Ryan Day tells it like it is regarding why an Ohio State defender lost his starting job for the Buckeyes
It was only one game but it was clear the Buckeyes pulled him from starting.
The Ohio State Buckeyes have had an impressive defense so far this season and they’ve allowed just under six points per game, which leads college football. Matt Patricia coming in and taking over for Jim Knowles after his exit for the Penn State Nittany Lions looks like a major success through three games. The matchup against the Texas Longhorns was the only real test for the Buckeyes to this point, but they took care of business there. Ohio State’s next game is on the road against Washington and it’ll be a test against a mobile quarterback.
Ohio State’s defensive front has been very good this season after replacing all four starters. Kayden McDonald is a staple in the middle and Beau Atkinson has combined with Caden Curry and Kenyatta Jackson to man the majority of the reps off the edge. Eddrick Houston got the start in the first two games of the season, then the Buckeyes went with a different starter in the third game.
Ryan Day addresses where Eddrick Houston is at with the Buckeyes
“He’s just like everybody else on the team, searching for ways to be consistent in everything they do, but the ability is obviously there,” Day said on Tuesday.
“We’re looking for consistency in everybody. It’s everybody’s job each day in the Woody to build trust, and every day is an opportunity to build trust. We need consistency. I think that’s where you first look. We’ve talked about this before. A guy can flash, which means he has the ability to do it. The question is, can he consistently do it? That’s part of maturing as a player.”
Houston has all the talent in the world as a former five-star recruit in the class of 2026, but he needs to build more consistency. The Georgia native has three tackles this season through the first few games after recording seven tackles in 12 games as a true freshman. Houston’s career in Columbus started as an edge rusher but he made the switch to the interior of the defensive line as more of a 3-tech. So far this season things have just been up and down.
It was actually Will Smith Jr. who rotated in and got 22 defensive snaps against Iowa. Tywone Malone Jr started in place of Houston and got 18 snaps, the same amount as Houston and Mfdonald each. Ohio State taking his starting spot for at least one game is notable, even if he rotated in and played significantly. It was a clear move by the Buckeyes to try to motivate their true sophomore in a way. Houston could go back to starting against Washington, but that isn’t something we’ll know until gametime. A player with a ton of talent and the Buckeyes are trying to unlock it on a consistent basis.
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