Now in fifth year, Cody Simon is unquestioned leader of Ohio State linebacking corps

Ohio State may have a pass rush artist in C.J. Hicks. The Buckeyes already know they have a “nickel” safety-turned-linebacker in Sonny Styles, who can cover slot receivers if he needs to do.

Except, when it came to naming the most complete player in his room, Ohio State linebackers coach James Laurinaitis didn’t hesitate to go with a different guy.

“It’s Cody. Cody Simon’s the guy you could put at MIKE, at WILL, at SAM,” Laurinaitis said Wednesday. “You can move him all around. He’s the unquestioned leader of the group. He’s the leader of the defense. He gets everybody lined up.

“Very technical, has really good footwork, really clean footwork, which allows him to change direction and get off blocks and tackle well.”

Despite ranking 13th on the team in defensive snaps (374) last season, according to Pro Football Focus, Simon clocked out with 57 total tackles, good for fourth among all Buckeyes defenders.

Simon filled in for Tommy Eichenberg, Ohio State’s starting middle linebacker, against Michigan State and Minnesota in Weeks 11-12 as well as in the Cotton Bowl against Missouri, where Simon piled up a season-high 12 total tackles, including six solos.

Last year, he was once again Ohio State’s go-to third linebacker when it deviated from its 4-2-5 base formation. He also rotated in otherwise, notably outsnapping starting WILL linebacker Steele Chambers at Purdue in Week 7. Simon’s regular season defensive snap count didn’t mark a career high — that still belongs to his 2021 season when he started 10 games — however, he made a more significant impact than he did in 2022.

The Buckeyes’ 2021 signing class has been in the spotlight this offseason, and understandably so, given how many draft-ready juniors put the NFL on pause and returned to Ohio State for a senior campaign. But before that group made their decisions to come back public, Simon revealed he was running things back for a fifth year with the Buckeyes.

He made that announcement leading up to the Cotton Bowl. Simon’s in the fold again not only to finally reclaim a starting role but also to lead now that Eichenberg and Chambers are both off pursuing pro careers.

“This year was really big for me leadership-wise and taking that next step,” Simon said. “Because when you have guys who are big in your culture who leave, that means there’s a void that needs to be filled. And this whole offseason has been been about leadership and trying to lift yourself and the other leaders up, as well as bringing the guys [along] below.

“So I think I’ve gotten a lot better at coaching, encouraging and at being a better teammate, and it’s gotten me better as a player as well.”

When Simon thinks about being that “undisputed leader,” as Laurinaitis described him, he focuses on being his best every day.

“The guys in the room have to look to someone to see an example,” Simon said, “and I need to be able to lead them vocally, physically and emotionally. That’s what I try to be every day. It’s a tough role, but I love playing football, I love doing it. I love this place, so it’s a great job to have.”