Ohio State’s defense will look much different in the upcoming season than the unit that helped the program reach the College Football Playoff quarterfinal.
With a young offense, the Buckeyes relied on the defense to earn 12 wins in the regular season and make the Big Ten championship.
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Defensive tackles Kayden McDonald and Tywone Malone are headed to the 2026 NFL Draft. Defensive linemen Maxwell Roy, Eric Mensah and Jarquez Carter left via the transfer portal.
The Buckeyes received a big boost for the defensive line when they added James Smith from Alabama in the transfer portal.
Pete Nakos of On3 thinks Smith will be an “impact player” for Ohio State in 2026.
“With All-American Kayden McDonald off to the NFL, the Buckeyes knew they needed to address the defensive tackle position,” Nakos wrote. “They went out and landed Alabama transfer defensive lineman James Smith, a former five-star recruit who emerged as a starter in 2025 for the Crimson Tide.
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“Smith finished with 28 tackles, 6.5 tackles for loss and 2.5 sacks to go along with two quarterback hurries and one pass breakup this past season.”
Alabama defensive coordinator Kane Wommack offered some praise for the defensive tackle during last season but thought Smith needed to become a more consistent athlete.
“James flashes,” Wommack said, via On3. “He’s a very athletic player. He does some really good things. Needs to become more consistent.
“A number of our guys are the same way, I’m not necessarily singling him out, but there were some plays he particularly left out on the field, a number of our guys left out on the field, and so that’s exciting from a number of ways, because he very productive on a number of plays.”
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Wommack thought Smith and other players left some opportunities on the field during the season and CFP.
Smith, a six-foot-three, 297-pound athlete from Montgomery, Alabama, recorded 48 tackles and 3.5 sacks during his three seasons with the Crimson Tide.
Ohio State needs Smith to elevate his game in 2026. If Smith can become a more consistent player for the Buckeyes next season, he should gain attention from scouts before the 2027 NFL Draft.
