When Ohio State fans discuss the Buckeyes’ defensive line entering the 2026 season, the conversation usually starts with the newcomers, and it is easy to understand why.
Former Alabama defensive tackle James Smith arrived in Columbus carrying the recruiting pedigree of a former five-star recruit. Former UCF standout John Walker brings starting experience and proven production in the Big 12. Eddrick Houston remains one of the most intriguing athletes on the roster and still possesses the kind of upside
that made him one of the nation’s top recruits coming out of high school.
Those names generate excitement, as they should. Amid all the offseason discussion surrounding transfers and breakout candidates, one player feels strangely absent from the conversation: Will Smith Jr.
That may not last much longer. Because while Ohio State’s defensive tackle room looks different than it did a year ago, Smith enters 2026 in perhaps the best position of his career to earn meaningful snaps and become a major contributor along the interior defensive line.
If the Buckeyes are going to field another championship caliber defense, they will likely need him to do exactly that.
A room searching for stability
The biggest storyline surrounding Ohio State’s defensive line entering 2026 is not necessarily the talent level, it is the turnover from last years team. The Buckeyes lost several experienced contributors from last year’s front, including Kayden McDonald, whose departure leaves a much larger void than many outside the program may realize.
McDonald never received the same level of attention as some of Ohio State’s edge rushers, but he was one of the defense’s most reliable players. Week after week he handled double teams, controlled rushing lanes, and allowed linebackers to play freely behind him. His impact was often difficult to quantify with statistics alone, but it consistently showed up on film.
Players like that are very difficult to replace. And that is part of the reason Ohio State aggressively pursued help in the transfer portal. James Smith and John Walker immediately raise the floor of the room, while Houston remains a player capable of taking a massive leap forward. Yet despite all the additions, there is still a reality facing the Buckeyes entering the season.
Nobody knows exactly how the rotation will unfold. And that uncertainty creates opportunity. For Smith Jr, it may create the biggest opportunity of his Ohio State career.
The Ohio native has been waiting for this moment
Sometimes development along the defensive line happens quickly, but more often than not, it takes time. The position demands physical maturity, technical growth, and an understanding of leverage and hand usage that can take years to develop.
Will Smith Jr.’s journey has looked much more like the second path. Coming out of Dublin Coffman High School, Smith was one of Ohio’s top prospects and one of the premier defensive linemen in the country. Recruiting services viewed him as a national level talent because of his size, length, athleticism, and football intelligence.
He possessed the tools coaches covet and the pedigree to match as the son of former Ohio State All-American and NFL first-round pick Will Smith Sr.
The expectations naturally followed. But defensive line development is rarely linear. Over the last several years, Smith has spent his time doing what many successful Ohio State defensive linemen have done before him. He has developed physically, learned the system, adjusted to the speed of the college game, and worked behind veteran players.
Now comes the part where that patience potentially pays off.
What makes Smith particularly intriguing entering 2026 is the combination of experience and versatility he brings to the room. Unlike some younger players still learning the nuances of the position, Smith understands the defense.
Smith understands the expectations, and he understands what is required to earn playing time on a championship contender. That matters, especially on a defensive line that could feature multiple new faces in prominent roles.
Why Will Smith Jr. could be a valuable piece of the rotation
One mistake fans often make when evaluating defensive lines is focusing exclusively on who starts. Ohio State has never operated that way. The Buckeyes have built some of their best defensive fronts around deep rotations, often playing six, seven, or even eight defensive linemen throughout a game.
That approach becomes even more important in the Big Ten where Defensive linemen are asked to absorb double teams, defend physical rushing attacks, and generate pass rush over four quarters. Fresh bodies matter, and reliable depth matters. That is where Smith’s path becomes clear.
Even if John Walker, James Smith, and Eddrick Houston receive significant attention entering the season, there are still hundreds of snaps available across a 12+ game schedule. There will be opportunities for rotational players to establish themselves, particularly on the interior. Smith Jr brings several traits that should translate well into that role.
At nearly 300 pounds, he possesses the size necessary to hold up against the run while still offering enough athleticism to create disruption and get into the backfield. His background allows him to play multiple techniques and positions along the defensive front, giving coaches flexibility when building personnel packages.
Perhaps most importantly, he offers something every coaching staff values, trust and experience. Coaches consistently reward players who understand assignments, play with discipline, and execute consistently. Explosive plays grab headlines.
Dependability wins playing time. The deeper Ohio State gets into the season, the more valuable that dependability could become.
The next step is right in front of him
There is no shortage of talent in Ohio State’s defensive tackle room. That much is obvious. The Buckeyes have recruited at a high level, they have added proven transfers, and they have returning players with significant upside.
But talent alone does not determine who plays. Production does, consistency does, and development does. For Will Smith Jr, 2026 feels like a season where all three could finally come together. Maybe he becomes a starter. Maybe he becomes the first defensive tackle off the bench. Maybe he simply becomes a reliable rotational piece who plays 20 to 30 snaps every week.
Whatever the role ultimately looks like, it would be unwise to overlook him.
While much of the attention surrounding Ohio State’s defensive line is focused on the new arrivals, one of the Buckeyes’ most interesting defensive line stories may have already been on the roster.
