2024 Freshman Class Report: Defensive Tackle Eddrick Houston

This is the 17th installment in a series where Buckeye Huddle looks back on each member of Ohio State’s 2024 signing class and the impact they had in their first season, as well as the impact they could have during the upcoming 2025 season. Up next is defensive tackle Eddrick Houston.

Ohio State signed Eddrick Houston out of Buford High School in Buford, Georgia. As a senior defensive end, Houston posted 45 tackles, 12.0 tackles for loss, and 5.0 sacks in 12 games. He finished with 64 tackles, 11.0 tackles for loss, 10 sacks, and 15 quarterback pressures as a sophomore.

Houston was a five-star prospect, ranked the No. 26 player in the 2024 recruiting class and the No. 7 defensive lineman overall per the 247Sports Composite. He signed with Ohio State over offers from Alabama, Georgia, Clemson, and every other major college football power.

2024 Season

Eddrick Houston played in 14 of Ohio State’s 16 games last season, posting seven tackles and two pass breakups. Both of his PBUs came in the season opener against Akron, with one leading to an interception return for a touchdown by linebacker Gabe Powers.

Houston spent his first six games of the season playing defensive end, but then made the move to defensive tackle during the Buckeyes’ open week. He almost immediately won the job as the backup to starter Tyleik Williams and played double-digit snaps in every game the rest of the season, save for the loss to Michigan.

So Now What For Eddrick Houston?

With Tyleik Williams off to the NFL, Eddrick Houston is expected to step in and replace him in the starting lineup. Houston is pretty much the ideal three-technique defensive tackle in the mind of defensive line coach Larry Johnson. Johnson likes to move big defensive ends inside and Houston fit that bill at 6-foot-3 and 270 pounds last year.

Given the experience that he received last season, this year could be a pretty big one for Houston. His former teammates at the 2025 NFL Combine have been pretty glowing in their expectations of Houston, calling him “scary” and saying that he could be as good as anybody in the country.

Eddrick Houston is still a young defensive tackle, but he grew up pretty quickly last year. He was in the Ohio State defensive line rotation in the College Football Playoffs, so big moments will not be new for him this year. With his athleticism and strength, the Buckeyes could be looking at their next Dre’Mont Jones.