Ohio State will get at least one piece of its main linebacker corps back in 2024.
Cody Simon announced at Ohio State's media availability on Tuesday that he will use his COVID-19 waiver and return for a fifth and final season with the Buckeyes.
Simon recorded 45 tackles with three tackles for loss and two pass breakups in 2023. He played both Mike and Will linebacker for Ohio State, starting at the former against both Michigan State and Minnesota while starter Tommy Eichenberg missed time with an arm injury. He rotated with Steele Chambers at the Will throughout the rest of the season and also came onto the field when the Buckeyes opted to roll with three linebackers.
Simon's best games came against Purdue and Rutgers, where he recorded eight and nine tackles, respectively. He also had a clutch 4th-and-1 stop against Notre Dame in Week 3.
Ohio State gave Simon his first experience as a starter when he was a sophomore in 2021. He recorded 54 tackles with 2.5 tackles for loss, one sack and an interception for that year's defense.
Chambers and Eichenberg won the team's two starting jobs at linebacker in 2022 during the first year of defensive coordinator Jim Knowles, but even in a limited role as a third linebacker in certain packages with some rotational usage, Simon picked up 32 tackles with 5.5 tackles for loss and two sacks.
With Eichenberg having already declared for the Senior Bowl and Chambers' status for next year up in the air, it will be reassuring for Ohio State's coaching staff to know it has a veteran with starting experience and production history in its linebacker room for 2024.
