OSU defensive linemen keep punishing PSU for passing over their coach

COLUMBUS, Ohio — A decade ago, Larry Johnson’s historic run of Ohio State football defensive line development began when Penn State passed him over for a bigger role on James Franklin’s new staff.

Pretty much every year since, a Buckeye defensive lineman has torn into Penn State — often with a career-best performance. Perhaps that’s a coincidence. Or perhaps, from Joey Bosa through J.T. Tuimoloau, the Rushmen show up to wreck a game that means something to Johnson because he means so much to them.

Tuimoloau turned in a once-ina-lifetime Tasmanian devil-like performance last season in Beaver Stadium. His three tackles for loss included two sacks, he forced and recovered a fumble, and he tipped one pass for an interception and took another of his own for a picksix. If it wasn’t the best all-around defensive end performance in Big Ten history — especially considering the stakes and the competition — it certainly goes in the conversation.

That afternoon continued a long line of memorable defensive line performances under Johnson’s eye against the Nittany Lions:

Tyreke Smith gave Franklin a soft verbal commitment as a Cleveland Heights prospect. He flipped to OSU after developing a relationship with Johnson. In 2021, his two tackles for loss included a strip-sack of Sean Clifford, which defensive tackle Jerron Cage picked up and returned 57 yards for a touchdown.

Penn State’s veteran 2020 offensive line included future NFL Draft picks Michael Menet, Will Gries and Rasheed Walker. Nose guard Tommy Togiai blew up that interior with three sacks among seven tackles in a 38-25 victory. They were his only sacks of the pandemic-shortened season.

Chase Young’s breakout game came in Beaver Stadium in 2018, recording six tackles and a pair of sacks. That helped buy enough room for the offense to make its fourth-quarter comeback in a 27-26 victory. In 2019, he ramped things up to nine tackles and three sacks and a forced fumble in a 28-17 victory.

The Buckeyes totaled 13 tackles for loss in a 39-38 victory in 2017, none bigger than Jalyn Holmes’ sack of Trace McSorley on Penn State’s thwarted final possession in the fourth quarter.

Holmes and Sam Hubbard combined for 10 tackles up front in 2016. They were the spearhead of a winning performance — until Penn State rallied for 17 unanswered points in the fourth quarter. Marcus Allen’s field goal block and Grant Haley’s touchdown return lifted the Nittany Lions to a 24-21 win. That remains Penn State’s only win in the series since Johnson joined the Buckeyes.

With defensive end Joey Bosa and defensive tackle Adolphus Washington combining for three sacks and a forced fumble among five tackles for loss, OSU rolled to a 38-10 victory in 2015. A year earlier, they combined for 3.5 sacks in Johnson’s first game against his former team. Bosa’s fourth-down sack of Christian Hackenburg in the second overtime sealed a 31-24 victory.

So who is the most likely candidate to continue that tradition? Tuimoloau obviously tops the list, though Penn State might be primed not to let him enjoy another smorgasbord. His performance has been ramping up a little each week, with two pivotal plays late against Notre Dame and a combined three sacks the past two games.