Ohio State Football 2025

Orin Swift said:
Ohio State hired 3 analysts yesterday.

Wendy Laurent - played center for Penn State from 2012-2016, played in 34 games and started 8. Coaching career started off as a OL GA for Buffalo, 2 years as a GA at Penn State, spent the last 3 years at Dartmouth as the TE coach while also picking up the Associate HC title last year. He will likely replace TE analyst Sean Binckes who followed Chip to LV.

Marcus Johnson - former Ole Miss and NFL (‘05-‘09) OL. Has been an OL coach for the last 9 years at Duke (‘16-17), Miss State (‘18-‘19), Missouri (‘20-‘22) and Purdue (‘23-‘24).
Purdue’s offense was an absolute train wreck this year a their offensive line was still good enough to allow their 2 top RBs average 4.8ypc despite not being able to keep the defense off balance with the threat of a passing game - they averaged 180 passing yards per game which ranked 113th in all of college football.

Charlie Dickey - 37 year coaching vet who spent the last 6 years as the OL coach for one of the other OSUs, Oklahoma State. Was the OL coach at Kansas State before OSU for 10 years. Also had stops as OL coach at Utah, Washington. Arizona and Northern Arizona.

Johnson and Dickey are huge hires as analysts.

Edit: Purdue’s lead backs rushed for 4.8 ypc, not 4.5 ypc.
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Amazes me how Day is able to keep these hirings quiet without them leaking out before the hire. Even with the Patricia hire "insiders" were saying almost to the day Patricia was hired, that Day was not going to hire an NFL guy.
 
No CFB team stays the same from year to year. There is almost always some staff turnover and there is always player out and inflow. This is particularly true of championship teams because your staff gets poached and the starting players tend to be older and your 3rd year players leave early to take advantage of their college success.

The Nattering Nabobs will take a very negative view of this change. New coaches will be bums and new players won't be as good as those who left. Nevermind that the nabobs criticized those coaches and players who left too. Gloom and doom is the main conclusion they always go to.

But change can be exciting and fun. It's not realistic to think that every coach who steps in and player who steps up will shine. But most of them will and what doesn't work has to be worked through and out. I enjoy watching that process.

Also championship teams have to overcome contentment and entitlement. If there is major staff and player turnover, all of that new blood tends to eliminate that rat poison.

Finally, let's take Patricia as an example. We hear he isn't great in personal and relational issues. OK. I don't know if that is true, but let's say it is. What is the most important thing for a DC to do? It is to have a large bag with every defensive concept known to man. Does he have a bag like that? Uh, yes. The next thing would be can he distill that down to a workable number of schemes and get his players to master them. I don't know, but I am going to assume he can do all of that until it's clear he can't.

But football is a lot more fun when you embrace change and see the glass as at least half-full.

Do not join the Nattering Nabobs of Negativism. They don't know what they are talking about and all they are good at is stealing your joy of the game.
 
Spartacus1987 said:
Ya that makes total sense considering he’s been a DC at 3 different programs in the SEC as of late and yet I’m the only fan. Lmfao the ignorance here is out of control
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Yep. Keeps being pawned off to different 2nd tier SEC schools. Auburn finished 8th the SEC on defense.
 
Stirred not Shaken said:
Look for transfer CJ Donaldson to be involved in OSU's passing game. As a sr. in H.S. Donaldson played wr and caught 81 passes for over 1100 yds. OSU likes to incorporate the running backs into the passing game.
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In 3 years at WVU, Donaldson had 32 catches for 190 yards so he can be a safety valve option for the Buckeye offense. Just his experience alone makes his transfer to OSU more valuable than fans give it credit for.
 
Buckeyes hired Tony Washington Jr as assistant DL coach to replace LaAllen Clark (got a promotion to DL coach for Texas). Spent last year at UCLA but was previously an assistant DL/OLB coach for his Alma mater, Oregon.
 
Orin Swift said:
https://twitter.com/x/status/1896923646494474514

Legislation we need, legislation we deserve.
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While I agree in principal, there is zero chance that a state legislature can mandate what a national or global business can do. Nor can they enforce it if it is a Big Ten contract that binds OSU. Nobody wants a country like that. It's just another dipsh__t politician trying to get some attention.
 
CJ Hicks being moved to defensive end as an edge rusher:

www.elevenwarriors.com

C.J. Hicks Moving to the Edge As Ohio State’s Defense Plans to Mix Fronts More in 2025

C.J. Hicks is now a member of Larry Johnson’s position group as he makes the move to playing edge defender full-time after three years as a backup linebacker for Ohio State.
www.elevenwarriors.com www.elevenwarriors.com

A little late in a college college career to make a position switch, but Hicks may be better suited talent wise to play the edge rather than a linebacker in space.
 
Omega said:
CJ Hicks being moved to defensive end as an edge rusher:

www.elevenwarriors.com

C.J. Hicks Moving to the Edge As Ohio State’s Defense Plans to Mix Fronts More in 2025

C.J. Hicks is now a member of Larry Johnson’s position group as he makes the move to playing edge defender full-time after three years as a backup linebacker for Ohio State.
www.elevenwarriors.com www.elevenwarriors.com

A little late in a college college career to make a position switch, but Hicks may be better suited talent wise to play the edge rather than a linebacker in space.
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I’m not saying he’s the talent of Abdul Carter, but that’s what Carter did last year
 
Eddie George up for the BGSU job, one of three they are looking at for the HC job. another one is Kevin Johns former piqua player and UD flyer.....
 
This writer really takes it to the OSU fans:

Let's be real-few teams in college football inspire as much love and absolute disdain as THE Ohio State Buckeyes. Whether it's their smug dominance, their insufferable fanbase, or just the fact that they keep winning (ugh), there's a long list of reasons why the rest of the country rolls its eyes every time someone proudly emphasizes "THE."

thequickreport.com

10 Reasons College Football Fans Hate THE Ohio State

Let’s be real—few teams in college football inspire as much love and absolute disdain as THE Ohio State Buckeyes.
thequickreport.com
 
tom 48 said:
This writer really takes it to the OSU fans:

Let's be real-few teams in college football inspire as much love and absolute disdain as THE Ohio State Buckeyes. Whether it's their smug dominance, their insufferable fanbase, or just the fact that they keep winning (ugh), there's a long list of reasons why the rest of the country rolls its eyes every time someone proudly emphasizes "THE."

thequickreport.com

10 Reasons College Football Fans Hate THE Ohio State

Let’s be real—few teams in college football inspire as much love and absolute disdain as THE Ohio State Buckeyes.
thequickreport.com
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Truth hurts?

A lot of other fan bases are often amused by our eternal championship expectations that are rarely backed up by results. As a Buckeye fan in the South, I get a lot of "bless your heart" comments when folks learn I am an OSU fan. The phrase is said sweetly, but the meaning is derisive as in you don't know better .
 
tom 48 said:
This writer really takes it to the OSU fans:

Let's be real-few teams in college football inspire as much love and absolute disdain as THE Ohio State Buckeyes. Whether it's their smug dominance, their insufferable fanbase, or just the fact that they keep winning (ugh), there's a long list of reasons why the rest of the country rolls its eyes every time someone proudly emphasizes "THE."

thequickreport.com

10 Reasons College Football Fans Hate THE Ohio State

Let’s be real—few teams in college football inspire as much love and absolute disdain as THE Ohio State Buckeyes.
thequickreport.com
Click to expand...
They hate us cause they ain't us.
 
Happy first day of spring ball! Notes from various media outlets who watched practice today:
- Malik Hartford was with the 1s opposite Downs at SS. Rounding out the DB1 group was Igninosun and Matthews as expected on the outside and Lorenzo Styles at the slot
- For the front 7, first team defense saw the expected Curry and Jackson at DE, Houston and McDonald at DT and Reese joining Sonny Styles at LB
-Second CBs looked to be Aaron Scott and Devin Sanchez on the outside and Bryce West in the slot.
-Siereveld was at LT and Moore was at RT. Transfers didn’t run with the first team so Moore at RT makes sense. Interesting Sierevled was at LT, he practiced there last spring too. I wonder if he bumps back inside competing for a starting guard spot once the transfers assume first team tackle reps
-Nate Ebner is on staff as a QC analyst
 
Orin Swift said:
Happy first day of spring ball! Notes from various media outlets who watched practice today:
- Malik Hartford was with the 1s opposite Downs at SS. Rounding out the DB1 group was Igninosun and Matthews as expected on the outside and Lorenzo Styles at the slot
- For the front 7, first team defense saw the expected Curry and Jackson at DE, Houston and McDonald at DT and Reese joining Sonny Styles at LB
-Second CBs looked to be Aaron Scott and Devin Sanchez on the outside and Bryce West in the slot.
-Siereveld was at LT and Moore was at RT. Transfers didn’t run with the first team so Moore at RT makes sense. Interesting Sierevled was at LT, he practiced there last spring too. I wonder if he bumps back inside competing for a starting guard spot once the transfers assume first team tackle reps
-Nate Ebner is on staff as a QC analyst
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Any word on CJ Hicks? Heard rumors of a move to DE. Seems like the kid is too talented to keep sitting.
 
Spartacus1987 said:
Defensive line size and depth will be a problem this season
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It is impossible to replace all 4 starters on the D-line. OSU is in pretty good shape under the circumstances.

DEFENSIVE END​

Starters: Caden Curry (6-3, 260, Sr.), Kenyatta Jackson Jr. (6-6, 258, Sr.)

Backups: Logan George (6-5, 260, Jr.), C.J. Hicks (6-3, 233, Sr.) OR Joshua Mickens (6-4, 240, 3So.) OR Dominic Kirks (6-4, 255, RFr.)

Quick comment: This is about as good of shape as a team could possibly be in after losing Sawyer and Tuimoloau. Not only are Curry and Jackson talented DEs, they have extensive experience as backups and will be entering their senior seasons. Credit to them for waiting their turn to be starters and now it has arrived. Curry had 2.5 sacks in 2024 and Jackson added 1.5, but they were disruptive when they were on the field and their personal stats should skyrocket as starters.

As for the backups, George was a sneaky good-get in the portal by the Buckeyes. Last season at Idaho State, he had 6.5 sacks and 19.5 tackles-for-loss. He is also capable of moving inside to defensive tackle if needed, but his main position is on the outside. Then there will be a lot of players vying for the final spot on the two-deep at DE, but I'll roll the dice and say it will be Hicks. He played off the edge for the second half of the 2024 season and that could be his spot moving forward, depending on how the new DC wants to use him. Also in the mix will be Mickens, a rangy former 4-star recruit who will be entering his third season in the program.

DEFENSIVE TACKLE​

Starters: Eddrick Houston (6-3, 280, So.), Kayden McDonald (6-3, 330, Jr.)

Backups: Jason Moore (6-6, 305, 3So.), Tywone Malone (6-4, 301, 5Sr.) OR Will Smith Jr. (6-4, 288, 3So.) OR Eric Mensah (6-3, 308, RFr.)

Quick comment: I love the projected starting tandem of Houston and McDonald, while fully recognizing they have big shoes to fill with the departures of Ty Hamilton and Tyleik Williams. The depth is what concerns me here. I would like to see the Buckeyes go out and get a DT in the portal, even for depth purposes. But there are some guys currently on the roster who could prove to be valuable cogs, such as Moore, Malone, Smith Jr., Mensah and others. And as previously mentioned, George can slide inside from DE to DT if needed. So can Curry.
 
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