Blinksportsnews247Defensive end rotations that closely resembled the one that might occur in 2024 are what helped Ohio State football establish its Rushmen notoriety.
Joey Bosa caused chaos, followed closely by Tyquan Lewis. With Chase Young hovering over him, Nick Bosa flourished. Outstanding young depth that made the most of its time behind the established players was a feature of the top pass rush units in head coach Larry Johnson’s OSU career.
A look at spring practices might reveal whether the current crop of rush endings is descended from that ancestry or not.
Who comes back?
In the final stretch, Jack Sawyer gave his best football performance, which culminated in a three-sack showing in the Cotton Bowl versus Missouri. J.T. Tuimoloau continued to broaden his overall influence. Not many teams, if any, will bring back a stronger set of rush ends. This rotation gets even better if Caden Curry and Kenyatta Jackson find their groove in their third seasons. Former linebacker Mitchell Melton may contend for snaps if he can get beyond his injury problems. Joshua Mickens is still improving even after making his redshirt debut.
Who took part? Johnson managed to land five-star Eddrick Houston (No. 26 overall, Buford, Georgia), who was a huge recruiting hit that he needed. Then, in the late period, he recruited in-state Dominic Kirks (four star, No. 162, Painesville) to make up for some other targets that had fallen through the cracks in December.
Largest unsolved query
Many people believed before the previous season that Jackson and Curry’s pursuit of starter positions would be a spring narrative. Rather, they are still in front of two of the greatest in the country. They might find that aggravating, but if one or both of them make their third-year jump, opponents might find it terrifying.
Requires a springtime breakthrough
Melton’s progress was hindered by injuries and changes in positions. After being evaluated for the hybrid end/linebacker jack position in the past, he decided to concentrate on rush end the previous season.
The most fascinating recent addition, Houston, doesn’t absolutely need to pitch in right away, but given his skill set, it’s also not out of the question. In high school, he ran track and wrestled as well. Though there is now a strong group in front of him, the physical gifts are undeniable.
Best possible springtime result
There’s likely a lot of snaps Sawyer and Tuimoloau can give this interesting second string. A developmental boost between now and September will determine whether or not we can go four or five deep with rush ends of starting caliber.
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