Jack Sawyer and JT Tuimoloau could play some snaps as outside linebackers in their senior seasons at Ohio State.
In his first interview session of the year on Thursday, Ohio State defensive coordinator Jim Knowles revealed that he is considering adding a “double eagle” package to the defense that would deploy Ohio State’s starting defensive ends as edge-rushing linebackers around three interior defensive linemen, effectively turning the Buckeyes’ defensive front into a 3-4.
That revelation came as part of Knowles’ answer in response to a question about third-year defensive tackle Hero Kanu. As the Buckeyes look for ways to get Kanu and other backup defensive linemen involved in the defense this year behind the starting quartet of Sawyer, Tuimoloau, Ty Hamilton and Tyleik Williams, a package that puts five defensive linemen on the field could be one way for Ohio State to do so.
“My thoughts are, with Jack and JT, that at some point, I want to train them as outside linebackers,” Knowles said. “So if you got Hero, Tyleik and Ty and you can get to more of five guys, five D-linemen in the game, with training guys like Jack and JT and Kenyatta (Jackson to play outside linebacker), it’s just kind of in my thoughts. Like, if we're strong inside, those guys can become more multiple. I think it's techniques and things that they can use when they get to the next level. So that's kind of in my thoughts, too.”
If Knowles implements that package into the defense this year, it wouldn’t be the first time he’s toyed with using Ohio State’s defensive ends in an outside linebacker capacity. In his first year as Ohio State’s defensive coordinator in 2022, Sawyer and former Ohio State defensive end Javontae Jean-Baptiste both played snaps at the Jack position, a hybrid linebacker/defensive end position that had been a staple of Knowles’ defensive scheme at Oklahoma State.
Knowles said the Jack position remains an option that Ohio State could use this season, but the Buckeyes didn’t use it in 2023. He still wants to experiment with the Jack this spring but believes the double eagle package could be a better fit for Ohio State’s personnel.
“You always want to try to do what's best for the personnel,” Knowles said. “So my thinking is, ‘OK, maybe we're not built for a Jack type of package.’ It's not what I like, it's what works for our players. Maybe we're not built for the Jack, but maybe we could be built more for a double eagle kind of setup. It's just something to think about.”
Ohio State hasn’t yet installed the double eagle package into its defense, and Knowles made no guarantee that Ohio State will use it at all. Ohio State had one of the best defenses in all of college football last year while playing almost exclusively in a four-down front except in its dime package, so the Buckeyes don’t need to make major schematic changes with all the returning talent they have on defense.
That said, Knowles wants his defense to be as multiple as possible so it can match up accordingly with varying styles of offenses. While Ohio State will continue to utilize a 4-2-5 base defense this year, the double eagle package would give the Buckeyes another option for when they want a seventh bigger body in the game.
“You're always looking to get the best 11 on the field, right?” Knowles said. “So when you look at a 12 personnel set, you say OK, I got Sonny (Styles), Cody (Simon) and C.J. (Hicks as three linebackers) with the four down (linemen). Could we have another component with Jack and JT and three (defensive) tackles, and Cody and Sonny or Cody and C.J. (as two linebackers)? I think who's going to be the best 11 – against bigger sets, could it possibly be Hero vs. having a third linebacker? Could it be three tackles? That's in my thoughts.
“We haven't installed that yet. But I'd like to get to that just to see. And like I said, I feel like with those guys (Sawyer and Tuimoloau), the more they know of how to really be an outside linebacker, the better it's going to help them when they get to the next level. So it's something I'd like to do for them, too.”
As Sawyer and Tuimoloau both decided to stay at Ohio State for their senior years rather than enter the 2024 NFL draft, lining up at outside linebacker on occasion this season could help them elevate their respective draft stocks. If they can prove they have the versatility to play outside linebacker, they would become more appealing prospects for NFL teams who run 3-4 base defenses.
Tuimoloau is eager for the opportunity to line up in multiple spots if the package ends up coming to fruition.
“Coach Knowles said I can play outside linebacker, safety, corner, everywhere, so I'm pretty excited,” Tuimoloau joked. “He's really just putting my skill level to the test and just allowing me to grow more mentally and physically. Just to improve my IQ of the game at multiple areas of the field and continue to grow as a player.”
