It cannot be overstated how much of a sports writing and broadcasting cliché it is to say a player or coach’s value cannot be overstated.
That’s not a slight against anyone who uses the phrase, the author of this story included. Clichés are often clichés for a reason. But it’s fitting that Ohio State’s players left no room for understatement when discussing the value of Buckeye defensive coordinator Matt Patricia.
“Coach Patricia's been everything for me our whole senior year,” former Ohio State defensive end Caden Curry said on Wednesday at the NFL Scouting Combine. “From when he got in the building, taking the time to get to know me and my family and getting to know him and his family, he's just such a great guy to be around and he has so much wisdom. He's the guy that can do mock interviews with us because he's been there before. He knows how to do everything the right way, and he's definitely been somebody I've always been grateful to have and I owe a lot to.”
“Everything.” That’s about the biggest statement one can make on the meaning of – well, anything.
From their play on the field to their preparations in this ongoing NFL draft process, Ohio State’s now-former defenders are grateful to have had Patricia mentoring their journeys. And they’re grateful he’ll be back with the Buckeyes for a second season in 2026.
“I think (Patricia) gave me an advantage, for sure,” linebacker Arvell Reese said. “I think he's a huge reason why I played the way I play. Just gained a bunch of knowledge from him. It's stuff you pick up on and you don't even realize you gained it from him. I'm realizing that right now, but yeah, definitely benefited a lot from Matt Patricia. ... With Coach Patricia's defense, I'm able to explain all 11 (positions) with like 80, 90% of the calls.”
The on-field results Patricia generated for Ohio State in the 2025 season are obvious. The Buckeyes held the No. 1 scoring and total defense in the nation this past season, by healthy margins in both categories. They produced four potential first-round NFL draft picks in Caleb Downs, Sonny Styles, Arvell Reese and Kayden McDonald, and only one of those players (Downs) was a projected first-rounder heading into the year.
But beyond the field, Patricia cultivated real relationships with his defenders and made them feel valued not just as athletes, but as men. That contributed to the in-game success as well.
“He's a peoples’ coach,” McDonald said. “He's gonna come up to you off the field. He helped me mentally and got me ready for this moment. Now I feel at ease, I got a smile on my face, and I'm just ready to be great.”
Patricia’s care for his players didn’t end when the season did. The former NFL head coach and defensive coordinator used his knowledge of the draft process to prepare them with mock interviews and scheme breakdowns.
“Coach Patricia’s a huge help,” Sonny Styles said. “The way he taught the defense, a lot of these rooms I go in, it’s similar terminology, so they understand what I'm saying. Even in this process of training for this moment, the combine, him hopping on Zoom calls with all of us, taking us through what a meeting's going to look like, he's been such a great help.”
After signing a new deal with Ohio State on Monday, Patricia is officially back for the 2026 season. He’ll have a new core to mold with eight starters departing from the Buckeyes’ defense, but that didn’t stop his former anchors from projecting high ceilings for his unit next campaign.
“That's big for upcoming development of the other players,” McDonald said. “Really having a chance to go win a national championship, those guys are gonna be ready.”
It’s unclear how long Patricia will stay in Columbus. NFL teams are likely to come calling after this season, should it go well again for the Silver Bullets.
“Coach Patricia is one of or the best defense coordinator in college football, in my opinion,” Curry said. “He's just a guy that everybody wants to play for. He's a players’ coach. We all love him, and I hope he stays at Ohio State a long time because he's a great guy.”
