Ohio State spring game defense observations: Defensive ends making a push, plus some booming punts

Running down the depth chart and other things we saw in Ohio Stadium on Saturday.

Miles Lockhart (13) and Dominick Kelly (24) celebrate a play from Saturday’s spring game in Ohio Stadium. (Photo courtesy of Ohio State)

COLUMBUS — Observations on Ohio State’s defense from Saturday’s spring game in Ohio Stadium.

• Can we start with a punter? He’s part of the defense, and Joe McGuire looked like a new man Saturday. The third-year punter averaged 39.3 yards per punt in 2024 and 40.7 in 2025. Ryan Day said this spring that they needed more distance and hang time out of McGuire, and with a new special teams coach on the scene in Robby Discher, McGuire delivered Saturday. He boomed two punts and dropped another inside the 5-yard line. It was a day that made an OSU punter look like a weapon again.

• The first-team defense was Kenyatta Jackson and Beau Atkinson at defensive end; Eddrick Houston and Will Smith Jr. at tackle; Payton Pierce, Christian Alliegro and TJ Alford at linebacker; Jermaine Mathews and Devin Sanchez at corner; and Jaylen McClain and Terry Moore at safety.

• The Buckeyes then rotated liberally with a third corner coming on the field and a third linebacker going off. When that happened, Dominick Kelly came in at outside corner, Mathews moved to the slot, and Alford came off the field. Those 12 were the clear first-team defenders, though others then worked in. Keep in mind that veteran safety Earl Little Jr. was out for Saturday, but he should be among the Top 11 when the season arrives. Linebacker Riley Pettitjohn is also out for spring and should be in a battle to start in August.

• The second-team defense was Qua Russaw, Zion Grady and Epi Sitanilei rotating through the two defensive end spots; James Smith and John Walker at tackle; Garrett Stover, Eli Lee and Alford at linebacker; Cam Calhoun and Jordan Thomas at corner; and Leroy Roker and Blaine Bradford at safety. When a nickel defender came on the field and a linebacker came off, Miles Lockhart came in as that extra defensive back. Freshman Jay Timmons is injured and looks like he might be the second-team slot defender when he’s healthy.

• So let’s look at the entire two-deep on defense, keeping in mind the injured guys.

The 16 returning players who are part of the two-deep:

— Defensive line: Kenyatta Jackson, Beau Atkinson, Eddrick Houston, Will Smith Jr., Zion Grady, Epi Sitanilei

— Linebacker: Payton Pierce, TJ Alford, Riley Pettitjohn, Garrett Stover, Eli Lee

— Safety: Jaylen McClain, Leroy Roker, Miles Lockhart

— Corner: Devin Sanchez, Jermaine Mathews

The eight transfers who are part of the two-deep:

— Defensive line: Qua Russaw, James Smith, John Walker

— Linebacker: Christian Alliegro

— Safety: Terry Moore, Earl Little, Jr.

— Corner: Dominick Kelly, Cam Calhoun

The three true freshmen who are part of the two-deep:

— Safety: Jay Timmons, Blaine Bradford

— Corner: Jordan Thomas

• Bill is higher on an Atkinson jump than I am. When Atkinson intercepted a tipped pass Saturady, we wondered it Atkinson had made a play, but actually he had been blocked by right tackle Carter Lowe and when Will Smith Jr. tipped the pass at the line, it landed in Atkinson’s lap. However, he did beat left tackle Ian Moore for a touch sack on another play. He was out there with the first team ahead of Russaw, Grady and Sitanilei. You can see the effect of the strength he added in the offseason, and if this holds up, he’d be my most surprising defensive starter of the fall.

• True freshman defensive end Khary Wilder ran with the third-team mostly, but the California native and No. 51 overall recruit in the country flashed his pass rush speed on multiple snaps. On one play against the third-team offensive line, Wilder and Russaw beat the two tackles and ran into each other at the quarterback.

Defensive line coach Larry Johnson said he’d like to have six defensive ends who can play, with the sixth really being a bonus, and Wilder has a chance to be that bonus guy.

• The second-team secondary had some trouble hanging with the second-team receivers, but sometimes that’s going to happen when you’re trying to cover Chris Henry Jr. The Buckeyes should feel good about their top three corners in Mathews, Sanchez and Kelly, but there might be some question about where they stand with their fourth corner. It seems to be Calhoun, a transfer from Michigan, Utah and Alabama, but that battle should still be on.

• Alliegro’s versatility continued to be on display. He was the weakside linebacker when two backers were on the field, and the strongside linebacker when three were on the field. Pettitjohn’s return in August is maybe the most important thing to watch on the defense, but Alliegro is going to play.

• Freshman linebacker Cincere Johnson looks like the third-team middle linebacker for now, but he continues to show instincts for the position. He knifed through the line for a tackle on one play, and his future as a run-stopper with a nose for the ball is bright.