On a defensive line defined in equal measure by its inexperience and upside entering 2025, no man along Ohio State’s projected starting four features more of both than Eddrick Houston.
The only underclassman in position to start up front, but in turn the only five-star prospect, Houston slid down from defensive end to three-technique defensive tackle during his freshman 2024 campaign and now hopes to emerge as a star for the Buckeyes with a full offseason of focus on defensive tackle.
“He could be a great pass rusher,” defensive line coach Larry Johnson said. “He's real powerful, real strong. He has all the makings, an opportunity to be really special.”
With some added muscle and still plenty of speed to out-quick offensive guards and create havoc in offensive backfields, Houston's emergence could be key for an Ohio State defensive line replacing all four starters from 2024.
He's embraced his role in kind.
“I feel as though three-tech is what's best for me right now,” Houston said. “I feel like I can produce just as well as I do on the edge, I have the strength and speed to do it, so I just gotta keep working every day to keep getting better.”
Houston’s rapid rise last season was eye-catching. With the Buckeyes struggling to develop three-technique depth behind star Tyleik Williams, Johnson turned to the freshman Houston for his first career start against Purdue in Week 10 despite Hero Kanu and Tywone Malone getting the nod when Williams missed time earlier in the year.
In 141 snaps last season – the second-most out of Ohio State’s three-techs behind Williams – Houston collected seven tackles and batted down two passes playing his new position. He said that Williams was the biggest help in his acclimation process.
“The main thing he would tell me was, 'Stop overthinking everything, just go out there and play,'” Houston said. “That really helped me because, you know, new position, trying to find my role and stuff, so it was pretty good to get his assistance on it.”
Of those 141 snaps, 55 of them came during the Buckeyes’ four-game College Football Playoff run. He saw at least 11 reps in each victory.
“It meant a lot that Coach J trusted me enough to go in there in the big games like that and knew that I would be able to produce,” Houston said.
With Kenyatta Jackson Jr., Caden Curry, Logan George and now C.J. Hicks set to fill up Ohio State’s two-deep at defensive end this offseason, Johnson and Houston agreed quickly that the best plan moving forward was for the Georgia native to stick at three-tech. Being Williams’ backup in 2024 is a clear path to a starting job, after all.
Johnson feels that with Houston’s full focus on playing defensive tackle this offseason, he can grow by bounds in the technical aspects of playing on the outside shoulder of offensive guards. His first step will be to lock down the starting job in a competition with redshirt senior Tywone Malone and redshirt sophomore Jason Moore, but he’s a heavy favorite given that he passed both men on the depth chart while new to the position last campaign.
“He’s definitely taking on the role,” Johnson said. “I think the biggest thing is he's accepting the fact that he can go play three-tech. That's the biggest issue. You learn to accept that, then you'll start improving your technique. So, so far, so good. This is a full-time three-technique now, not going back-and-forth. Like I said, two days of practice in pads – we’ve got a long way to go.”
The composite No. 26 prospect in the recruiting class of 2024, Houston entered Columbus with a fantastic athletic profile. On top of his football accolades, he was a state semifinalist wrestler and competed in the 200-meter dash, 400-meter dash, shot put and discus for Buford High School’s track and field team.
This offseason, Houston worked to build muscle in winter workouts to brace for the impact an interior defensive lineman takes.
“I just felt as though I needed to get stronger,” Houston said. “(Defensive tackle) is taking 600 pounds of men every play. So I knew that I, first, gotta get stronger, and I gotta get faster so I can get my hands on them quicker.”
Johnson is also challenging Houston to step up as a leader for the defensive line room. He added that he’s looking for a “group leadership” effort in his position room, naming Kenyatta Jackson Jr., Caden Curry and Malone as players who have stepped up in that regard. Houston wants to do his part to help push younger players, even if he’s just a sophomore himself.
“I feel like the main thing we teach in our unit is that anybody can be a leader, no matter what year, freshman, sophomore, junior, or senior, or even if you’re a walk-on, everybody can be a leader,” Houston said.
If Houston reaches toward his Everestian potential, it will boost Ohio State’s entire defensive line skyward.
