For the first time in forever, Zach Harrison will not be one of the premier defensive linemen at Ohio State. He thinks that's good for him – and for the Buckeyes.
Harrison was the first Ohio State player to speak at the NFL Scouting Combine this week. The 6-foot-6, 271-pound defensive end was asked about his excitement to play in the NFL after four seasons with the Buckeyes, in which he racked up 97 tackles, 24 tackles for loss and 11 sacks.
However, that wasn't the only line of questioning Harrison received on Wednesday. He was also asked about the future of Ohio State's defensive line and what it will look like under the leadership of players like JT Tuimoloau, Jack Sawyer and others. Harison offered nothing but praise for his former teammates.
"I feel like those guys are gonna be really dominant," Harrison said. "One of the best (defensive lines) in the country, leading the nation in sacks, TFLs and all of that. Everybody in that room is a great ball player and all of them have potential through the roof. I know that they want it. They want it bad. I'm excited to see what my guys do next year."
Harrison expects Tuimoloau, Sawyer and known commodities like Mike Hall Jr., Tyleik Williams and Ty Hamilton to be the leaders of the position room in 2023. Still, Harrison believes another player could break into that category as the Buckeyes dive into the regular season next fall.
"You've seen all the JTs and the Jacks play, but one guy I am excited about is Caden Curry. He's a freshman. He's gonna be a really good player. Just the way he moves, and his motor never stops. I'm excited to see what he does. Really just everybody, but he's a guy that stands out to me as a really good player."
Harrison also sees tremendous potential in two of Curry's classmates, Omari Abor and Kenyatta Jackson. He said both possess the athleticism necessary to become a frequent disruption in opposing backfields in the future. The key for Abor and Jackson to unlock that potential will be to continue to build strength in the weight room and perfect their technique under defensive line coach Larry Johnson's tutelage.
"Omari is still figuring it out," Harrison said. "You can see flashes when you say, 'Wow, it's in there.' He's gonna pull it out. He's gotta get in the weight room and get a little bigger, but I am excited to see what Omari does. He's gonna be a really good player for the Buckeyes in the future. And he's a young guy, so it's OK for him to be in that position where he is still figuring it out.
"Same with KJ. He is gonna be one of those players where it's the next step. Some of the things he does he doesn't even realize are special because he's just playing football. I'm like, 'KJ, not everybody can do what you just did,' but he doesn't even realize that. So I'm excited to see those guys get bigger, stronger and faster, and for them to get more comfortable in their body, technique and play speed."
Curry, Abor and Jackson will have plenty of chances to show off their growth following their freshman seasons and a brief round of winter workouts. Their first opportunity will come during spring practices with the Buckeyes, starting on March 7 and continuing until Ohio State's spring game on April 15.
