Larry Johnson, three returning defensive linemen and one new defensive lineman were among the Buckeyes who met with the media on the final interview day of spring practice before the spring game.
UCF transfer defensive tackle John Walker talked about how his relationship with Johnson, which dates back to when Ohio State was recruiting him out of high school, led to a quick reunion once he entered the transfer portal in January. Returning defensive tackle Eddrick Houston and defensive end Beau Atkinson discussed how they’ve improved this spring after failing to meet their own expectations last season, while Will Smith Jr. and Larry Johnson talked about their expectations for Ohio State’s new-look defensive line in 2026.
We’ve compiled notes, quotes and full videos from all five of their interviews below.
DT John Walker
“The past relationship I had with Coach Johnson coming out of high school, he's still family to me, even though I didn't go to him at first. But man, as soon as I hit the portal, he was the first guy to reach out to me. And I came up here for a visit and everything worked out right.”– John Walker on why he chose Ohio State in the portal
- On how he’s settled in during his first few months at Ohio State: “It's been amazing, when I got up here, being welcomed by the coaches, by the people, it's been great.”
- On why he didn’t come to Ohio State out of high school: “To be honest, it was just I wasn't ready to come out, to leave my family. I wasn't ready to leave my family, I wanted to stay home in Florida, because I knew I probably wasn't going to be right mentally if I came out here.”
- Walker added that now that he’s older, he was ready to leave home and expand his horizons.
- Walker dispelled the rumor that he had a bad official visit to Ohio State as a high school recruit. “It was a great official visit. It was either between Ohio State or UCF during that time, like I had told you guys. It was just, I just wanted to stay close to home.”
- On the difference between practicing with the Buckeye-level talent and at UCF: “Iron sharpens iron. They push me, I push them, they make me better, I make them better.”
DT Eddrick Houston
“It feels great. I wouldn’t want to be nowhere else. I made the right decision. I love being here. I love the fans and everybody that’s tied to Ohio State. I would make this choice again.”– Eddrick Houston on entering year three with the Buckeyes
- When asked how he feels this spring, Houston answered, “I feel old.” Houston said “it’s really like year four” for him because he was a midyear enrollee in 2024.
- Houston said there were times last year when his stamina was low during games. He did “a lot of cardio” this offseason, which helped him lower his body fat percentage. “I’ve been feeling a lot better, moving better.”
- On what James Smith and John Walker bring to the Ohio State defensive line room: “Experience and toughness.” He added, “I like the way they came in. They came in hungry.”
- Houston said it’s time for all of Ohio State’s defensive linemen to “take the next step” with Kayden McDonald, Caden Curry and others off to the NFL. “We always had great players behind (the starters) like Caden Curry, Zion Grady and people such as that. I just feel as though it’s time to take that next step for all of us because we lost a lot of people. And not just Caden Curry. We lost Tywone Malone. We lost K-Mac. We lost a lot of key pieces. It’s time for us to take the next step.”
- Houston said he felt he started the 2025 season slowly because of his injury. Houston said he felt like he let his coaches, teammates and Ohio State fans down by not being at his best all year. “I don’t think I played the best I could. … Last year was not my best version.” Houston said he played his best after the Illinois game.
DE Beau Atkinson
“I don't think it went anywhere near the way that I wanted it to, but I feel like that has given me some extra fuel to come into this season and to work really hard.”– Beau Atkinson on his first year at Ohio State
- Atkinson said he’s been working on his mobility and has been feeling “a lot looser” this spring.
- Atkinson said the biggest difference between UNC and Ohio State is the culture. “Everything here is about the tough love, brotherhood and trying to push everybody as hard as we can.”
- On offensive tackles Ian Moore and Carter Lowe: “They're both studs. They're super good athletes, great feet. They've both grown so much from last season. So I've been very, very proud of how they've been doing, and they just keep getting better.”
DT Will Smith Jr.
“I feel like we might have lost a lot of players, but we also had a bunch of new players coming in and they're ready and they're excited. So I feel like I'm excited for the season.”– Will Smith Jr. on how he feels about this year’s defensive line
- On where he’s improved this offseason: “I feel like with Coach Mick (Marotti)’s program, I got a lot stronger. I've been trying to work on my pass rush moves a lot. I feel like I've definitely progressed in that. Working with John and James and Eddrick and all of them, I feel like we've been putting our minds together and it's been helping us all a lot.”
- Smith has been amazed by the number of quality defenders in this year’s Ohio State defense during spring practice. “I just feel like a lot of the dudes on the defense, I can name off a bunch.”
- Linebacker Payton Pierce has been taking charge at the line of scrimmage, Smith said. “I think Payton Pierce has been definitely taking charge of the leadership role in the defense.”
- On why he didn’t enter the transfer portal: “I'd say it's the culture. It's the reason why I picked here. I'm also from (Ohio) and I just, I've always been a Buckeye.”
DL coach Larry Johnson
“We've got to play long, we've got to play fast, we've got to play violent, and those are the things that's never going to change.”– Larry Johnson on what Ohio State needs from the defensive line
- Johnson said he’s been impressed by Qua Russaw’s strength and ability to set the edge at only 245 pounds. He says Russaw also “brings great speed to the table” and says Russaw has the versatility to play both defensive end and the “Buck” position. “I think the thing that jumps off the videotape is how hard he plays, and he really has physical strength.”
- Johnson says Atkinson has “done a 360” from where he was last season. He said Atkinson never shied away from the challenges of the transition from North Carolina to Ohio State last season, and he thinks having winter workouts and spring practice with the Buckeyes this year has been “paramount” to his development.
- Johnson thinks Ohio State has more depth at defensive tackle than last season. He’s hopeful the Buckeyes will have five defensive tackles and six defensive ends who can contribute this season.
- Johnson said Arvell Reese worked with the defensive line in pass-rush drills last season, but said Reese’s comment last week that he rushed mostly on instincts was a “little bit true.” “When you’re fast, you can do what you want to do. He’s got a great skill set. He can bend, he can run, he’s powerful. And he’s easy to coach.”
