Buckeyes expect continuity at linebacker
Editor's note: In advance of spring practice at Ohio State, The Dispatch is previewing each of the Buckeyes' position groups. Today: Linebacker.
The second level of Ohio State's defense has continuity.
Both starting linebackers Tommy Eichenberg and Steele Chambers put off entering the NFL draft to remain with the Buckeyes for a fifth season.
“Those guys know the system,” said defensive coordinator Jim Knowles, who also coaches the linebackers. “They know me. We work so well together. I feel like they made massive improvements throughout the season.”
Eichenberg and Chambers were the Buckeyes' top tacklers last season, but their experience also provides a certain level of comfort to Knowles as he prepares for his second season overseeing the defense, giving him flexibility to spend time with other position groups at practice.
“It's not a position of stress because you feel good about them,” Knowles said, “and I can be working with some other areas.”
The backups behind Eichenberg and Chambers are also experienced. Cody Simon started at middle linebacker in 2021 and was the top reserve last fall, lining up often as the third linebacker when the Buckeyes faced the Big Ten's more rugged offenses.
Scholarship count
8: Chambers, Eichenberg, Simon,
Mitchell Melton, Reid Carrico, Hicks, Gabe Powers, Arvell Reese
Player to watch
C.J.
C.J. Hicks was the crown jewel of the Buckeyes' top-five recruiting class from the 2022 cycle, but his role as a freshman was limited to special teams. He covered kickoffs and lined up on kick and punt return teams. Spring practice figures to provide a window into his development and whether he might carve out a role behind the Buckeyes' top three
linebackers. Palaie Gaoteote, who was the fourth linebacker last season, has moved on.
Coach comment
“Those older guys in spring won't get as many reps. We know what they can do. You kind of have enough to keep them fresh and teach them a couple of new things here and there, but for the most part, you want to work those young guys and make sure they get reps.” — Knowles
Key stat
10: Percentage of missed tackles by Eichenberg and Chambers against the run last season, according to Pro Football Focus.
Final outlook
Although linebacker is the most stable position group on the Buckeyes' defense, at least at the top of the depth chart, it isn't going to have ample available bodies in spring practice. Coach Ryan Day said last month that Eichenberg is among the players who will be unavailable. He had injured both of his hands late last season. That list also includes Melton, who injured an anterior cruciate knee ligament in the spring game, and is still recovering. Reese, the lone linebacker to sign with Ohio State in the 2023 recruiting cycle, doesn't enroll until the summer, either. That leaves five scholarship players left at linebacker for the 15 practices beginning on Tuesday.