When asked about the top-rated recruit in his first group of freshmen at Ohio State, a member of his position room no less, Jim Knowles began with a caveat.
Archbishop Alter alum C.J. Hicks, the No. 1 linebacker in the class of 2022 and the lone five-star prospect among Ohio State’s early enrollees, was a name that headlined the Buckeyes’ fourth-ranked national haul when the group signed on with the program. However, Hicks’ name was rarely the first to come up in discussions about standout scarlet and gray performers this spring.
Nor should it have been, given Hicks’ age and the complex nature of Knowles’ new defense, which may both be speed bumps for some time in front of the No. 7 player in the 2022 class. But even if Hicks is only beginning his development at the college level, he’s still shown enough thus far for Knowles to be excited by the prospects of his future.
“He's still figuring things out because our linebackers, they're very multiple. It's not just, 'Hey, you're in this place, you're doing that.’ You're doing a lot of different things, which is good for them when they go the next level, but he's still figuring things out,” Knowles said during an interview session earlier this month. “When he was able to cut loose and play fast, I was really impressed with his feet and his ability to get from point A to point B. His short space explosiveness – really impressed with that.”
Despite being the fourth Will linebacker into the spring game on April 17, Hicks made the most of his 30 snaps on the day, finishing with seven total tackles. That number was fourth among all Buckeyes, second among all linebackers and second only to Kye Stokes among true freshmen. Hicks was also credited with a tackle for loss.
Ohio State’s leader in linebacker snaps played during the exhibition was another highly touted true freshman and the second-highest-ranked early enrollee defender on the Buckeye roster this spring. Marysville’s Gabe Powers played next to Hicks as the third Mike linebacker to enter the scrimmage and wound up logging 42 snaps. Powers finished with five total tackles (three solo) in his first chance to introduce himself to home fans at the Shoe.
“You can see (Hicks) got better from the beginning to end. And Gabe Powers, he worked extremely hard at learning too,” Knowles said. “So we throw a lot at those guys, but they did a good job of picking it up.”
Hicks and Powers may not have everything figured out just yet. But neither does Knowles in terms of how playing time will be split up among Ohio State’s linebackers this fall.
From established veterans and returning starters to transfer portal pickups over the last couple of offseasons, Knowles has plenty of names to plug into the two linebacker spots that Ohio State is expected to have on the field at most times in its base 4-2-5 look. But exactly what role a number of projected backups are expected to play remains unknown heading into the summer.
“I think that in terms of the actual playing time, who's gonna get the majority of the snaps, I think there's a lot of good candidates,” Knowles said. “But how that's all going to shake out in terms of who plays the most, who has some specialty things that they can do and help the team, packaging where they can go, I still think there's a lot to be determined in terms of the actual snaps and rep counts that come up in the game.”
If Ohio State’s linebackers get as much work as Oklahoma State’s did last year, it’s possible a younger talent could carve out a role to share the load at some point in the season. The Cowboys had two linebackers tally at least 94 total tackles a year ago, while Ohio State’s leading tackler among linebackers (Tommy Eichenberg) finished with just 64.
Knowles said he puts a lot on his linebackers’ plate, and that’s why he holds them all to such a high standard.
“Well, he has to be multiple. The idea of being an inside or outside linebacker, no. Because you're going to see them both inside and outside,” Knowles said. “You're going to see them in man coverage and zone coverage. You're going to see them blitz inside, you're going to see them blitz outside. So a guy who has all kinds of football skills, one that's important, but two the mental understanding, and that's why they do get a lot of stats because we put them in position to make plays. And a lot of times we funnel things to them and the safeties, and they're there and they gotta get the job done. So they have to understand the scheme and where they fit.”
As for whether or not Hicks, Powers or any other Ohio State linebacker prefers Knowles’ style of play over the previous that they’ve learned, he isn’t quite sure just yet.
“I don't know, you'd have to ask them, but I think that they liked it, because we talked a lot about free tackles. And that's a great thing for a linebacker because a lot of times you're gonna have a chance to make that tackle without a blocker,” Knowles said. “And that's what we want. Right? That's good for a linebacker.”
No matter how far Ohio State’s first-year defenders still have to go to learn all the ropes of a Knowles defense – his own linebackers perhaps most of all – the longtime defensive guru has a positive outlook on the group as a whole coming out of spring and entering the summer. Regardless of any shortcomings at this juncture, that fact may be most promising of all.
“I think it's a great crew. And, you know, I'm pretty demanding on those guys. And then every now and then I have to stop myself and say, 'Oh, this guy should be at the senior prom right now,’” Knowles said. “But I push, push, push on those guys, too. And I thought they handled it well. The main thing was they were able to take coaching. … when you have a young guy who can take coaching and has talent, you got a chance.”
