Quick Hits: Larry Johnson Likes Ohio State’s Defensive Line Depth, Tyleik Williams and Ty Hamilton Unveil “TNT” Nickname

Johnson was joined at the microphone by defensive ends JT Tuimoloau, Caden Curry and Mitchell Melton and the starting defensive tackle tandem of Tyleik Williams and Ty Hamilton at Wednesday’s interview session at the Woody Hayes Athletic Center following the Buckeyes’ 17th of 25 August practices. (Newly elected captain Jack Sawyer was unable to participate in the interview session because he was participating in the Buckeye Kickoff event at Ohio Stadium.)

During their interview sessions, Johnson lauded Ohio State’s depth across the defensive line while Hamilton and Williams unveiled their new nickname, “TNT.” Melton talked about how his love of football is greater than it’s ever been before, Tuimoloau touched on the “violent mentality” that the defensive line wants to play with this season and Curry talked about his drive to win a championship.

Larry Johnson

“He’s been phenomenal. He really has. He’s been different, I can say, in a lot of ways. He’s focused. He’s really locked in on what he wants to be. He wants to be a great player.”– Larry Johnson on Jack Sawyer becoming a captain

• Johnson says he thinks the Buckeyes have five defensive ends they can rely on: Jack Sawyer, JT Tuimoloau, Caden Curry, Kenyatta Jackson Jr. and Mitchell Melton. Eddrick Houston and Joshua Mickens are both pushing to be the sixth man in the DE rotation, Johnson said.
• Johnson thinks the Buckeyes can get to a six-man rotation at defensive tackle with Tyleik Williams, Ty Hamilton, Hero Kanu, Kayden McDonald, Jason Moore and Tywone Malone, though they’re still working their way toward that number.
• On McDonald: “He certainly has the talent now to be able to play 35 plays in a game. And that’s what we’re trying to get him ready for.”
• Johnson said Moore and Malone are both “much stronger” than they were last year.
• Johnson said Mickens has “come out of nowhere” in camp. He said Mickens has put on 20-30 pounds since last season.
• Johnson said he treats all of Jackson, Curry and Melton like they are first-teamers even though Sawyer and Tuimoloau are the starting defensive ends.
• Melton has bulked up to 263 pounds which enables him to play the run better. Johnson said he “can’t speak enough” about how much Melton has improved.
• On Hamilton and Williams’ “TNT” nickname: “I’m not sold on TNT yet. I still like the Rushmen.”

Tyleik Williams

“I came in with them. I want to leave with them. And I want to win something together with them. So I'm glad we all made a decision to come back.”– Tyleik Williams on playing with Jack Sawyer, JT Tuimmoloau and Ty Hamilton

• On the next wave of defensive linemen: “They’re all coming along perfectly well. I'm glad they had a great camp. I'm ready to see what they do throughout the season, because like I said, we're going to need them. We're going to need everybody if we want to make this long run.”
• Williams said Ohio State’s three-technique defensive tackles are more than gap-fillers up front. “D-tackles are usually just guys that eat up space. But here we're playmakers. We've got guys like Hero, Tywone, we're not just there to fit the gap. We're there to fit the gap and make the play.”
• On where Ty Hamilton has grown: “Ty is definitely more of a leader now. He leads the whole D-line, the whole interior. He's that head guy you go to if you need advice for anything. And he leads as a great example for the young guys.”
• On where he’s better from last year: “I think I'm better everywhere. I'm not trying to be big-headed, but I think I've taken a big step since last year, and I think the whole D-line has. And I'm just ready to show it next Saturday.”

Ty Hamilton

“I don't talk too much, but I just let my play do what it does. So, I don't have to say much, but I'm going to have you feel me while I'm on the field.”– Ty Hamilton on why Larry Johnson called him a “sleeping giant”

• On Cody Simon being awarded Ohio State’s “Block O” jersey: “I think he just represents everything that Ohio State has to offer. He's a great guy, he works just as hard on the field as he does off the field. So, everything he does, his preparation, it just leads to being the leader of the defense and the leader of the team.”
• On how he’s improved as a leader: “I think being an older guy, a lot of the younger guys look up to the older guys, so just being able to share my experience and be able to teach young guys and pass off wisdom that I have makes me a better player, so it helps me be a better leader.”
• On why both he and his brother DaVon Hamilton were late bloomers: “I think we just got a lot of talented guys here. It's hard to be on the field, like it's hard to understand, being here all the time with great players, sometimes it doesn't turn out the way you want. But just being able to understand that your time is coming.”
• On Tegra Tshabola: “He's a great player. He's a bigger size guy, so him being on the inside, just being a really good pad level, blocking me, it's hard to play a bigger guy, it's hard to lock him out. Having a lot of weight and being able to move that fast, it's been good for him.”

JT Tuimoloau

“My goal for me is, as much as it would be great to have a Penn State game every day, every week, it’s hard. I just can’t go chasing. I got to let it come to me. I got to stay in my wheelhouse. … Playing fast, playing physical. Continue to be the player I am and just bring that every week.”– JT Tuimoloau on his individual goals this season

• On Ohio State’s defensive ends wanting to play “violent” this season: “I think with all of us coming back, we knew something had to change and the violent mentality and the people that came in here and spoke to us and Coach J preaching to us, that’s just been the type of mentality we want to play with.”
• On returning to Ohio State for another season with his 2021 classmates, Jack Sawyer and Tyleik Williams: “Man, it’s been a blessing. I came in with them and for us to continue to see each other grow and see all of us have our games, now we’re just hoping to put all of our best games (in one season).” Tuimoloau added that 2024 will be “another year of memories” and “grind” for him, Sawyer and Williams.
• Tuimoloau congratulated Sawyer on being named one of Ohio State’s four captains along with TreVeyon Henderson, Emeka Egbuka and Cody Simon. “Just seeing him grow and being with him, Jack has been a tremendous leader in and out the D-line room. For him to be named captain, for us to have R2X be named a captain, I mean, that just speaks volumes. … He’s gonna continue to lead, continue to push us.”

Mitchell Melton

“I’ve never loved football so much until right now. I think that was the biggest thing coming back was trying to find a love for it and keep my confidence at a high level. I think I’ve done that. I feel great.”– Mitchell Melton on his mindset entering 2024

• Melton said Ohio State’s defensive end room is “one of the best groups in the country.” He added: “We have a lot of great D-ends in that room. We think a lot of us can play a lot of great time for us in the fall.”
• Melton on his limited playing time last season: “Coming back, we didn’t know how much I could handle, how many plays I could handle at a certain amount of time. It was kind of trial and error – just seeing what I could do in a short amount of time. I definitely think there was more trust to be had on the coach's side with me.” Melton said he’s gained trust by remaining healthy and learning his playbook this offseason.
• Melton said the challenge for him this season will be “staying consistent.” Melton said he wants to stay consistent and do his job every single play this season. “That’s probably the biggest thing I’m gonna try to continue to work on.”

Caden Curry

“Everybody wants to win. I mean you’re at Ohio State, you’re at the best college, you want to win. And if it’s anything besides a win, you’ve failed.”– Caden Curry on everyone on the team having a chip on their shoulder

• Curry says he’s improved on playing fast, playing stronger and his footwork in the offseason.
• Curry said he and Kenyatta Jackson Jr. are coming into this year preparing to be starters and working like they’ll be top on the depth chart so both can avoid complacency and continue to push each other.
• Curry said Eddrick Houston is a hard worker, has great length, long strides and strength. “He’s got everything you see from a defensive end.”
• Curry said it would mean everything to win a championship at OSU because he’s gone through struggles here, gone through big-game losses and hardships. “I want to see the other side of it too.”