DEFENSIVE LINE
It was not a normal season for the Ohio State defense in 2011. After a half-dozen years of being ranked one of the nation’s best, it slipped to 50th in run defense (allowing four games of 200-plus rushing yards) and recorded just 23 sacks.
But the good news for the Buckeyes is the entire starting defensive line returns, and it features two of the team’s best players.
Senior John Simon (6-2, 260) has been a renowned workout warrior since his arrival, earning playing time right away as a true freshman in 2009. He has played in all 39 games in his career and earned immediate and effusive praise from Meyer.
“A warhorse; he is Ohio State football,” Meyer said. “He is ‘Tebowish’ in terms of his commitment.”
Last season, Simon racked up 16 tackles for loss, including seven sacks. Though he came to OSU more as a strong-side end (and looked as if he could bulk up and play inside), Meyer now has him in the team’s rush-end spot.
Inside, junior Johnathan Hankins (6-4, 317) is starting to look like a prototypical SEC-type tackle with which Meyer is familiar: Huge but still athletic. Hankins emerged last year in his first season as a starter, posting an impressive 67 tackles, including 11 for loss.
Senior Garrett Goebel (6-4, 285) at tackle and junior Adam Bellamy (6-4, 292) at end also return. Both are more steady than spectacular, but both may be pushed, as well.
Inside, sophomore Michael Bennett (6-3, 277) could challenge Goebel. He had an impressive rookie season with three sacks in part-time duty.
At end, a big question is whether fifth-year senior Nathan Williams (6-3, 249) will return from two knee surgeries last season that forced him to redshirt. Before his injury, he was one of the team’s best pure pass rushers, recording 21.5 career tackles for loss and 10 sacks.
Depth is plentiful, as well. OSU has brought in five recruits each of the last two years, including three for 2012 who are considered blue-chippers.
LINEBACKERS
Ohio State appears to have at least one dynamic playmaker here, in what was a sore spot in 2011. But the Buckeyes need more than one, and it’s not clear whether they have another.
Ryan Shazier (6-1, 226) was a pleasant surprise last season as a true freshman. He converted from safety and showcased speed and aggressiveness en route to a 57-tackle, three-sack, two-forced fumble season.
Listed generously at 212 pounds last season, Shazier added about 15 pounds in the offseason. He enters the season as the starter on the weak side.
Etienne Sabino (6-3, 237), a senior, gets a final chance to make a good impression after four mostly-puzzling years, including taking a redshirt season as a healthy third-year player.
Early in his career, his problem was not grasping the system well enough to use his natural abilities. Late last year, he came on and had a good performance in the Gator Bowl. He ended spring atop the depth chart at the strong-side spot.
Curtis Grant (6-3, 235) came in last year very highly touted but was a non-factor as a freshman. He showed some flashes in spring before a pinched nerve forced him to sit out, but he enters fall camp as the starter in the middle.
“He over-analyzed everything a year ago,” Meyer said. “He didn’t play very fast. He was — I don’t want to say depressed — but he wasn’t enjoying football.”
Because the Buckeyes are thin on experience here, two freshmen, Luke Roberts (6-1, 226) and Joshua Perry (6-4, 231), could see immediate playing time.
DEFENSIVE BACKS
This unit rivals the defensive line in terms of experience and depth, and could be poised for a big season.
As is so often the case, a relatively unknown player emerged last season and turned heads. Sophomore cornerback Bradley Roby (5-11, 190), a middle-of-the-road recruit from Georgia, grabbed a starting spot in spring ball and played impressively, recording three interceptions.
Senior Travis Howard (6-1, 196) is a returning starter (seven career interceptions) at the other corner spot, but he is being challenged for the job by sophomore Doran Grant (5-11, 188).
Three proven safeties are back, including thumpers C.J. Barnett (6-1, 202) and Christian Bryant (5-10, 190), both juniors. Barnett led the team in tackles (75) and added two interceptions. Bryant hits harder than his size would indicate he could.
Co-defensive coordinator Everett Withers, the safeties coach, said Bryant “has a lot of playmaking ability, a lot of instinctive ability. What you see is a guy who is physical, who likes being around the ball.”
Orhian Johnson (6-3, 210) is the third safety. The senior has been a starter in the past and can be opportunistic (four career pickoffs), but is better suited to a reserve role.
The position got an infusion of coaching experience with the addition of Withers, interim head coach at North Carolina last year, and enthusiasm with the addition of cornerbacks coach Kerry Coombs.
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