When Ohio State's 2016 season concluded, there was potential the Buckeyes could lose three of their top pass rushers.
Defensive ends Tyquan Lewis, Sam Hubbard and Jalyn Holmes were all draft eligible. Each had a decision to make regarding their respective futures.
All three opted to stay.
As a result, Ohio State enters the 2017 season absolutely loaded along the defensive line. The Buckeyes lost 75 percent of their starting secondary in addition to their starting middle linebacker, but with the entire defensive line back in the fold, Larry Johnson's unit will be heavily relied upon to anchor the defense.
With spring practice for Ohio State set to begin in two weeks, we continue our preview series with a look at what should be the Buckeyes' strongest defensive unit.
Defensive End
With Lewis, Hubbard, Holmes and Nick Bosa all back, Ohio State returns its top four defensive ends from 2016. The foursome has the potential to be among the best groups in the country at the position.
Lewis' return was perhaps the most surprising, as he opted to come back for his fifth year after a redshirt junior campaign saw him record a team-high eight sacks and 10.5 tackles for loss. Lewis was named the Big Ten Defensive Lineman of the Year for the 2016 season.
He graduated in December so many pegged him to forgo his final year of eligibility, but Lewis opted to return for a final run. A captain last season, Lewis is the unquestioned leader of this group.
Many picked Hubbard to have a breakout season in 2016 as it was his first as a full-time starter. The statistical production didn't exactly indicate that — Hubbard had 3.5 sacks and eight tackles for loss — but Hubbard proved he's more than capable of holding down the starting spot opposite Lewis and playing at a high level. He'll be a redshirt junior in 2017.
A big spring lies ahead for Nick Bosa.
Holmes flashed in bunches during his junior season — the first in which he saw any significant playing time. He recorded 8.5 tackles for loss with a pair of sacks and also showed the versatility to move inside when Ohio State used its famed 'Rushmen' package on third downs. Holmes will be a senior in the fall and he'll continue to push the other three ends for reps.
Bosa was outstanding as a true freshman last fall as he ranked second on the team with five sacks to go along with seven tackles for loss. His snaps increased as the season went along as the Buckeyes brought him on slowly early in the season as he returned from a significant knee injury suffered in high school. This is a huge spring for Bosa — his first in the program — as he has the potential to become a star in the fall.
If there's a downside to Ohio State returning its top four defensive ends, it's that some of the younger players — sans Bosa — won't get the reps they probably want in the fall. There simply aren't enough snaps and the Buckeyes are going to want their best players on the field. But spring ball is the perfect opportunity for some of the younger players as Ohio State often limits its veterans.
The fifth end in the pecking order is probably sophomore-to-be Jonathon Cooper, who played sparingly in 2016 as a true freshman — primarily in mop-up duty. Cooper was a highly-touted recruit like Bosa who will be participating in his second spring with the team as he enrolled early last season. This will be a big spring for him, as well, as he looks to crack the rotation.
Rashod Berry and Darius Slade are the other two defensive ends on Ohio State's roster. Slade suffered a ruptured Achilles last season during fall camp and missed the entire season. His status for spring practice is unknown though it's unlikely he participates much.
The lone defensive end signed by the Buckeyes in the 2017 class, five-star Chase Young, was not one of the team's nine early enrollees so he will not participate in spring practice.
Defensive Tackle
While the majority of the discussion focuses on Ohio State's talent at defensive end, the Buckeyes also return both starters on the interior of their line, as well. Dre'Mont Jones and Michael Hill are each back after strong seasons in 2016.
Jones was thrust into a starting role after Tracy Sprinkle suffered a season-ending injury in Ohio State's first game of the year against Bowling Green. A former defensive end, Jones was just a redshirt freshman last season who ranked No. 1 among defensive linemen with 52 tackles (four for loss).
Michael Hill returns on the interior of the defensive line.
Hill started all 13 games at nose tackle for the Buckeyes — the least glamorous position in Ohio State's defense — and recorded 21 tackles (three for loss).
The Buckeyes' two primary backup interior linemen were a pair of redshirt freshmen: Robert Landers and DaVon Hamilton. Landers produced big-time with 7.5 tackles for loss; Hamilton recorded 2.5. The upcoming spring is huge for both.
Sprinkle's status for spring practice is still to be determined but it's likely he's limited as he returns from injury. He'll be a big part of Ohio State's plans in the fall, however. Jashon Cornell, Josh Alabi, Dylan Thompson and Malik Barrow are additional defensive tackles who will be competing this spring, but none have played any sort of significant role yet in their Ohio State careers.
The Buckeyes signed a pair of defensive tackles in their 2017 recruiting class, but neither Haskell Garrett nor Jerron Cage enrolled early in time for spring practice.
