Projecting the Ohio State Spring Defensive Two-Deep Depth Chart

After rebuilding an elite defense that lost eight NFL Draft picks, first-year defensive coordinator Matt Patricia’s unit was even better in 2025.

Last week, Patricia officially signed a contract extension despite all kinds of NFL interest, and Buckeye Nation let out a collective sigh of relief. Now, he gets to rebuild an elite defense despite, again, losing eight players off to the NFL, including what could be three top-10 picks and another first-rounder.

Ohio State was quite active in the transfer portal heading into 2026. In total, the Buckeyes brought in 18 transfers, eight of whom were on the defensive side and all from Power 4 programs. After losing a handful of promising depth pieces, Patricia has to work his magic once again heading into Spring.

Projecting the Ohio State Spring Defensive Two-Deep Depth Chart

Defensive End

1. Kenyatta Jackson Jr. (RS Senior)
2. Khary Wilder (Freshman) OR
3. Beau Atkinson (RS Senior)

One of two Buckeye defenders who had a legitimate choice and returned, Kenyatta Jackson Jr., is expected to be one of the veteran leaders on the defense. Finally earning a bigger role in 2025, Jackson had his own breakout with 11 tackles for loss and nearly seven sacks. He’s going to be the go-to EDGE this year and could be one of the few favorites for this year’s Block O jersey.

Behind him is a question mark. Last year, Atkinson, the North Carolina transfer, logged the third-most snaps at EDGE, but only made two-and-a-half tackles for loss and one sack. He looked to be a talent on the rise heading into his third year, so that was a bit disappointing. He may end up the favorite to be the first off the bench again, but true freshman Khary Wilder may be too good to keep off the field. According to the consensus, he is the third-best defensive lineman in the 2026 class. Of course, the question for him will be, will he kick inside, much like Eddrick Houston?

Defensive End

1. Zion Grady (Sophomore) OR
2. Qua Russaw (RS Junior)
3. Epi Sitanilei (RS Freshman)

The only other EDGE with more than 100 snaps for the Buckeyes in 2025, Grady cracked the lineup as a true freshman. He managed two tackles for loss and a sack. 83 of his snaps came in the seven games leading up to the Michigan game, showing that while he and the rest of the depth did not get rotated in when it got to crunch time, he was trusted more and more down the stretch.

Challenging him to play opposite Jackson will be Alabama transfer Qua Russaw. Just like the rest of the EDGE room, Russaw is 90% projection and 10% production to this point. In two seasons down south, he amassed just three-and-a-half tackles for loss and two sacks. Behind them, redshirt freshman Epi Sitanilei stood out in practice, but never really got a shot to shine in real action. It’s obvious that he’s talented, but cracking the rotation in a bigger way may be a challenge.

Defensive Tackle (3-Tech)

1. Eddrick Houston (Junior)
2. James Smith (Senior)

Defensive Tackle (Nose)

1. Will Smith Jr. (RS Junior)
2. John Walker (RS Junior)

At 3-tech, Houston should have the inside track to starting. He was the starter last year and has the most snaps coming back for Ohio State on the interior, but he hasn’t lived up to that five-star billing just yet. Houston looked promising at times, but ended up losing his starting spot. This year has to be his year.

However, the Buckeyes brought in Alabama transfer James Smith to add juice and some competition. Over his last two seasons with the Tide, Smith totaled 10 tackles for loss and three-and-a-half sacks from the interior.

At nose tackle, there are two names to watch above the rest. The incumbent, Will Smith Jr., should be the favorite to start at this point in the process. Whether or not he keeps the job is the question. However, he came on last year. He earned the fourth-most snaps among defensive tackles, but did not record a splash play for the Buckeyes.

Walker transferred in from UCF and should be able to make an impact. He missed the 2023 season, but he comes to Columbus with eight tackles for loss and one-and-a-half sacks. It’ll be a real battle between Smith and Walker, but heading into Spring, Smith should have an edge.

MIKE Linebacker

1. Payton Pierce (Junior)
2. Cincere Johnson (Freshman)

WILL Linebacker

1. Riley Pettijohn (Sophomore)
2. Christian Alliegro (Senior)

How do you replace a consummate Buckeye like Block O and captain, Sonny Styles? Well, Payton Pierce is going to have to figure that bit out. Last year, Pierce earned a legitimate role in the rotation with 262 snaps. Of course, the starting two linebackers were not taken off the field much, but in the little that Pierce played, he showed promise. He comes into 2026 with 47 tackles, one-and-a-half tackles for loss, an interception, a forced fumble, and a fumble recovery under his belt. Of course, that forced fumble and fumble recovery came in the Cotton Bowl loss, showing that James Laurinaitis trusts him in crunch time.

While people are expecting Pierce to have an Arvell Reese-like breakout, the player behind him is generating all kinds of hype. Cincere Johnson is the latest in Ohio State’s Glenville pipeline, and if Pierce has a good enough year to leave after one season, Johnson will be the guy to step up.

Another young player expected to step up is Riley Pettijohn. The talented sophomore had a splash play against Grambling State where he forced a fumble, recovered it, and scored all in one. He will have to battle the Wisconsin transfer. Alliegro, if he isn’t in the starting lineup, will be the first guy off the bench because he has shown that he can play at a high level in the Big Ten.

Don’t overlook TJ Alford, either.

Cornerback 1

1. Devin Sanchez (Sophomore)
2. Jordan Thomas (Freshman)

Cornerback 2

1. Jermaine Matthews Jr. (Senior)
2. Dominick Kelly (Sophomore)

Nickel/Slot Corner

1. Earl Little Jr. (RS Senior)
2. Miles Lockhart (RS Sophomore) OR
3. Jay Timmons (Freshman)

The two starting corners seem to be set heading into Spring. Devin Sanchez was hailed as the “Jeremiah Smith of the defense.” While his freshman season was not the defensive equivalent of “1,300 yards, 15 touchdowns, and catching the game-clinching pass in the national title game,” he came on as the year went on. He only finished with two tackles and a pass breakup, but he played 321 snaps last year, including 43 in the Cotton Bowl loss. Mathews could have left for the NFL, but he’s betting on moving outside being a better spot for him than slot/nickel.

After them, it gets interesting. Dominick Kelly transferred in from Georgia. You know it was a big signing when fans were as disappointed as Dawg fans at the time.  He was a four-star recruit and was on the same trajectory as Sanchez. Plus, talented freshmen Timmons and Thomas will challenge for playing time.

Little was a safety at Florida State, but he’s expected to play nickel at OSU.

Free Safety

1. Terry Moore (RS Senior)
2. Leroy Roker III (RS Sophomore)

Strong Safety

1. Jaylen McClain (Junior)
2. Blaine Bradford (Freshman)

Finally, at safety, things get interesting. Replacing Caleb Downs and a handful of guys who should have been up next will be a challenge. McClain returns after holding down the fort as the second starter last year. He amassed 53 tackles and broke up three passes. Moore was brought in from Duke to be the veteran leader and potential stopgap to get someone like Bradford ready to go. As a freshman, Bradford could be good enough to get significant time anyway.

All in all, there are plenty of reasons to be optimistic as well as reasons to be concerned. However, Patricia has earned the benefit of the doubt with this group. The Ohio State defense may not be the best-in-the-nation good, but it’s certainly going to be top-10.

Main Image: Joseph Maiorana-Imagn Images