Sonny Styles’ first answer when he was asked which Ohio State players he’s seen step up most as leaders this offseason was unsurprising. His second answer might not have been as foreseen.
The first name out of Styles’ mouth was fellow Big Ten Media Days participant Caleb Downs, who seems like a lock to be a captain alongside Styles this season. The second name was a player who’s never started a game at Ohio State, but who’s expected to play a much bigger role this season: Redshirt junior defensive end Kenyatta Jackson Jr.
“I'd say Kenyatta Jackson has done a very good job,” Styles said. “I'm really excited for him. He's going to have a huge year. He's a great dude. He does things the right way every day. He holds everyone accountable, including me. He obviously has all the tools it takes to be a monster defensive end. So I'm super excited for him.”
When Styles was asked if his senior class had collectively stepped up their leadership this offseason, Styles singled out Jackson again – along with fellow defensive end Caden Curry – as a specific member of the 2022 class who he’s seen take a big step forward this offseason.
“I think especially for Kenyatta, I've talked to him a lot, I think it's a big thing for Kenyatta because he had JT (Tuimoloau), Jack (Sawyer), Ty Hamilton and Tyleik (Williams) all walk out the door. And now, you leave that room, now it's Kenyatta and Caden Curry are the seniors. So I think those two guys, it's probably hit them the most,” Styles said. “Because it's like, alright, it's time for us to step up. They've been here for three years. They've had the chance to be behind some really good defensive ends, Jack and JT. So I'm super excited for both of them.”
Jackson drew perhaps the most glowing praise among all Buckeyes from the three Ohio State players who participated in Big Ten Media Days. Based on what he’s seen from Jackson this offseason, Styles believes Jackson has the potential to become a first-round NFL draft pick.
“I think last year with those two in the room, Jack and JT, it was kind of hard for him to find his way into the leadership. And now, he feels like it's his time,” Styles said. “I can tell his confidence is through the roof. His maturity is through the roof. He's so mature. He's just doing so well. I think he’s gained a few pounds. He looks like a first-round D-end. He's exactly what he's supposed to look like. He has all the tools. So it's going to be a big year.”
“He does things the right way every day. He holds everyone accountable, including me. He obviously has all the tools it takes to be a monster defensive end.”– Sonny Styles on Kenyatta Jackson Jr.
Jeremiah Smith, who’s known Jackson for many years since they both played their high school football at Chaminade-Madonna College Preparatory School, also sees first-round draft potential in the 6-foot-6 defensive end.
“Kenyatta been had it. I seen it in high school,” Smith said. “He just had to wait his turn. Now this year, he’s going to turn it up a notch, and y’all are just gonna see a monster that I've seen in high school that could be a first-round draft pick.”
Jackson was the first player Downs named when the Buckeyes’ star safety was asked which new defensive starters he expects to have breakout seasons this year.
“Kenyatta Jackson, he’s stepped up in a big way this this summer,” Downs said. “Just stepping into a leadership role, taking control of the D-line room. He’s a veteran guy in that room and he has a lot to prove and a lot that he wants his group to perform at. So I think he's pushed himself this summer to become better for himself and for the team, so I'm excited.”
Ryan Day also identified Jackson as one of Ohio State’s players who has stepped up as a leader this offseason alongside the three Buckeyes who went to media days as well as offensive linemen Austin Siereveld, Luke Montgomery and Carson Hinzman, tight end Bennett Christian and wide receivers Carnell Tate and Brandon Inniss.
Becoming a first-round draft pick would mean becoming an even better defensive end than Tuimoloau and Sawyer were for Ohio State’s top-ranked defense last season, considering Tuimoloau was a second-round pick and Sawyer was a fourth-round draftee. It would require a massive step up in production from Jackson, who’s had just 25 tackles with six tackles for loss and three sacks in three seasons.
Ohio State doesn’t necessarily need that big of a jump from Jackson. The Buckeyes are expected to have five defensive ends in the rotation this year – Jackson, Curry, offseason transfer additions Beau Atkinson and Logan George and converted linebacker C.J. Hicks – so they won’t be relying solely on Jackson to replace the production lost with the departures of last year’s star defensive ends.
If the comments made by his teammates this week are any indication, though, Jackson appears likely to be the leader of Ohio State’s new defensive end rotation – and its entire defensive line – this year. And now that he’s no longer in the shadow of Sawyer and Tuimoloau, he just might prove to be one of OSU’s top breakout stars in 2025.
