A former Ohio State player is pushing back on the panic around the Buckeyes’ defense after the Illinois game, and his message is a lot more upbeat than the mood outside the building.
He said the problems are real, but far from fatal.
"I understand why people are upset, but most of the issues I see defensively are fixable," the former OSU player said. "Way too many yards allowed against Illinois, I get it.
But there were some miscommunications on a couple of Illinois' big plays and that's going to happen in September when you're breaking in so many new starters and you don't have the two 'captains' of last year's defense in Caleb (Downs) and Sonny (Styles). They'll get that tightened up.
He also made a point of giving Illinois its due, especially quarterback Katin Houser, who he said was far better than what Ohio State saw from him in the past.
"Also, Illinois' QB Katin Houser played one hell of a ballgame. Hats off to him.
That was night and day from when he was a redshirt freshman in 2023 and started a game at the Horseshoe and we blew MSU out. He made some pinpoint-accurate throws.
Need to give the Illini some credit.
Even with that, the former Buckeye said he’s still buying into the defense overall - while acknowledging the one area that does worry him.
"I feel like I'm almost being too positive here, but I still believe in this defense. I do agree with what you guys were saying on your postgame show about there being a severe lack of star power from our upperclassmen on defense.
That's definitely an issue. But we've got some dudes that are underclassmen who are going to continue to get better and better this year.
He closed with the kind of bottom-line assessment that should calm some nerves, even if it doesn’t completely silence the criticism.
"Bottom line, we definitely lack veteran star power on defense, but we've still got very good depth at all three levels, Matt Patricia is still a good DC and I think they will prove to be a good defense when we look back on this season. Not elite, but definitely good."
In Other News...
Ohio State Freshman Legend Bey May Have A Bigger Problem Than Playing Time
Legend Beys first season at Ohio State has already been shaped by interruption, and not just because of the usual freshman learning curve. After an earlier suspension and an ankle injury, the running back has been working from behind for playing time, and his role has stayed limited as the Buckeyes have moved through the season. Even in areas where young players can sometimes find a foothold, his path has been narrow.
The latest sign came against Illinois, when Bey did not play and another player handled his kick-return work instead. For a freshman trying to earn more than a spot in the rotation, that kind of move can say plenty about where he stands with the staff. If the concerns run deeper than health or depth-chart traffic, it could become a bigger issue for Bey as he looks to settle his future in Columbus. [Read more 🡒]
Ohio States Future Talent Pipeline Is Starting To Look Different
Ohio States recruiting machine is still humming, but the shape of the pipeline is starting to change. The Buckeyes already hold 19 verbal commitments in the 2027 class, a group that includes six national top 100 players and the countrys No. 1 overall prospect, DJ Jacobs, giving the staff another chance to load up early with high-end talent.
The next wave looks just as promising, if a little different in how it is forming. Ohio State has five commitments in the 2028 class, four of them top 100 prospects, led by quarterback Christopher Vargas at No. 4 nationally, and even the 2029 class already has a foothold with wide receiver Austin Miller, ranked No. 50. For a program that has long built its roster on blue-chip talent, the real question is how this early momentum will translate when the class rankings and the pressure both start to rise. [Read more 🡒]
Ohio State Has A Growing Running Back Problem Behind Ja'Kobi Jackson
Ohio State got the win over Illinois in Week 4, but the running back room left Ryan Day with a lot to sort through. The group finished with 122 rushing yards, and Ja'Kobi Jackson accounted for the best of it with 56 yards and a touchdown, giving the Buckeyes a steadier presence than they got from the rest of the rotation.
What followed was more revealing than the box score. Day publicly singled out sophomores Bo Jackson and Isaiah West, questioning their effort when compared with Ja'Kobi Jackson, and the backdrop here is not just one uneven afternoon but a position group dealing with injuries and inconsistent play. For Ohio State, the bigger concern is whether there is a reliable answer behind Ja'Kobi Jackson, because right now the depth chart looks far less settled than a contender would prefer. [Read more 🡒]