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3 hours ago
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The Ohio State Buckeyes lost an incomprehensible amount of talent on the defensive side. Virtually their entire defensive line, which was so dominant last year en route to the title, is gone. They have had a lot of turnover, which is unfortunate but far from unexpected since they just won the national title.
However, they still have a top-10 defense, according to PFF. Despite losing an immense amount, they still have a title hope and a good defense. Why is that? Max Chadwick says it's largely because of one man: Caleb Downs.
"Safety Caleb Downs is the best defensive player in college football, and PFF's second-ranked player overall — behind only teammate Jeremiah Smith. Downs will lead a top-five secondary in college football. The team's linebacker unit also found its way into the top 10 and features PFF’s sixth-ranked linebacker, Sonny Styles," Chadwick noted.
He no longer has partner Lathan Ransom in the defensive backfield, as he went to the NFL, but he's more than good enough to anchor a defense and help drag them back into the top 10. Up front, it's a different story, but Ohio State isn't totally lost there, either. "Ohio State's defensive line lost many key pieces, but players like edge defender Kenyatta Jackson Jr. are ready to step up," Chadwick concluded.
Downs is all but guaranteed to leave after this year, as he's a projected top-10 pick in the draft. So Ohio State may be back experiencing some turnover on defense in 2026, but this time, they won't have Downs to help keep them afloat.
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