Five Defensive Linemen In the Portal That Would Make Sense for Ohio State

Ohio State is actively looking to add depth along the defensive line in the Spring Transfer Portal Window. But the question was always going to be whether or not there were any available options that would make sense for the Buckeyes.

That question is starting to get answered as a handful of intriguing prospects, with multiple years of eligibility to boot, have entered their names into the portal in recent days.

Let’s take a look at five that would make the most sense for Ohio State.

Beau Atkinson — North Carolina — Defensive End

Atkinson has a visit to Ohio State coming up on Monday and has emerged as a prime target for the Buckeyes. He is coming off a sophomore season in which he recorded 7.5 sacks and would be an excellent addition to go with the current defensive end group.

Elo Modozie — Army — EDGE

One of the most interesting players in the portal, regardless of position, Modozie is coming off a 6.5 sack sophomore season at Army and already has a visit to UGA set up since entering the portal. Modozie is more of an OLB/EDGE than a pure defensive end and the Buckeyes would need to decide if he is a scheme fit.

Also, with the lingering Atkinson visit, if that goes well, do the Buckeyes even need more perimeter help? Probably not.

David Stone Jr. — Oklahoma — Defensive Tackle

Ohio State had an on again/off again relationship with Stone coming out of high school, before he chose the Sooners. After playing fewer than 100 snaps as a freshman, is there enough there on tape that the Buckeyes would make a move? Ohio State is looking for guys that can help immediately, not just depth bodies, so that is a question that will need to be answered.

De’Marion Thomas — Vanderbilt — Defensive Tackle

A 6-foot-2, 320-pound space-eater, Thomas recorded 34 tackles and a sack at Vanderbilt this past season and has two more years of eligibility. Thomas checks off quite a few of the boxes that Ohio State would be looking for on the interior with experience, production, and multiple years of eligibility remaining.

Maraad Watson — Syracuse — Defensive Tackle

Watson instantly becomes one of the hottest names in the portal after being a freshman starter and freshman All-American for Syracuse. This will be one of the more competitive battles in the spring portal window as every program in the country would be interested in adding a talented, and most importantly, proven, defensive tackle with three years of eligibility remaining.