Ohio State defense not expecting any Cotton Bowl opt-outs
ARLINGTON, Texas — Defensive end J.T. Tuimoloau? Practicing. Defensive tackle Mike Hall Jr.? Practicing.
No. 7 Ohio State isn’t expecting any opt-outs on that side of the ball for Friday night’s Cotton Bowl matchup against No. 9 Missouri.
Signs were already pointing in that direction after defensive end Jack Sawyer, defensive tackle Tyleik Williams as well as cornerbacks Denzel Burke and Jordan Hancock announced earlier this month that they’d be participating in the top-10 showdown at AT&T Stadium.
Ohio State’s 2023 defense, which ranks second nationally in points per game allowed (11.0) and third in the country in total yards per game allowed (259.9), is finishing what it started.
“In today’s day and age, things have changed so much,” Buckeyes second-year defensive coordinator Jim Knowles said Tuesday, when reflecting on his players’ commitment to the program.
“You love to see a bunch of guys who believe in ‘the brotherhood.’ They believe in how far our defense has come, and they want to finish the job. No matter what their future is, they keep playing because they care about their brothers and they care about the Silver Bullets. And that’s kind of an old school mentality these days, but it’s great to see.”
Most, if not all, of those defensive prospects could be returning for the 2024 season, too. Sawyer hinted Tuesday that he’d be coming back, as did Burke.
Knowles was asked Tuesday about his level of optimism that he’ll get the majority of his pieces back for the 2024 campaign.
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“I’m optimistic. I like to remain optimistic,” Knowles said. “I think those guys enjoy playing. They see a chance to improve. They have a great understanding of the draft and how improvement helps them ultimately in the end.
“But I’m optimistic. I think they look at our defense as being successful, and it gives them a chance to refine their game.”
Knowles pointed to the growth his players made from Year One to Year Two in his defensive system. Ohio State went from 24th to second in scoring defense, 14th to third in total defense and, most notably, tied for 115th to first in 40-plus-yard plays from scrimmage given up.
Here are the Ohio State third-year defenders ESPN NFL Draft analyst Mel Kiper Jr. currently ranks in the top 10 of his 2024 position rankings: Tuimoloau (2nd among defensive ends), Sawyer (9th among defensive ends), Williams (6th among defensive tackles) and Burke (seventh among cornerbacks).
If they all came back, in addition to a few other defensive prospects, well, Ohio State would be cooking with gas. Burke was asked what he’d say to that hypothetical.
“We’re gonna be the No. 1 defense coming into next year,” Burke said in response. “A lot of vets, a lot of seniors. A lot of guys who have played a lot of ball. Honestly, it would look scary.”
“Is that an incentive?” a reporter asked.
“It’s a big incentive,” Burke replied. “It’s a big one.”
