Three seasons at Ohio State. Five total seasons of college football. And yet, coming into the 2025 season, it looked as though Tywone Malone Jr. might end his collegiate career never being a consistent starter.
He made his first career start last season against Marshall, only to see his usage tank the rest of the season. He wasn’t sitting atop the depth chart at defensive tackle entering 2025. But with back-to-back starts over sophomore Eddrick Houston and improving evaluations from Ryan Day, Malone has begun to take up the mantle as the Buckeyes’ top three-technique DT.
“He's been consistent in his approach,” Day said on Wednesday. “I think he graded out his best game that he's graded out so far this year against Washington. So, I think his confidence is improving. You're seeing more consistency. He's using what he's doing in practice and learning about what needs to be done, in terms of taking on blocks in the run game, and also in the pass rush. Using the tools that Coach (Larry) Johnson and Coach (Matt) Patricia are giving him, and now they're starting to show up on the field. And it's a mindset, and his mindset's changed, and because of that you're seeing better play.”
Through 2023 and 2024, after Malone transferred to Ohio State, much of the conversation in speaking with him and Johnson revolved around how things could change now that his full focus was on football.
Malone was a touted prospect in the recruiting class of 2021, a top-70 recruit in the 247Sports composite. The Buckeyes pursued him hard, but he ultimately signed with Ole Miss, in part because he wanted to continue playing baseball, a desire the Rebels accommodated. But it diverted attention from his primary sport and hurt his development. When he transferred to Ohio State, he dropped baseball and had to learn to approach football like a pro.
“It was a long (process),” Malone said. “Sitting every time with Coach J, just talking about what can I do to improve on my game. Watching films on other guys, like I mentioned before, and seeing how they handle themselves in situations, how they handle themselves on the field. How they handle themselves in the film studies, practice, stuff like that.”
Malone saw little playing time in his first year at Ohio State. He carved out a rotational role in 2024 and made the aforementioned start in game three vs. the Thundering Herd, then opened at three-tech again vs. Michigan State in game four when regular starter Tyleik Williams was injured. But Malone played at least 10 snaps in a game just once after that, against Purdue in the Buckeyes’ ninth game. He saw 11 snaps combined in their four College Football Playoff games.
Houston emerged as the heir apparent to Williams, a first-round pick of the Detroit Lions in the 2025 NFL draft, in that timeframe. The then-freshman Houston made his first career start over Malone against Purdue when Williams was sidelined again. Houston solidified himself as the backup three-tech for Ohio State’s entire CFP run.
A five-star prospect, Houston seemed destined to capitalize on that momentum this year, even if an injury on the first day of preseason camp set him back a few weeks while he worked back to 100 percent. But Malone stayed motivated alongside the rest of a defensive line room hungry to prove it wasn’t just table scraps left over after all four starters from the Buckeyes’ 2024 front four started careers in the NFL.
"Everybody didn't really have high hopes for us coming out in this season,” Malone said. “And the biggest thing was we all came together and just realizing, like, we got a standard for the D-line. And we got to uphold that. We had a great front four leaving last year. And they left off great with the (national championship). And we knew as young guys that we had to come in and do the same thing. So it's just pretty much all of us coming together, understanding the one goal, one mission.”
Houston’s season hasn’t gotten off to the start he or Ohio State wanted. He’s had some inconsistencies in run defense and three penalties that cost the Buckeyes 25 yards, including an unsportsmanlike conduct that gifted Washington a first down last Saturday after a third-down sack by defensive end Caden Curry. He has just four tackles in 78 snaps of action. He hasn’t recorded a single quarterback pressure, per Pro Football Focus.
“When you're a young player, you think you know, and sometimes you don't,” Day said of Houston on Tuesday. “I think you need to rely on your coaches and guys who have been through it before. When you face adversity, to look to them for advice. And the biggest thing is just keep putting one foot in front of the other. Avoid all distractions.
“And I think, not in particular here, but just in general, when you're a young player, now more than ever, there's a lot of distractions. And the focus has to be on where they are right now and having a great Tuesday practice. That's all that matters. And staying focused throughout a whole practice, staying focused throughout a whole game, concentrating on the meeting at hand or the walkthrough is very, very important.”
Malone stepped up. Ohio State started him over Houston against Ohio in Week 3, then again against the Huskies after an off week. He’s logged six tackles and three total quarterback pressures this year, again per PFF.
“It's a mindset, and his mindset's changed, and because of that you're seeing better play.”– Ryan Day on what's enabled Tywone Malone Jr. to Become a starter
Where was the shift in Malone’s mindset that enabled his most potent play? He credits how he’s adjusted his approach in the film room, both of himself and of his opponents.
"It goes back to my preparation,” Malone said. “Before the fall camp, we was talking, me and Coach J was talking about what I need to improve on to help the team out in a better way. And the most important thing was film study. Understanding what the opponents like to do, what they like to run. If they're in certain formations, what they like to do out of those formations. Just get a better feel of the game for myself."
It’s not just Day who’s noticed growth. The people who block Malone daily in practice see it too.
“He's grown a lot,” left guard Luke Montgomery said. “I think all the three-techs in general have grown a lot. They're getting better week in, week out, and we're building a lot of depth there, and it's fun to watch. Just someone whose confidence is skyrocketing and stuff like that. And I'm just super, super happy for him because he's waited his turn. And guys like that can obviously jump ship and transfer and stuff like that. But he's really just kind of stayed here for the last three years and continually grown and grown and grown in his confidence. And it's finally paying off.”
Whether Malone remains the permanent starter over Houston is not set in stone. Houston will still rotate in at least, and Malone echoed the sentiment that it’s a group effort at the position. But the payoff of a five-year grind is finally arriving for him.
“I feel like I'm here for a reason,” Malone said. “I feel like my journey, it was my journey for a reason. And I'm right where God believes I should be.”
