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Defensive end has been a position where Ohio State has seen some phenomenal players suit up in the scarlet and gray. Joey and Nick Bosa, Chase Young, Jack Sawyer, and J.T. Tuimoloau are some of the great Buckeyes who have passed through Columbus over
the last decade.
With Sawyer and Tuimoloau having graduated and now playing in the NFL, Ohio State will be looking for a couple new starters to step up this season.One player who will be looking to make a name for himself in his senior season is defensive end Kenyatta Jackson Jr.
The Miami Gardens product played in all 16 games for the Buckeyes last season, but has yet to start a game in college. That will change this season as Jackson is earning rave reviews from his coaches and teammates for the work he has been putting in during the offseason.
Now, Jackson will be looking to add to the 25 tackles, five tackles for loss, and three quarterback sacks he has accumulated so far during his college career.
Jackson came to Ohio State as a four-star recruit out of Florida, earning Gatorade Player of the Year honors in the state. After amassing 15 sacks as a senior, Jackson was named an Under Armour All-American. Even though Jackson was a top-100 recruit in the country, he redshirted as a freshman in 2022 since the Buckeyes were loaded at defensive end already.
This allowed Jackson some time to acclimate to life at Ohio State and learn what was expected of him on the football field.
Even though the stats Jackson has put up during the 28 games he has played during his Buckeye career won’t bowl anyone over, expectations are high for the defensive end heading into this season. There’s no question the athletic gifts are there, now it’s time for Jackson to show them off since he’ll have more of a starring role on the defense this year.
Having learned from Sawyer and Tuimoloau, now Jackson will see considerably more than the 318 snaps he was on the field for last season.
Along with seeing a significant increase in playing time this season, Jackson has been stepping up as a leader heading into the 2025 season. On a defense that will be replacing numerous key players at each level, having new players step up and take charge is going to be necessary if the Buckeyes hope to replicate the success of their national championship season.
Jackson played a key role on last year’s team as he was a great depth piece, but now it is his time to shine and show NFL scouts he has what it takes to excel at the professional level.
According to some Buckeyes, Jackson has been showing he has a bright future in the NFL. Linebacker Sonny Styles has stated that he thinks Jackson can be a first round pick in the NFL Draft. There’s no question that Jackson has the physical gifts that make him an attractive NFL prospect, now is the time for him to display what all the work he has put in at Ohio State so far has been building towards.
The spotlight will be on Jackson when the Buckeyes take the field against Texas in a few weeks to open the season. Expect the senior defensive end to embrace the bright lights and make life miserable for opposing quarterbacks as Ohio State tries to repeat as national champs.
