Scarlet Sunrise: PFF ranks Ohio State secondary best in the nation ahead of 2024 season
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PFF ranks Ohio State secondary best in the nation ahead of 2024 season
The Ohio State secondary is back to meeting its “Best in America” standard. Pro Football Focus thinks so. PFF’s Max Chadwick ranked the top-10 secondaries in the country ahead of the 2024 season, and the Buckeyes’ is atop the leaderboard.
“This is the third position unit ranking where Ohio State places first, showing how loaded the Buckeyes’ roster is. In fact, they’re the only team to lead multiple lists.
“Ohio State also placed No. 1 for their running back unit, and that was largely because of an incoming transfer (Quinshon Judkins). The same could be said for the team’s secondary, as the Buckeyes added the best safety in America, Alabama’s Caleb Downs. He was a first-team PFF All-American as a true freshman last season and ranked third among Power Five safeties with an 88.9 coverage grade.
“Ohio State lost only one starter from its secondary last year (safety Josh Proctor). Denzel Burke returns and is one of my top 10 cornerbacks in the country. …”
Max Chadwick, PFF
Ohio State ranked first nationally in passing yards allowed per game (145.9) last season. The Buckeyes picked off seven passes and gave up only nine touchdowns through the air. Its secondary was a big reason why Ohio State clocked out second in the FBS with 11.2 points per game allowed in 2023.
As Chadwick pointed out, Caleb Downs is now the headliner after transferring in from Alabama, where he piled up 107 total tackles last season, including 70 solos — the 14th most in the country — not to mention his 3.5 tackles for loss, two interceptions, four pass break-ups and one forced fumble.
Downs is teaming up with fifth-year veteran Lathan Ransom to form what could be one of the best, if not the best, safety tandems in college football. Ransom is back after missing the final five games of last year’s campaign with a Lisfranc injury in his left foot.
The Ohio State safety room is more top heavy than the Buckeyes’ fleet of cornerbacks, which starts with Burke but also features Davison Igbinosun, Jordan Hancock and Jermaine Mathews Jr., among others. Burke is fresh off a breakout year in which he allowed just one touchdown and 25 receptions on 48 targets, according to PFF.
Igbinosun is one of the best run defending corners in the Big Ten, Hancock blossomed at the “nickel” spot last year, and Mathews could already start for most schools out there.
Three seasons ago, the Ohio State secondary was a liability. Now, thanks to defensive coordinator Jim Knowles and cornerbacks/secondary coach Tim Walton, it’s a strength. That strength is reflected in Chadwick’s rankings.
Here are his top-10 secondaries heading into the 2024 season:
- Ohio State
- Iowa
- Notre Dame
- Michigan
- Oregon
- Texas
- Georgia
- Wisconsin
- Oklahoma
- Arizona
Five best passing attacks Buckeyes secondary will face this season
Lettermen Row “Safeties Week” is mowing along, so now’s as good a time as any to review the five best passing offenses the Buckeyes’ secondary will face this season.
Ohio State’s cornerbacks and safeties will have to be on top of their games against each of these opponents. The list starts with an Oct. 12 showdown against Oregon, a matchup that’s circled for many reasons.
One of those reasons is because of the aerial attack the Buckeyes will be up against. It includes former Central Florida and Oklahoma star quarterback Dillon Gabriel and former Texas A&M star receiver Evan Stewart as well as one-time Troy standout wideout Tez Johnson. Those transfer portal additions should allow the Ducks to pick up where they left off offensively last season.
For the full breakdown, head on over here.
What did EA College Football 25 get right, wrong about Ohio State with top 100 ratings release?
EA Sports is continuing to roll out new information about its first college football video game in 11 years, which is officially coming out on July 19 but will be available for early access on July 16 for those who pre-ordered the “Deluxe Edition.”
Here are the eight Buckeyes players who earned top-100 player ratings:
- S Caleb Downs (95 overall)
- RB Quinshon Judkins (95 overall)
- WR Emeka Egbuka (93 overall)
- RB TreVeyon Henderson (93 overall)
- DE Jack Sawyer (92 overall)
- LG Donovan Jackson (91 overall)
- CB Denzel Burke (91 overall)
- DT Tyleik Williams (91 overall)
Lettermen Row broke down what EA got right and wrong about Ohio State with its initial top 100 player ratings release. Check out that analysis here.
Counting Down
Buckeyes vs. Akron: 51 days
Buckeyes vs. Michigan: 142 days
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