Ohio State’s spring practice is only just beginning, but we’ve already gotten a first glimpse at what the Buckeyes have at each position group for the 2026 season.
Ohio State opened the first hour of each of its first two practices to the media, Ryan Day met with the media for his first press conference of the year and one returning star on each side of the ball – Julian Sayin and Kenyatta Jackson Jr. – also met with reporters during the first week of spring, giving us some insight into where things stand on both sides of the ball before taking a week off for spring break.
So after recapping what we’ve seen and heard so far about each offensive position group on Thursday, we’re taking a look at each defensive position group today before the Buckeyes return to the field for the first of their 13 remaining spring practices on Tuesday.
Defensive End
Kenyatta Jackson Jr. is the clear leader of the defensive end group and could be the leader of the entire defense this season, as evidenced by his selection as the first defender to meet with the media this spring.
Who will start opposite Jackson appears to be a three-way competition between sophomore Zion Grady, fifth-year senior Beau Atkinson and Alabama transfer Qua Russaw. There’s no clear pecking order in that competition right now, but the early intrigue centers around Grady, who Jackson said has “all the tools” to be a great defensive end, and Russaw, who was more of a hybrid linebacker than a true defensive end at Alabama but showed plenty of explosiveness and power in his first two practices as a Buckeye.
“Real strong, real quick,” Jackson said of what impressed him about Russaw.
The primary defensive end rotation looks likely to consist of some combination of those four players, though true freshman Khary Wilder is also a player to watch after turning heads during the first week of spring.
Defensive Tackle
Ohio State’s two-deep at defensive tackle is expected to consist of Eddrick Houston and Will Smith Jr. – the Buckeyes’ top backup DTs last season – and offseason transfer additions James Smith and John Walker. It’s too early to say who the starters will be among that quartet, but all four are expected to see significant playing time. Jason Moore will also get plenty of reps this spring as the Buckeyes evaluate whether he can make a long-awaited impact in his fourth year as a Buckeye.
Smith, who’s listed at 6-foot-2 and 314 pounds, stood out the most physically among Ohio State’s defensive tackles during the portions of practice that were open to the media. Jackson said he was impressed by the athleticism of both Smith and Walker during the first two practices, saying they “move really well during bag drills.”
With only three returning defensive tackles from last season on the roster, however, Day says the Buckeyes still have a lot to learn about the defensive line and who they’ll be able to count on there this season as spring progresses.
“Defensive line, there's a lot of new faces in there, whether it's guys who were in the program who haven't played a lot of football, or new guys that are transfer guys that come in,” Day said. “So to be determined there.”
Linebacker
Payton Pierce looks like a lock to be Ohio State’s new starting Mike linebacker. Christian Alliegro begins spring as the favorite to be Ohio State’s starting Will linebacker. Alliegro’s top competition for that job, Riley Pettijohn, is out for the spring with an undisclosed injury.
The expectation is that some combination of Pierce, Alliegro and Pettijohn will be Ohio State’s top three linebackers this year, but there are several additional players to watch at the position this spring. Second-year linebacker TJ Alford, who was also seen taking first-team reps in week one, “has really had a chance to step up,” Day said. Redshirt sophomore Garrett Stover is another candidate for increased playing time this season after earning Iron Buckeye honors for winter workouts. And there’s already plenty of buzz around five-star freshman Cincere Johnson, who looks the part of a potential immediate contributor.
Ohio State has seldom rotated past its top three linebackers in recent seasons, but the Buckeyes look like they should have the depth to do so if desired this year, with as many as six linebackers making a legitimate case for playing time.
Cornerback
Looking bigger and more technically sound than last year, sophomore Devin Sanchez appears well on his way to locking down a starting cornerback job opposite returning starter Jermaine Mathews Jr.
Alabama transfer Cam Calhoun looks like the frontrunner to be the No. 3 cornerback, but fellow offseason transfer Dominick Kelly also impressed during the first week of practice, while freshmen Jordan Thomas and Jay Timmons have the physical makeup and skill to push for immediate playing time.
Like at linebacker, Ohio State hasn’t often played beyond its third outside cornerback in recent years, but the Buckeyes looked poised to have a strong three-deep with their freshman and transfer additions.
“Deeper than we’ve been,” Day said when assessing his cornerback unit at the start of spring.
Safety
Offseason transfer additions Earl Little Jr. and Terry Moore III have been viewed as presumptive starters alongside Jaylen McClain since they signed with Ohio State in January, but the Buckeyes appear to have a fourth contender for a starting safety job in Leroy Roker III. The redshirt sophomore saw regular work with the first-team unit during the first week of practice and was selected to lead the team’s pre-practice huddle on the first day of spring, an opportunity he wouldn’t have been given if he wasn’t impressing the team this offseason.
Leroy Roker III appears to be emerging as a team leader and a fourth candidate to start at safety. (Photo: Adam Cairns/Columbus Dispatch/USA TODAY NETWORK via Imagn Images)
Ultimately, it’s a good problem for the Buckeyes to have if they have to pick three starters between four starting-caliber safeties. The depth behind those four safeties is a bit more suspect, as no other safeties on the roster saw defensive action at the collegiate level last year, but Day said he likes what he’s seen so far this offseason from the Buckeyes’ contingent of young safeties, which include four freshmen led by top-75 overall prospect Blaine Bradford.
“Certainly missing Caleb (Downs) and missing (cornerback Davison Igbinosun) and missing (nickelback Lorenzo Styles Jr.) is going to be a big loss,” Day said when discussing the secondary as a whole. “But seeing Terry in there, seeing Earl come in there, Leroy's had a great offseason, Jaylen's really done well, then you have some really good young guys coming up too with Blaine and some of them.”
