Scarlet Sunrise: Recapping everything we learned from 'Linebackers Week'

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Recapping everything we learned from ‘Linebackers Week’

Lettermen Row covered the second level of the Ohio State defense during “Linebackers Week,” the latest installation of our position preview series leading up to Big Ten Media Days in Indianapolis.

It’s a position group that’s experienced the most notable turnover of any unit on the defense this offseason. The Buckeyes saw a pair of seasoned starters, Tommy Eichenberg and Steele Chambers, leave for the pros.

With Eichenberg gone, Cody Simon appears to be the new “quarterback of the defense” at the MIKE position. Things get interesting at the WILL spot, where third-year defenders C.J. Hicks and Sonny Styles could split time this season, at least when the Buckeyes are in their base 4-2-5 formation.

The room will be led by James Laurinaitis, who got the bump from graduate assistant and assistant linebackers coach to full-time linebackers coach, as Jim Knowles is now solely focusing on his defensive coordinator duties.

Despite losing two accomplished starting linebackers, Ohio State may actually have a higher ceiling at the position this season because of the Buckeyes’ dynamism in the second level, particularly with Hicks and Styles’ athleticism paving the way for havoc-wreaking tendencies.

THE BASICS

We outlined the measurables of Ohio State’s scholarship linebackers, in addition to where each of them went to high school, what recruiting ranking they received, who they picked the Buckeyes over and their biggest strength, among other things.

That exercise covered seven players, from Cody Simon — a fifth-year defender who started 10 games in 2021 but then served as the Buckeyes’ go-to third linebacker each of the last two seasons — to true freshmen Garrett Stover, the cousin of former Ohio State tight end Cade Stover, and Payton Pierce, who, like the younger Stover, clocked out as a top-20 linebacker in the 2024 class, according to the On3 Industry Ranking.

READ: Five questions for Buckeyes revamped linebacker room
READ: Tale of the Tape: Knowing the basics of Buckeyes linebackers

SONNY STYLES MOVING DOWN TO LB, THE ‘CHAIN REACTION’ OF THE CALEB DOWNS ADDITION

Ohio State made a splash — scratch that, a cannon ball — in the transfer portal when it earned a commitment from Alabama transfer safety Caleb Downs, who received second-team AP All-American honors as a true freshman with the Crimson Tide. The arrival of Downs bettered the Ohio State defense, but it also furthered a pre-existing question: Will Sonny Styles move to linebacker in 2024?

Jordan Hancock thrived as a slot corner last season, especially down the stretch when he got a full serving of defensive snaps after Styles moved from the “nickel” spot to strong safety, where he filled in for an injured Lathan Ransom. Hancock’s breakout, and then return, makes him the answer at “nickel” in 2024. Ransom’s back now, and although free safety Josh Proctor exhausted his college eligibility last season, Downs is expected to replace him.

So that left Styles, who has, in fact, slid down to the second level this offseason. He’s excelling at the position, and it’s a transition that became a no-brainer once Downs joined the fold.

The addition of Downs can’t be understated, not only because of what he brings to the table as an individual but also because of how he affects the defense collectively.

READ: How addition of safety Caleb Downs changed, helped Buckeyes linebacker room

WHAT DOES THE FUTURE OF THE OHIO STATE LINEBACKER ROOM LOOK LIKE?

So what happens when Cody Simon graduates and, moreover, are Sonny Styles and C.J. Hicks then the starting the linebackers in 2025? That’s a question that one Lettermen Lounge member posed last week.

Lettermen Row answered it. Long story short, Styles and Hicks are in line to headline the room next season. But let’s say one of them breaks out in 2024: They might not be a pair entering 2025 in that scenario because both will be eligible for the NFL Draft after this season.

Either way, Ohio State has options at the position. Don’t forget about Arvell Reese, who Buckeyes coaches have raved up about, really since he arrived last summer. Reese could be the MIKE linebacker of the future at Ohio State, even if Styles and Hicks both return for 2025.

READ: Outlining future plans for Buckeyes linebacker room
READ: Projecting depth chart for Buckeyes revamped linebacker room in 2024

Full coverage of ‘Linebackers Week’ at Lettermen Row

READ: Five questions for Buckeyes revamped linebacker room
READ: Tale of the Tape: Knowing the basics of Buckeyes linebackers
READ: How addition of safety Caleb Downs changed, helped Buckeyes linebacker room
READ: Outlining future plans for Buckeyes linebacker room
READ: Projecting depth chart for Buckeyes revamped linebacker room
READ: Three big predictions for Buckeyes linebacker room
READ: Best-case, worst-case scenario for Buckeyes linebacker unit

Counting Down

Buckeyes vs. Akron: 54 days
Buckeyes vs. Michigan: 145 days

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