Draft Season Heats Up: Defense

The Buckeyes made news on Thursday when it was announced that 15 players were invited to the upcoming NFL Scouting Combine in Indianapolis at the end of the month. No other school is sending more players than Ohio State and while it doesn’t appear at this point that a Buckeye is in position to go in the top five, there will be plenty of first round interest when it comes to a handful of Ohio State players.

All these players have three, four or five seasons of tape for the NFL to look at but it is the upcoming Combine where the decision makers will really have a chance to look under the hood (medicals), talk ball and see what these players are all about going through drills at

We started on Friday by looking at Ohio State’s offensive invitees and now we move over to defense.

I plan on talking with several authors of mock drafts in the upcoming weeks leading to the draft, but for this piece I grabbed three different pieces, one from Pro Football Focus, one from NFL.com and one from The Draft Network, just to show where things sit now, a couple of weeks prior to the combine.

Defensive End Jack Sawyer

It has been a journey for Sawyer while at Ohio State, starting at end, spending a year at the ‘Jack’ position before moving back to his natural spot of end. We often talk about players who help themselves for the draft and Sawyer certainly did that with 4.5 sacks, 13 tackles and a fumble (forced/recovered) taken back for a touchdown against Texas. Will he be able to show the NFL front offices that he is only scratching the surface?

PFF: 22^nd overall prospect | NFL.com: 2^nd – 53^rd Tampa | TDN: 1^st – 28^th Detroit

Defensive End JT Tuimoloau

JT had even bigger numbers in Ohio State’s postseason with 10 tackles for loss and 6.5 sacks along with 23 total tackles. His NFL.com profile comments on his “size, length and toughness to play up or down in hybrid fronts”. He is going to have to show teams that he has more than just a power rush, which may be one thing that could hold him back or vault him even higher on draft boards.

PFF: 43^rd overall prospect | NFL.com: 1^st – 29^th Washington | TDN: NR

Defensive Tackle Tyleik Williams

Williams was a fan favorite at Ohio State and was another defender who really came to life in the postseason for the Buckeyes. He has a lot on the line at the combine as nicks and bumps during his career cost him playing time, how will his medicals come back? Additionally, while there is a lot to like with Williams’ game, will some of the technique issues be able to be cleaned up? A good combine could see Williams’ stock soar.

PFF: 28^th overall prospect | NFL.com: 2^nd – 43^rd San Francisco | TDN: NR

Defensive Tackle Ty Hamilton

Hamilton was invited to the Senior Bowl but with Ohio State’s season leading into late January, was unable to attend. Didn’t get as many mentions as his linemates for the Buckeyes but was a very solid player in his own right. People slept on his older brother, Da’von, at their own peril. Hamilton needs to have a solid combine week to breakout from the pack at defensive tackle, showing his strength and football intelligence.

PFF: NR | NFL.com: NR | TDN: NR

Linebacker Cody Simon

Simon only had this past season truly to show what he could do as a fulltime linebacker after being Ohio State’s 3^rd linebacker in a two-linebacker system the previous season. He did not disappoint as a constant playmaker and big hitter in Ohio State’s top-rated defense. He led Ohio State in the postseason with 38 tackles and at least one cracked opponent’s helmet. He may not have the typical size of a prototypical linebacker but needs to show that he plays much bigger when on the field.

PFF: 165^th overall prospect | NFL.com: NR | TDN: NR

Cornerback Denzel Burke

Burke has been a mainstay in the Ohio State secondary and is now ready to parlay that into the next phase of his career. A four-year starter with NFL-ready size and strength, he will need to use his time to explain away the first game at Oregon. Has a lot to show during drill work and could see a jump on draft boards with a successful week. Must show that he has the closing burst needed to be a top corner.

PFF: 168^th overall prospect | NFL.com: 3^rd – 83^rd Pittsburgh | TDN: NR

Defensive Back Jordan Hancock

Hancock really found a home playing Ohio State’s nickel position. Has always shown a great football IQ and athleticism has never been a question. Will he be able to find a position that suits him in the NFL, going against bigger and much more physical offensive pass catchers? While the combine is not a tackling event, will he be able to convince NFL brass that he has the ability to bloody his nose in getting offensive players to the turf?

PFF: NR | NFL.com: NR | TDN: NR

Safety Lathan Ransom

Ransom played a big role in Ohio State’s defense and was always there to deliver the big hit. While Caleb Downs may have stretched the 2^nd-and-Goal play out against Texas, it was Ransom who was there to hit the Longhorn ball carrier. There is no question that Ransom has the toughness to be successful at the next level, but his ‘burst’ is already a question mark in a lot of the pre-draft profiles. Ransom will need to show that burst and the ability to locate the ball rather than face guarding to move up boards.

PFF: 77^th overall prospect | NFL.com: 3^rd – 92^nd NY Jets | TDN: NR

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