The expectation is always to reload and compete for a national championship in Columbus for the Ohio State Buckeyes. 2026 will be no different especially in Jeremiah Smith’s final season with QB Julian Sayin also in his second season as a starter. 

Ohio State has to reload on defense specifically, where they’re losing eight starters from last year’s team. Matt Patricia’s defense has a ton of talent to step in, and one of the only starters from last year’s team is on breakout watch in 2026. 

Eddrick Houston is about to break out for Ohio State in 2027

Year No. 3 is when the jump has to happen for players in college, or it typically just isn’t going to happen. While it isn’t a hot take, I’m buying all the stock I can on Eddrick Houston becoming a difference maker for Ohio State’s defense in 2026. Ohio State has had an interior force the last several years, and I think this fall is going to be no different. 

Houston is more of a 3-tech that’s going to get after the pass rusher and he did some alongside Kayden McDonald last season. The Buckeyes have their hands full with replacing McDonald, after he was a second-round pick by the Houston Texans last month. McDonald is the returner in the clubhouse and a player who is going to be heavily relied on. 

As a true sophomore, Houston made 21 tackles, four tackles for loss, and three sacks for the Buckeyes in 13 games last season. Houston played in 12 games as a true freshman for the Buckeyes. Houston was viewed as an EDGE at one time, but Ohio State put weight on him and moved him inside. The Georgia native is checking in at 6-foot-3, 292 pounds, and still brings some of the quickness he had when he was a bit smaller. 

Ohio State may go to more of a rotational usage of its defensive interior this season. The Buckeyes have decent depth there after transfer portal additions were made, but I have a hard time seeing Houston not put it all together in 2026.

Players to watch alongside Eddrick Houston at defensive tackle for the Buckeyes 

Ohio State is banking on Alabama transfer James Smith to be a force in the middle as a run stopper, at least on a part-time basis. Smith had been a starter for the Crimson Tide in the past, but has never been able to put it all together consistently to live up to his five-star recruiting billing. UCF transfer John Walker is another transfer to watch who is expected to be in the interior rotation for Ohio State.  

The Buckeyes will get Will Smith Jr. and Jason Moore both back as redshirt juniors and they should round out the defensive tackle rotation. Ohio State has a lot of youth in the room with Jamir Perez, Emmanuel Ruffin, and Damari Simeon as freshmen who can contribute in the future.