Throughout Urban Meyer's time at Ohio State, the defensive line has been consistently one of the team's top units led by some of its top players, particularly at the defensive end position.
With another talented defensive end duo of Nick Bosa and Chase Young set to make their mark this season, we rank Meyer's five best defensive end tandems at Ohio State.
5. Joey Bosa & Steve Miller – 2014
| Tackles | Tackles for Loss | Sacks | Forced Fumbles | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Joey Bosa | 55 | 21.5 | 13.5 | 4 |
| Steve Miller | 31 | 5.5 | 2 | 1 |
There's no hiding from the obvious – Joey Bosa did most of the heavy lifting for this pair, which is the primary reason they aren't higher on the list.
In 2014, Bosa had the best season of any Buckeye defensive end – and arguably any overall player – since Urban Meyer's arrival in Columbus. That season, Bosa had 55 total tackles along with an absurd 21.5 tackles for loss and 13.5 sacks while forcing four fumbles.
Following the season, Bosa was named the Big Ten Defensive Player of the Year and a consensus All-American.
While Bosa proved to be virtually unblockable, Steve Miller was consistent and reliable playing opposite of him. He had 31 tackles, 5.5 tackles for a loss and two sacks, and had a memorable tide-turning pick six in Ohio State's Sugar Bowl win over Alabama.
4. John Simon & Nathan Williams – 2012
| Tackles | Tackles for Loss | Sacks | Forced Fumbles | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| John Simon | 44 | 14 | 9 | 1 |
| Nathan Williams | 40 | 3.5 | 2 | 1 |
Urban Meyer's first season at Ohio State, the defensive line was one of the anchors of a defense that lacked experience and depth at almost every other position, and seniors John Simon and Nathan Williams were the anchors of that defensive line.
The pair combined for 84 total tackles, 17.5 tackles for loss, 11 sacks and two forced fumbles in just a 12-game season. They helped a young, inexperienced team overachieve all season and finish with an unblemished record.
Neither of these players were recruited by Urban Meyer, but they were important pieces of Meyer's first Buckeye team.
3. Tyquan Lewis & Sam Hubbard – 2016/2017
| Tackles | Tackles for Loss | Sacks | Forced Fumbles | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2017 Tyquan Lewis | 20 | 9 | 7 | 2 |
| 2017 Sam Hubbard | 42 | 13 | 7 | 2 |
The numbers don't really show how talented and reliable Tyquan Lewis and Sam Hubbard were. Both were multi-year starters at Ohio State and were eventually taken in the first three rounds of the NFL Draft.
The only reason their numbers are relatively low compared to other players on this list is because Ohio State was so ridiculously deep at the defensive end position during the 2016 and 2017 seasons. The Buckeyes had four players deserving of first-team, and rotated each of them almost equally.
So while they might not have the numbers to prove it, Hubbard and Lewis were undeniably some of the most talented defensive ends to start together under Urban Meyer.
2. Joey Bosa & Noah Spence – 2013
| Tackles | Tackles for Loss | Sacks | Forced Fumbles | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Joey Bosa | 42 | 13.5 | 7.5 | 0 |
| Noah Spence | 50 | 14 | 7.5 | 1 |
The only thing keeping this tandem from the top of this list is experience.
The lone season Joey Bosa and Noah Spence started together, Bosa was a true freshman and earned the spot midway through the season and Spence was a true sophomore starting for the first time in his career.
Still, as young as they were, they were lethal.
Bosa and Spence combined for 92 total tackles, 27.5 tackles for loss and 15 sacks while forcing one fumble to help lead the Buckeyes to an undefeated regular season. Both players had such clear raw talent, and sky-high potential, and it showed all season.
If not for Spence's dismissal before the start of the 2014 season, the pair would have had one more season together in 2014. If that were the case, they likely would have not only topped this list, but been one of the top defensive end duos in Ohio State history, especially when you look at Bosa's 2014 numbers without Spence.
As it stands, though, they will have to settle for second place.
1. Joey Bosa & Tyquan Lewis – 2015
| Tackles | Tackles for Loss | Sacks | Forced Fumbles | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Joey Bosa | 51 | 16 | 5 | 1 |
| Tyquan Lewis | 54 | 14 | 8 | 0 |
The 2015 season saw what would become Urban Meyer's two most accomplished and decorated Buckeye defensive ends starting on the same defensive line.
Joey Bosa left Ohio State as a two-time consensus All-American and won the Big Ten Defensive Player of the Year award once and the Big Ten Defensive Lineman of the Year award twice. Tyquan Lewis left as a two-time All-Big Ten selection and was named the Big Ten Defensive Lineman of the Year award in 2016.
During the 2015 season, Bosa and Lewis combined for more tackles and tackles for loss than any other pair of defensive ends on this list and had the second-most sacks.
Both went on to be drafted in the first two rounds of the NFL Draft, with Bosa going No. 3 overall to the Chargers and Lewis going in the second round to the Colts.
