Ohio State football defensive ends balancing veteran poise and young promise: Three spring questions - cleveland.com

COLUMBUS, Ohio — We will ponder three questions about each position group leading up to the start of Ohio State football’s spring drills on March 19. Next up: Defensive ends.

1. Can Zach Harrison and Tyreke Smith create a more intimidating presence?

Last spring the primary question for this group was who would step up to replace at least some of Chase Young’s presence.

The answer turned out to be Jonathon Cooper, a fifth-year senior who bounced back from a season mostly lost to injury to become one of the Big Ten’s best edge defenders.

Harrison and Smith had been expected to be the Buckeyes’ breakout defensive ends. They instead combined for only three sacks, though more advanced measurements say they still made an impact.

Pro Football Focus graded Smith as the having the second-highest pressure rate and fourth-best pass rush win rate in the nation in 2020. Harrison ranked barely behind Smith in that second category. Both were proficient, if not prodigious.

Ohio State loses Tommy Togiai’s earth-moving drive at nose tackle. It also still faces coverage questions in the secondary, the kind that would be aided by a more consistent pass rush.

No one questions the potential of either Harrison or Smith, and both have provided glimpses of what reaching it could look like. Could a strong spring help set the stage for a more consistent fall?

Jack Sawyer Pickerington Central (Ohio) High SchoolDavid Petkiewicz, cleveland.com

2. How quickly will Jack Sawyer assert himself in the Buckeye pass rush?

The Pickerington North product accomplished a lot before arriving for the second semester. He took a leadership role in bringing together the 2021 signing class, including hosting a “Buckeye Bash” gathering for prospects when the team could not allow visitors due to COVID-19 protocols.

Now comes the part that made him of the top-ranked recruits in that class in the first place. Sawyer will attempt to join an increasingly long list of blue chip defensive ends who debuted with impactful seasons. That list includes Joey Bosa (42 tackles, 7.5 sacks), Nick Bosa (29 tackles, 5 sacks), Chase Young (18 tackles, 3.5 sacks) and Harrison 24 tackles, 3.5 sacks.

Young arrived with great promise in 2017 yet also remained the clear No. 5 in that rotation as a freshman. Harrison, on the other hand, played the second-most snaps of any OSU defensive end in 2019, behind only Young.

Sawyer enters with several proven veterans on the roster ahead of him and three redshirts held over from 2020. Some of them may be shifting inside, however. Sawyer will stay on the edge.

Jacolbe Cowan began his career working with Ohio State's defensive ends, but will he and others from the 2020 signing class stay there or move inside? (Nathan Baird/cleveland.com)

3. Which younger players are ready to move up the depth charts, and which ones are moving inside?

Spring inevitably includes players moving from one position group to another. The Buckeyes’ roster technically includes three redshirt freshmen listed as defensive ends — Jacolbe Cowan, Ty Hamilton and Davion Henry-Young.

We have seen this before, however. Larry Johnson brings these players in and teaches them hand-fighting and other pass rush techniques. Then those players inevitably shift inside to 3-technique and spend the bulk of their careers as defensive tackles.

Jashon Cornell was the latest example, and he did it well enough to become a late-round NFL Draft pick.

With four veterans established in the end rotation and Sawyer and perhaps top recruit J.T. Tuimoloau still coming, OSU needs more help inside than out. Do not be surprised if someone from that group above shifts inside as early as this spring, or perhaps this fall at the latest.

THREE SPRING QUESTIONS

WIDE RECEIVERS: Loaded group fighting for opportunities

CORNERBACKS: More consistent performance needed in 2021

OFFENSIVE LINE: How will things shake out inside the tackles?

LINEBACKERS: Will fourth-year veterans seize their long-awaited opportunity?

RUNNING BACKS: Will the Buckeyes find their next backfield star in 2021?

Get Ohio State Sugar Bowl champs & CFP gear: Check out shirts, hats and more merchandise commemorating Ohio State’s Sugar Bowl win over Clemson, as well as gear on the Buckeyes advancing to the College Football Playoff national championship game.

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Ohio State football defensive ends balancing veteran poise and young promise: Three spring questions - cleveland.com
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