The Ohio State football roster featured just four scholarship defensive ends this spring, and that was thanks in part to a weight-loss plan for Jashon Cornell, who moved over to end from tackle. Reigning Big Ten Defensive Lineman of the Year Nick Bosa returned for his final spring as a Buckeye. He leads a very talented group that also features sophomore Chase Young and junior Jonathon Cooper. It’s a fairly unproven group, but may also be the most-anticipated position on the roster for Ohio State.
Depth Chart
Defensive End
Chase Young, So OR
Jonathon Cooper, Jr
Defensive End
Nick Bosa, Jr
Jashon Cornell, rJr
Notable
While the Buckeyes only had four defensive ends getting reps this spring, the four they did have are pretty darn good. In fact, each of them are former 5-star recruits. At one point during the 2015 recruiting cycle, fourth-year junior Jashon Cornell was ESPN’s top-ranked prospect overall. Chase Young finished the 2017 cycle as the No. 7 player overall in the 247Sports Composite. Nick Bosa finished one spot lower than that in the 2016 cycle, and Jonathon Cooper “brought up the rear” at No. 33 overall in 2016. So no, the Buckeyes didn’t have the numbers that they will in the summer, but they still had plenty of star power on the field this spring.
Quotable
“Yeah, it was just something we thought about because we’re looking for depth to get through spring football. He came in as a defensive end, but we put some weight on him and moved him inside. I think we’re really solid on the inside right now, so I want to make sure I can build some depth for the outside. It’s a position that he’s used to playing. So far, so good. I’m really pleased. He’s dropped about 15 pounds the right way. He’s still strong and really athletic and all of the things we thought he would be. So far with no pads on, he’s looked really good.” — Defensive line coach Larry Johnson on the move of Jashon Cornell to defensive end.
Votable
Nick Bosa will have a tree in Buckeye Grove when his OSU playing days are done. He was a First-Team All-American last season and will be all over the All-American lists this preseason as well. Bosa will also be on every single watch list that comes out this summer. Possibly even the Mackey Award, Ray Guy Award, and Biletnikoff Award.
Explodable
If Chase Young had the word “Explodable” on the name plate of his jersey, it wouldn’t look out of place in the least. Young capped an impressive spring with a very good performance in the spring game. He played 20-30 snaps per game in comfortable situations last season, but the Buckeyes are going to need him in every sort of uncomfortable situation this season. Nothing he showed this spring has caused any doubt to creep into Larry Johnson or Greg Schiano’s minds.
Promotable
When people talk about the Ohio State defensive ends, they generally focus on Nick Bosa and Chase Young. There is good reason for that, but people shouldn’t overlook Jonathon Cooper. Cooper and Young received the majority of snaps this spring as they get ready for a much larger role in 2018. While the focus is currently on other players, Cooper has no problem simply going about his business. Expect business to be good this year.
Floatable
Because of the depth at defensive tackle — and the lack of depth at defensive end — Jashon Cornell made the move outside in the winter. He dropped some weight and got back into the groove of life at defensive end. Because he played end in high school and three-technique in college, this isn’t a huge transition, but it is still a work in progress. When he is finally comfortable, he could also become an option in the Rushmen package as a guy who could slide inside to pair with Dre’Mont Jones. Cornell will need to show something this fall to make that happen, but he does bring some versatility to a defensive front that is loaded with potential.