Ohio State had the No. 19 total defense in the nation last season according to NCAA.com. They were the No. 27 scoring defense, No. 14 against the pass and No. 50 against the run.
None of those marks are terrible, but you can expect all of them to improve this season. Ohio State returns every major contributor to their defense’s starting 11 this season, and those players will be hungry to redeem themselves from last season’s disappointing campaign.
The Buckeyes will be led by a few elite defensive players. Let’s take a look at who they are and what they bring to the table in Columbus.
John Simon
Simon is the bull in the china closet of any Big Ten offense this season. The Buckeyes’ defensive end is a blue-collar force with a nasty demeanor from the left side.
Last season he picked up 54 tackles, seven sacks and 16 tackles for a loss. He’s a two-way disruptive force because of his explosive first step and his excellent punch. He uses his 260-pound frame to bowl weaker opponents…
Continue reading at Bleacher Report – Big Ten Football
