Ohio State's linebacker room has emerged as perhaps the most surprising contender to reclaim elite status.
COLUMBUS, Ohio — After years of defensive struggles, Ohio State’s defensive position rooms are showing signs of a renaissance. The latest Buckeye Talk podcast delivers an in-depth analysis of each defensive position group’s journey from recent difficulties toward potentially reclaiming “Position U” status.
What makes this conversation particularly compelling is how it frames Ohio State’s defensive evolution as a comeback story — one that’s still being written. The podcast hosts — Stephen Means, Stefan Krajisnik, and Andrew Gillis — took a position-by-position approach to evaluate which groups have the best chance to return to national prominence. Ohio State’s Emeka Egbuka left behind a surprise gift before the NFL Draft. A store owner made it even betterEight defenders, one NFL Draft: Can Ohio State’s defensive haul change the narrative?“Is that a more complicated answer or is it still yes? It’s just not as high end as it was when it was Nick Bosa, Joey Bosa, Chase Young, Tyquan Lewis winning Big Ten defensive lineman of the year awards,” Means noted when discussing the defensive line’s current standing compared to its historical dominance. The linebacker room emerged as perhaps the most surprising contender to reclaim elite status. Krajisnik highlighted the upward trajectory: “I think you’re probably on the right track there when you project what this room’s going to be. And you know, I think Cody Simon’s going to get drafted. I think Sonny Styles is going to get drafted next year. This number is only going to keep growing.” What’s particularly revealing is how the podcast connects the dots between Tim Walton’s arrival as cornerbacks coach and the remarkable transformation of the cornerback room. After years of struggling to produce NFL talent, the cornerback position is now stocked with blue-chip recruits and promising young talent. Gillis illustrated this transformation with a striking observation about how much the talent level has improved: “Denzel Burke, if he was a member of the class of 2025, he doesn’t play.” This about a player who started as a true freshman and is now projected to be drafted — a testament to how dramatically the room has improved under Walton’s guidance. The conversation also addressed the safety position, where the addition of Alabama transfer Caleb Downs has been transformative. But the hosts questioned whether one star player is enough to claim “Position U” status, or if more consistent talent development is needed. Throughout the podcast, a recurring theme emerged: position coaches matter enormously. The defensive line under Larry Johnson, linebackers under James Laurinaitis, cornerbacks under Walton, and safeties under Matt Guerrieri each show different stages of development toward elite status. When ranking which position had the best chance to claim “Position U” status in the coming years, the hosts were split, with compelling cases made for both linebacker and cornerback leading the way. “That to me is interesting, that is going to be one we’re going to have to keep an eye on,” Gillis noted about the linebacker position under Laurinaitis’ guidance. For Ohio State fans, this in-depth analysis offers hope that the defensive struggles of recent years may soon be a distant memory. The combination of elite recruiting, coaching stability, and player development points to a potential defensive renaissance in Columbus. To hear the complete breakdown of each position group and the hosts’ predictions for which will reclaim elite status first, tune in to the full Buckeye Talk podcast episode. Note: Artificial intelligence was used to help generate this story from the Buckeye Talk Podcast by cleveland.com. Visitors to cleveland.com have asked for more text stories based on website podcast discussions. If you purchase a product or register for an account through a link on our site, we may receive compensation.and agree that your clicks, interactions, and personal information may be collected, recorded, and/or stored by us and social media and other third-party partners in accordance with our
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