Ohio State’s recruiting class of 2022 included two five-star prospects and eight four-star prospects on defense. Seven of those 10 defenders were ranked among the top 130 players in the class, while none of them were ranked lower than 351st in the country.
The talent of that class of second-year defenders was apparent during last weekend’s spring game at Ohio Stadium.
Among that class of recruits, two players have been hyped more than any other: C.J. Hicks and Sonny Styles. Hicks was ranked as the No. 1 linebacker and Styles was ranked as the No. 1 safety in the 2022 class, and both of them have been projected as future stars for the Buckeyes since before they even arrived on campus. Their star potential was apparent in the spring game, in which each of them recorded six total tackles and two pass breakups.
Most notably, Hicks came close to intercepting two different third-down passes by Kyle McCord, showcasing his ability to make plays on the ball in coverage.
After playing zero defensive snaps as a true freshman, Hicks played the most snaps of any Buckeye (62) as Ohio State’s starting Will linebacker in the spring game. He put his athleticism and skill on display throughout those snaps, impressing Ryan Day in the process.
“He flashed more today,” Day said after the spring game. “We're still looking for that consistency. But you're starting to see it more and more. He's making plays, he's showing up. And I think (defensive coordinator Jim Knowles) and (graduate assistant James Laurinaitis) are both doing a great job with him.”
Fellow Ohio State linebacker Cody Simon said he saw consistent improvement from Hicks over the course of the spring, culminating with his impressive spring game.
“From these first 15 practices, his mental side of the game has developed so much,” Simon said. “He's always in the film room. He's always getting extra work. And I'm proud of him, because it's hard. None of this stuff is easy to do. Especially with our offense, they give us so many different looks, and he's making plays out there. You saw him. He had a really great game today. So I'm just proud of him.”
Styles’ spring game was also highlighted by a near-interception of McCord, as he made a nice break on a throw over the middle of the field intended for Jelani Thurman for a third-down PBU.
Styles played the second-most snaps (61) of any Buckeye in the spring game and put his versatility on display, lining up primarily at strong safety but also playing as a third linebacker with the first-team defense early in the game to match up with two-tight end formations from the offense.
Hicks and Styles were far from the only second-year defenders to have standout performances in the spring game.
Linebacker Gabe Powers led all spring game participants with eight tackles. Defensive tackle Hero Kanu led all players with two tackles for loss, including one sack, and led all defensive linemen with five total tackles. Kenyatta Jackson, who was one of the biggest standouts on the defensive line all spring, had several pressures as a pass-rusher. Both Jackson and fellow defensive end Caden Curry recorded three total tackles with one sack.
Gabe Powers was the leading tackler in the spring game. (Photo: Joseph Scheller/Columbus Dispatch/USA TODAY Network)
Ryan Turner played snaps at both nickel safety and cornerback and made two standout plays in the process: One on which he tackled Kaleb Brown for a gain of only one yard on a 3rd-and-3 catch over the middle, and another on which he knocked a perfectly thrown deep ball by Tristan Gebbia away from Kyion Grayes.
Jyaire Brown played the third-most snaps among all Buckeyes (59) and had an up-and-down day at cornerback, forcing a fourth-down incompletion with tight coverage on a deep ball intended for Carnell Tate in the left side of the end zone late in the first half but giving up a 37-yard touchdown when he was beat by Tate to the same spot on the first play of the fourth quarter.
Scale of 1-10: How excited are you about Carnell Tate? @carnelltate_ x @OhioStateFB pic.twitter.com/yoZ70X7pFP
— Ohio State on BTN (@OhioStateOnBTN) April 15, 2023
Defensive end Omari Abor also showed some flashes in the spring game, tipping one Gebbia pass and forcing another Gebbia incompletion with a quarterback hurry while also recording one tackle. Out of all the defenders in the 2022 class, the one who had the quietest day was the one who had the biggest spring game as a freshman: Kye Stokes, who didn’t stand out the way he did one year earlier but still recorded three tackles and had a tipped pass that could have been a pass breakup if not for an excellent catch by Chase Brecht.
We see you, Chase Brecht. @chase_brecht11 x @OhioStateFB pic.twitter.com/ukCHf7hTMq
— Ohio State on BTN (@OhioStateOnBTN) April 15, 2023
All in all, the spring game made it evident that there are many reasons to be excited about the upside of the defenders Ohio State signed in the class of 2022. It remains in question, however, how big their roles will be in their second year as Buckeyes.
The defensive player from the class of 2022 who appears to have the best chance of being a starter for the Buckeyes this year is the one who didn’t actually start his college career at Ohio State: Davison Igbinosun, the 162nd-ranked prospect in that class, who is competing with Jordan Hancock for a starting spot at cornerback after transferring to the Buckeyes following just one year at Ole Miss. Brown was also a part of that competition this spring, and could see his share of snaps in the cornerback rotation even if he doesn’t win a starting job.
| Pos | Player | Stars | Rankings |
|---|---|---|---|
| LB | C.J. HICKS | ★★★★★ | #7 OVR (#1 LB) |
| S | SONNY STYLES | ★★★★★ | #12 OVR (#1 S) |
| DE | KENYATTA JACKSON | ★★★★ | #60 OVR (#5 ED) |
| DE | OMARI ABOR | ★★★★ | #63 OVR (#6 ED) |
| LB | GABE POWERS | ★★★★ | #101 OVR (#8 LB) |
| DE | CADEN CURRY | ★★★★ | #123 OVR (#13 ED) |
| DT | HERO KANU | ★★★★ | #129 OVR (#19 DL) |
| CB | JYAIRE BROWN | ★★★★ | #192 OVR (#24 CB) |
| CB | RYAN TURNER | ★★★★ | #341 OVR (#37 CB) |
| S | KYE STOKES | ★★★★ | #351 OVR (#16 ATH) |
Styles looks like the second-year defender who will be hardest to keep off the field this season, but as of now, he’s expected to play situationally in what Perry Eliano has described as a “streamlined” role – likely one that looks similar to the hybrid linebacker role he played for some of his snaps in the spring game and against Georgia in the Peach Bowl. While many Ohio State fans are clamoring to see Styles start this season, he spent most of the spring repping as the second-team strong safety behind Lathan Ransom.
Given that Larry Johnson likes to rotate at all four spots on the defensive line, Curry and Jackson should both see regular playing time as the projected top backups to JT Tuimoloau and Jack Sawyer. Abor could have a chance to earn some snaps in the defensive end rotation, too, while Kanu could potentially round out the defensive tackle two-deep behind Mike Hall, Ty Hamilton and Tyleik Williams.
While Hicks and Powers both looked worthy of playing time this spring, their path to playing substantial snaps this fall is less clear. Tommy Eichenberg, Steele Chambers and Cody Simon played nearly all of the snaps at linebacker last season, and all three of them are back this year. Knowles has said he wants to rotate more at linebacker this year, but we won’t know what that will look like until the actual games begin – though it’s safe to assume Hicks and Powers will at least play some backup snaps at linebacker this year after never playing on defense as true freshmen.
Stokes currently appears likely to be the No. 2 free safety, but the Buckeyes didn’t rotate much at safety last year either, though Josh Proctor still has to prove he can be a consistent anchor on the back end of the defense after battling both injuries and inconsistency in past seasons. Turner doesn’t appear likely to be on this year’s two-deep as of now, though his ability to play both outside and in the slot makes him a valuable depth piece and improves his chances of seeing some snaps in the secondary this year.
Ohio State has the benefit of returning upperclassmen with significant playing experience at virtually every position on defense this year, meaning the Buckeyes don’t have to rely on their younger defenders quite yet. But there’s reason to believe the second-year defenders can give Ohio State a boost in whatever roles they play this season and that they have a bright future as Buckeyes over the next two to four years.
