Ohio State Defensive End Caden Curry Named Big Ten Defensive Player of the Week

On Monday, the Big Ten named Caden Curry the conference’s Defensive Player of the Week after he recorded a team-high 11 tackles, a school-record five tackles for loss and three sacks in Ohio State’s win over Washington. He is the second Buckeye to earn a Big Ten weekly honor in 2025, joining quarterback Julian Sayin, who collected Freshman of the Week recognition in Week 2.

Caden Curry was a game-wrecker

@ifs x #PlayerOfTheWeek pic.twitter.com/rLEmYGY71L

— Big Ten Football (@B1Gfootball) September 29, 2025

Curry’s dominant outing came alongside defensive tackle Kayden McDonald, who added seven tackles, three tackles for loss and two sacks.

“Both of those guys played great,” Ryan Day said on Saturday.

The pair has helped erase questions about Ohio State’s defensive line entering 2025, when the Buckeyes needed to replace four NFL draft picks: first-rounder Tyleik Williams, second-rounder JT Tuimoloau, fourth-rounder Jack Sawyer and fifth-rounder Ty Hamilton. With no established stars in Larry Johnson’s unit, Curry and McDonald have been motivated to make their own mark.

“Our defensive line, we’re always motivated. Our whole defense is motivated. We feel like we always have a chip on our shoulder because we lost so many players last year,” Curry said. “We have so much to gain now. We have so many players who just have an edge. We have such a good defense that just needs to play and just keeps playing.”

Through four games, Curry and linebacker Arvell Reese share the team lead with 25 tackles apiece. Curry leads the Buckeyes with eight tackles for loss and five sacks, while McDonald ranks second in both categories (five TFLs, three sacks) and Reese sits third (two apiece).