Columbus — Ohio State's football program began fall camp with a crowded Woody Hayes Athletic Facility and a defense in transition after losing eight starters from last season.
Big voids to fill
Among the departures are three players taken in the first round of the NFL Draft: linebackers Arvell Reese and Sonny Styles, and safety Caleb Downs. That exodus leaves the Buckeyes with a depleted starting lineup and opens competition across the defensive unit as coaches sort depth and roles ahead of the 2026 season.
Hundreds of fans poured into the facility over the weekend for their first look at the 2026 team, giving returning players a spirited backdrop as they compete for playing time.
Who’s stepping up
Defensive end Kenyatta Jackson Jr., who ranked second on the team last season in sacks and tackles for loss, said the previous linebacker corps set a standard that now belongs to a new group. Jackson named Payton Pierce, TJ Alford and Riley Pettijohn as linebackers positioned to take over key responsibilities.
“We have a standard here that we can be the best, and they uplift that standard,”
Jackson said, referencing how outgoing players handed leadership duties to emerging defenders.
Pierce, who appeared in all 14 games last season as a sophomore, expressed readiness to lead:
“I’ve waited my turn for this, and I think I’m ready for it. I’m super excited. The coaches have done a great job of putting in good play calls for us and building the defense. So, I’m just ready to go out there, get everyone lined up and go out there and ball out.”
Coaches keeping decisions open
Head coach Ryan Day emphasized that many roster and depth-chart choices are still unsettled as reps in camp accumulate. “It is a competition,” Day said, adding that coaches will evaluate repetitions during practice to determine starters and rotations.
With only three defenders — Jackson, safety Jaylen McClain and cornerback Jermaine Mathews Jr. — having started every game last season, Ohio State's staff is relying on camp to reveal who can handle starting responsibilities at the Power Five level.
Key position battles
Day singled out the cornerback room as an area where the team still needs to settle on pairings. Establishing the best combination of cornerbacks will be a priority as coaches look to protect a secondary that lost key contributors.
- Linebacker depth: Payton Pierce, TJ Alford, Riley Pettijohn competing to replace Reese and Styles
- Secondary: starters to be determined; McClain and Mathews provide continuity
- Front seven: Jackson expected to anchor pass-rush after strong 2025 numbers
What fall camp will decide
Practices this month will provide crucial game-planning reps and give coaches a clearer picture of which players can step into starter roles and which will provide rotational depth. Day stressed the importance of competition and accumulation of practice reps in shaping the eventual depth chart.
| Departed Starters | Notable NFL status |
|---|---|
| Arvell Reese (LB) | First-round pick |
| Sonny Styles (LB) | First-round pick |
| Caleb Downs (S) | First-round pick |
Outlook and expectations
The turnover presents both a challenge and an opportunity. While losing established starters to the NFL can create immediate gaps in experience and cohesion, Ohio State's recruiting, roster depth and transfer pipeline historically allow the program to replenish talent quickly. How effectively the new cast adapts to college-level play calling, alignment responsibilities and in-game adjustments will shape the Buckeyes' defensive identity for 2026.
For fans, the early practices offered a glimpse of scheme tweaks and player chemistry, but coach and players alike reminded observers that formal evaluations will come only after sustained practice work and in-game snaps accumulate.
As fall camp progresses, attention will remain on who emerges in the cornerback room and which linebackers can replicate the production of their high-profile predecessors. Until then, the Buckeyes will keep the competition wide open and let the reps decide the next generation of the 'Silver Bullets.'
Damon Carver is the state correspondent for WE NEWS.
