The Ohio State Buckeyes proudly held the number one defense in college football last season, and they leveraged it to win a national championship.
One major reason Ohio State’s defense excelled was its front seven, featuring a fierce defensive line that consistently troubled opposing quarterbacks throughout the season.
In line with tradition, the Buckeyes are already focused on assembling a powerful defensive line for 2026, having extended an offer to four-star defensive end prospect Kevin Ford Jr.
The product from Duncanville, Tx. is listed as the 13th best edge rusher in 247 Sports’ composite rankings and is the 105th overall player in his class.
Ford accumulated 57 tackles, 16 tackles for loss, and seven sacks last year and has already received 38 Division I offers, so Ohio State will certainly face a challenge in securing his commitment.
In 2024, the Buckeyes’ defensive line featured players such as Jack Sawyer, JT Tuimoloau, Tyleik Williams, and Ty Hamilton, all of whom have declared for the NFL Draft and will transition to the professional ranks next month.
Those are certainly substantial shoes to fill, but Ohio State boasts an excellent 2025 recruiting class that is likely to contribute and perform next autumn.
Certainly, Ford won’t be accessible until the next year, but as is their norm, the Buckeyes are taking initiative and making sure they secure the top talent for the upcoming years.
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