Ohio State Buckeyes

Ohio state Football: How Will The Young Defensive Tackles Perform?

Published Jun. 30, 2017 6:28 p.m. ET

foxsports

Will the young Ohio State defensive tackles play well?

A big question mark for the Ohio State football team as the they begin the season is how well are the defensive tackles going to perform. There is a lot of talent in the DT unit but most of the players are young and have yet to play a game for Ohio State.

Fortunately for the Buckeyes, the starters Saturday will be redshirt juniors Tracy Sprinkle and Mike Hill. Both players played effectively last season as backups and each started in the Fiesta Bowl. Sprinkle took over at the three technique after Adolphus Washington was suspended, and Hill substituted for the injured Tommy Schutt at nose tackle.

Each player performed well in the game and that has to give defensive line coach Larry johnson some optimism going into this season. He may need to lean on these two guys while the young guys get used the pounding they will take in the college game.

Redshirt freshman Devon Hamilton will back up Hill at nose tackle in the first game. Hamilton is a 6-4 297 pound redshirt freshman from Pickerington.

Dre’mont Jones, another redshirt freshman, made the two deep at the three technique behind Sprinkle. Jones is another Ohio recruit from Cleveland St. Ignatius and is 6-3 and weighs 280 pounds.

More from Scarlet and Game

Redshirt freshman Robert Landers is in the mix at nose tackle the last I heard. Coach Larry Johnson said Landers was progressing nicely during camp. True freshman Malik Barrow may be playing over center as well at some point, but I haven’t heard if that’s the case or if he is being groomed at the other tackle position.

Another redshirt freshman Jashon Cornell has impressed the coaches since moving inside from end to the three technique and will definitely see the field. And of course there is Nick Bosa. He will certainly play tackle on occasion.

Every tackle at the three technique was an outstanding defensive end in high school and beefed up to play inside. Coach Larry Johnson likes quick players at that position to shoot the gaps and get penetration in the backfield. It appears Ohio State will probably be okay there.

The biggest question is at nose tackle. Are the young guys strong enough to take the pounding and double teams they will have to endure. If they are, this may be another stout Ohio State defensive tackle unit.

They will get their first test tomorrow. How the young guys perform against Bowling Green will at least give everyone an indication of just how good they could become this season.

This article originally appeared on