earn significant snaps and has never been a starter. As he enters his fourth year with the Buckeyes, this spring is the most important one of his career.
Ohio State DL Jason Moore needs a strong spring
Moore has just seven career tackles. Last season should have been his best chance to get playing time with the entire starting defensive line turning over. Instead, he was stuck where he always has been: on the bench. He hasn't shown that he's good enough to see the field.
In an era where players leave at the first sign of adversity, Moore's loyalty to Ohio State is surprising. He could have left in the Transfer Portal in either of the last two seasons. Yet, he decided to stick with it in Columbus and fight for some playing time. He doesn't have a straight path to playing time this year, either.
That's why this spring is so important for Moore. Three new defensive linemen came from the portal. That doesn't even count the freshman who came in from high school. As a senior, Moore should be ready to step into a leadership role. Instead, he is going to be fighting in the trenches just to get snaps.
A strong Spring Game could go a long way to giving Moore the playing time that he so desperately desires. He has to show he's head and shoulders above everyone else in order to do that.