Three more Ohio State football players named to preseason watchlists

Ohio State's junior safety, Caleb Downs, has been added to another award watchlist. This time, it's for the Jim Thorpe Award, which is awarded to the best defensive back in the nation. Downs' teammate, Buckeye senior cornerback Davison Igbinosun, is also on the watchlist for this award.

This is the second award watchlist Downs has been put on this preseason, and the first for Igbinosun. Downs will look to build off of his All-American 2024 season, while Igbinosun will look to be the lockdown corner for the Buckeyes. Igbinosun notoriously led the nation in pass interference penalties last year, with 16. He'll look to have fewer of those and more plays like his ridiculous and pivotal interception against Penn State. Look for Igbinosun to join Downs as an All-American this year.

Linebackers Sonny Styles and Arvell Reese have been named to the Butkus Award Watchlist. The Butkus Award honors the nation's best linebacker every season. Styles, like Downs, is making his second appearance on a preseason watchlist as both are on the watchlist for the Bronko Nagurski Award.

Styles was a starter for the national championship-winning defense last year and led the Buckeyes in tackles. Reese was a key reserve who will be starting his first season this year.

Buckeye Nation is expecting big things from Reese this season. His teammates and his fans are looking for a breakout season from Reese. He and Sonnny Styles will aim to keep opposing offenses honest by preventing them from focusing on one particular linebacker, thereby freeing them both to make the crucial stops and plays the Silver Bullet Defense requires.

It's great for the defense to have these kind of stars in the back seven this year, especially as the returning starters, as the Buckeyes will have to replace all four starters on their defensive line from last season.