Jeff Okudah, Denzel Ward return to Columbus for Ohio State's spring game, predict top-ranked defense for Buckeyes

During Saturday’s broadcast of the Ohio State Buckeyes spring game, Jenny Taft caught up with former Buckeyes defensive stars Jeff Okudah and Denzel Ward.

The former Ohio State defenders turned professionals took tuns explaining what the Buckeyes meant to their football journeys. First, Okudah elaborated on how going up against Ohio State’s impressive wide receiving corps helped elevate his game.

“Something that we say a lot is iron sharpens iron,” Okudah stated. “Every day at practice, going against the best receivers in the country, I think it really translates to Saturday.

“I get an opportunity to got up against Garrett Wilson, Terry McLaurin, Chris Olave. The type of receivers you see on Sunday. I got the chance to compete against them, every single day in practice.”

Additionally, Okudah recognizes how special it is to see 80,000 people in the stands for a spring game, as he told Taft that Ohio State “means the world” to him, to this day.

“It means the world. I think that we truly have the best fans in the land. Best band in the land. So just getting around these guys, top athletes in the world,” Okudah added. “It’s great to see the factory that we’ve been putting out over the last few years.”

As for Ward, he agreed with Okudah’s sentiments, and he predicted the Buckeyes will have a top defense in 2024.

“They’ve been looking good. Picked it up for sure, over the last couple of seasons. Coach has said like, they kind of started off slow, but now they’re looking good and looking like they’re going to be the No. 1 defense though,” Ward stated.

Alas, Jeff Okudah and Denzel Ward are back in Columbus this afternoon, and they’re always going to have a special place in their heart for Ohio State, no matter where their journeys take them.