Three reasons Eddrick Houston might take Ohio State's biggest leap: 'I can’t wait till y’all see it in the spring game'

The third-year defensive tackle didn't like his 2025, but he's feeling better about 2026.

Defensive tackle Eddrick Houston ranks fourth in snaps among returning Ohio State defensive players. (Photo courtesy of Ohio State)

COLUMBUS —It felt like one of the more robust discussions around Ohio State football last season, especially early, in large part because Ryan Day was willing to talk about it.

What was up with defensive tackle Eddrick Houston?

“He’s just like everybody else on the team, searching for ways to be consistent in everything they do, but the ability is obviously there,” Day said of Houston last September. “We need consistency. I think that’s where you first look. We’ve talked about this before. A guy can flash, which means he has the ability to do it. The question is, can he consistently do it? That’s part of maturing as a player.”

That seemed like a consensus opinion about Houston in 2025. He had it, but wasn’t always showing it.

A five-star recruit from the Class of 2024 (the Buckeyes’ second-highest rated recruit in that class behind Jeremiah Smith) Houston was a breakout candidate as a first-year starter at defensive tackle.

It didn’t happen.

So when I asked Houston this week how he thought he played last year, I was surprised when he answered initially, ‘What do you mean?”

Well … he was a starter for a team that went undefeated during the regular season. He wound up 11th on the team in defensive snaps with 324. Only three of the defenders who played more are back. Not bad.

But was he actually happy with his season?

“I don’t think I played the best I could,” Houston said. “At Ohio State, we really teach to be the best version of yourself. And I would say last year was not my best version.”

OK, he gets it. If we thought it, if Day thought it, then Houston thought it, too.

That brings us to the third season in Columbus for the Georgia native.

Eight Ohio State players made first-team All-Big Ten last season: Smith, Carnell Tate and Max Klare on offense and Kayden McDonald, Sonny Styles, Arvell Reese, Caleb Downs and Davison Igbinosun on defense.

Only Smith is back.

Ohio State needs to find some first-team Buckeyes.

Julian Sayin, Bo Jackson, Austin Siereveld and Luke Montgomery all made second team last season, so jumping to first team in 2026 wouldn’t be a shock.

Of the candidates to jump from nowhere to first-team All-Big Ten (the way McDonald and Reese did a year ago) I’d put two names at the top of the list: cornerback Devin Sanchez and Houston.

McDonald went from 216 snaps in Year 2 to blowing up offenses in 448 snaps last season. While the Buckeyes added transfers James Smith and John Walker at defensive tackle, if they’re going to replicate the disruption McDonald provided inside, Houston is the leading candidate to do it.

“He grew a little bit,” defensive line coach Larry Johnson said of Houston’s 2025. “Now he’s in the best position he could possibly be. He’s healthier. Now he’s got a chance to really compete and play a lot of football for us.

“Last year was a learning experience for him. …. You go through the season, you saw some bright moments. Now he’s gotta have all the moments going into the fall.”

There are three reasons to back the idea of a Houston jump.