Top Of The Charts: Defensive Tackle

Previous Positions: QB | RB | WR | TE | OL | DE |

Let’s stick to the defensive line and slide one position inside to the defensive tackle spot. We are not judgmental here, you can play the three-technique, one-technique, or even be an old fashioned zero, any way you slice it, you are eligible for this list.

The Buckeyes got great play out of their DTs last season and one of the big questions going into the 2025 season is just how deep Ohio State may be at the position after first teamers Kayden McDonald and Eddrick Houston.

This piece is not the piece to talk specifically about Ohio State’s personnel questions, we have got you covered, that is coming as we get closer to the start of the season.

No, instead we are talking about Ohio State’s 12 regular season opponents, from Texas all the way to that pesky team up north.

If the Buckeyes are going to repeat as champions, something that the Buckeyes have never been able to pull off, the Buckeyes are going to have to navigate upwards of 15 games, and while we don’t know what a postseason may look like for the Buckeyes, we know that there will be some serious trench battles in the regular season.
Let’s look at the top defensive tackles on the list that will be lining up against Ohio State and get you ready for the start of the season, less than 60 days away.

5. Travis Shaw – Texas (August 30^th)

Texas loaded up at defensive tackle in the portal, including pulling Hero Kanu away from the Buckeyes. But Travis Shaw, the former UNC Tar Heel may be the most impactful of the transfers, at least as the season starts. And for those paying attention, Ohio State is only concerned with week one Texas (even though a rematch in the playoffs is not out of the question). Shaw has played in 37 career games and recorded four TFLs and forced a couple of fumbles last year in Chapel Hill (N.C.). He was a former five-star prospect and while that doesn’t matter at this point of his career, going in for one last hurrah, it shows how highly he was thought of. But this also shows that top defensive tackles are spread out and can be really hit-or-miss. Texas took several, so we may be talking about a different DT after the Ohio State versus Texas game, it is just the nature of the game.

4. Parker Petersen – Wisconsin (October 18^th)

Another portal player, Petersen started his career at Tulane before transferring to Wisconsin. 2024 was really his first taste of prolonged action but did play in all 13 games, had 4.5 TFLs and 2.5 sacks on the season for the Green Wave. Another big player who should play one-technique as a massive 300-plus-pounder. With Luke Fickell’s background as a defensive lineman, you would expect the line for the Badgers to play really well and for Wisconsin to do well in the portal. Time will tell if it works out for Petersen but there is a lot to like about him, and he makes the cut as Ohio State seems to avoid many of the top defensive tackles in the conference.

3. Deven Eastern – Minnesota (October 4^th)

Finally, a player who came up in the system of the team he plays for now. Eastern has started 26 games for the Gophers and played in 33 total during his time with Minnesota. This is his final collegiate season, and he is poised to have a big one for PJ Fleck. Recorded two sacks, five TFLs, a forced fumble and two PBUs. People get caught up trying to compare defensive tackle numbers with edge numbers and it just isn’t fair with different duties, especially when looking at a one-tech versus a three-tech. Eastern is a name you may not hear called a lot but there is so much more to his role than what traditional production points would show.

2. Rayshaun Benny – Michigan (November 29^th)

People would be talking more about Benny if he were not playing last season behind two of Michigan’s top players. But the deck is clear, and it is now Benny’s chance to shine, and we already know that Michigan has a plan to utilize the defensive tackles in their system under Wink Martindale. It is safe to say that the tackle number (29) will go up along with the sack number (1.5) as Benny sees more meaningful playing time. He won’t sneak up on anyone, and that has nothing to do with being 294 pounds. He is just a known quantity, and teams will be prepared to face him. Being prepared and being successful are to entirely different things, however.

1. Zane Durant – Penn State (November 1^st)

This was one of the easier picks, Durant was an honorable mention defensive tackle last year and with the number of senior defensive tackles in the B1G, this really means he may be the most highly regarded of the bunch coming back in 2025. He started all 16 games for PSU last season, had 42 tackles, 11 TFLs, three sacks, and a pass breakup. He was named PSU’s defensive player of the game three times and reminding you that this defense had Abdul Carter running around as well. Durant is going to thrive in the Jim Knowles system and time will tell if he can move himself into the top defensive tackle in the nation.

Go to discussion...