It has been an interesting last week plus for the Ohio State Buckeyes since they won their first National Championship in a decade.

Ohio State faced rumors of teams trying to poach Jeremiah Smith and Carnell Tate. Then, DC Jim Knowles opted to head to Penn State and take the defensive coordinator job there.

The Buckeyes now have to find their next defensive coordinator, which they could promote from within. From there it is all about building toward next season and defending the National Championship.

Earlier in the week, I revealed three offensive players for the Buckeyes that could break out in 2025. Today, I take a look at three defensive players that could do just that.

DE Caden Curry

Ohio State has to replace two pass rushers with a ton of experience with Jack Sawyer and J.T. Tuimoloau off to the NFL. Both players were vital to the success of Ohio State down the stretch run of the 2024 season. Now, the Buckeyes are in a spot to turn to their depth to step up.

Curry and Kenyatta Jackson are next up on the defensive end depth chart for the Buckeyes. Curry has 4.5 sacks through three seasons and 2.5 of those came in 2024 when he recorded 22 tackles. Curry and Tuimoloau both opted to come back for an extra season and that took away from Curry’s opportunity. During his senior season, don’t expect Curry to go off for double digits. However, a six-sack season is on the table and would be a good marker for the veteran Buckeye.

CB Jermaine Mathews Jr.

Denzel Burke is moving on to the NFL while Davison Igbinosun opted to return for another year. Expect Mathews to step in and take Burke’s spot, as he is finally in a spot to be a starter for this season. Mathews played in 11 games as a true freshman, then played in 16 games during Ohio State’s run this past season.

Against Texas in the Cotton Bowl, Mathews filled in for Burke and held his own against good competition. Mathews is a physical cornerback who plays with a swagger that makes him stand out. Mathews has one interception in his career and that number is going to rise in 2025.

DT Tywone Malone Jr.

Following the National Championship win, DT Hero Kanu decided to enter the transfer portal. That left a knock in the depth of the Buckeyes defensive interior. With Kanu no longer in the fold as the No. 3 defensive tackle on the team, it will be time for someone else to step up.

Malone has been buried on the depth chart since cornering over from Ole Miss before last season. As a Buckeye, Malone has made 13 tackles in 18 games played. Eddrick Houston and Kayden McDonald are set to start inside, but Malone is a prime prospect to be the first rotational player on the interior. 

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That didn’t take much.