It says something about Eddrick Houston’s maturity that he was willing to move from defensive end to defensive tackle.
Ohio State defensive line coach Larry Johnson gave Houston, touted among the nation’s best edge prospects in the 2024 class, the option to stay there if Houston desired. Instead, he opted for what he felt to be best for the team.
“(Johnson) was just letting me know that I could do it, that it’s totally up to me if I want to do it and make that switch, if not, it’s OK, I could stay out there,” Houston told Eleven Warriors ahead of the Rose Bowl on Dec. 30. “Overall, it was just me wanting to help out the team in any way I can, whether that was moving to 3-tech or staying at end.”
Houston acclimated quickly along the interior and is poised for a breakout 2025 campaign, whether he sticks inside or slides back outside.
“I think he’s got the size, first of all,” Johnson told Eleven Warriors. “He’s gonna be a big kid. There was a point where we had five defensive ends, and to get him ready to go, probably inside was the best fit for him, move him that direction and get him to go play. He may go back to defensive end next year, just really an opportunity to put him in position where he can get on the field.”
Houston came to Columbus as a five-star prospect ranked 26th overall in the 247Sports composite, seventh among defensive linemen in the class of 2024. Johnson and the Buckeyes plucked him out of Georgia despite heavy pursuit from the 2021 and 2022 national champion Bulldogs, Alabama and other SEC powers.
Defensive end is where Houston made his mark as a recruit, racking up 64 tackles and 10 sacks as a senior at a powerhouse program in Buford High School. But as preparation for the 2024 season rolled forward, it became clear the Buckeyes were thinner at DT than DE. As much was proven in September when starting 3-technique defensive tackle Tyleik Williams missed the Marshall and Michigan State games with an injury and Ohio State found little that stuck rolling mostly Hero Kanu, Jason Moore and Tywone Malone in his place.
The next and final time Williams missed action against Purdue in November, Houston made his first career start. He was the top 3-tech off the bench after Williams the rest of the season, playing the fourth-most snaps (130) of Ohio State’s defensive tackles on the year behind starting nose guard Ty Hamilton, Williams and backup nose guard Kayden McDonald.
“We needed some depth right there, and I felt as though with my speed, my strength and my individual talents that I’d be able to move inside and still be as productive as I was at (defensive end),” Houston said.
WIlliams was also a major help in his transition, and Houston said that he’d often consult with the star on the sidelines about what he did right or wrong in-game, going through the footage on tablets.
“Tyleik helped me a lot when I made that switch,” Houston said. “All the ups and downs, Tyleik is on me, making sure that I’m getting myself right. If I need help with something, he’ll watch film with me and let me know I can’t do this, do this. Or this is good, so keep going. So really just being able to have the brotherhood that we’ve got in the D-line room and as a team in general, and them just sticking with me, make sure I get better each day, really helps me.”
Above all else, however, Williams advised him to remain self-assured.
“His main one is just, be confident,” Houston said. “When I first moved (to DT), there was low confidence. I had never played the position. But Tyleik being on me – not on me but letting me know I got this, keeping me going, that really helped me a lot to grow at that position.”
There were definitely flashes from Houston when he got his opportunity. He picked up seven tackles and batted down two passes playing 3-tech in 2024, but he set up many more takedowns for teammates by eating blocks on the inside. Despite being a freshman who began the offseason as a defensive end, he proved physically ready to hold his own on the interior.
It probably helps to be a freakish athlete with 270 pounds stretched across a 6-3 frame. Though there were guards who outsized him, his quickness off the ball gave him an advantage.
“I feel as though I can get that first step on them,” Houston said of facing interior offensive linemen. “That’s the main thing, that you want that first step, be able to get your hands on them quick so you can be able to maneuver them whichever way, and behind that is the strength to be able to hold up these big guys at 300-plus pounds.”
Now Houston will be at a small crossroads entering 2025, choosing whether to remain at 3-tech or slide back out to defensive end. Ohio State’s depth chart could be a reason to go in the former direction.
The Buckeyes have two clear projected starters at defensive end in rising redshirt junior Kenyatta Jackson Jr. and senior Caden Curry. Linebacker C.J. Hicks could also be a factor as an edge defender if the Jack position or something similar returns after Ohio State has hired a new defensive coordinator. Transfer defensive end Logan George will also be a factor.
McDonald figures to replace Hamilton at nose guard but the new picture at 3-tech is murkier. Kanu transferred to Texas and Houston appeared to pass both Moore and Malone on the depth chart in the back half of 2024. Houston will want to bulk up a bit if he does stay on the interior, however.
“I just want to focus on getting stronger if I do make the (decision) that I want to stay at 3-tech,” Houston said. “I want to get stronger and stay in the playbook. Tyleik already said that I can call him at any time and ask him any questions that I have. That’ll be great to have him in my back pocket and know that there’s somebody behind me if I need some help.”
Either way, Ohio State will have a lot to work through replacing all four starting defensive linemen – Hamilton, Williams, JT Tuimoloau and Jack Sawyer – from its 2024 national championship run. Houston will be part of those plans.
“We’ll be young, there’s no question about that,” Johnson said. “We could have been young (this) year, if those guys had taken off, we’d have been young this year. You knew it was coming. Just got to build depth and make sure you’re ready when it happens. We’ve got spring ball coming through, we’ve got a couple (freshmen) coming in early and that’s gonna help get these young guys ready.”
