Speculation about Larry Johnson’s retirement has been a constant for years.
To the 73-year-old Johnson, arguably the most accomplished defensive line coach in college football history, it is an annoyance. One day, he will retire. Nobody coaches forever.
When Ohio State won the national title with four linemen now headed to the NFL, some thought it might be a natural time for Johnson to consider riding off into the sunset. But he is not ready for that.
“I never thought about it,” Johnson said Friday. “It’s just on to the next guys, a group of guys I brought in.”
Jack Sawyer, J.T. Tuimoloau, Ty Hamilton and Tyleik Williams are gone. Ends Kenyatta Jackson and Caden Curry and tackles Kayden McDonald and Eddrick Houston are the favorites to replace them, though the competition will be fierce when spring practice opens March 17.
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“That’s coaching,” Johnson said. “That’s what coaching is all about. Each year, we’ve got a different group of guys, and now we have to rebuild from the bottom again. We’ve done it a couple of times since I’ve been here, so it’s another opportunity to see who’s going to step up to play.”
Johnson will also work with a new coordinator, Matt Patricia, who was part of the New England Patriots’ NFL dynasty under Bill Belichick. Patricia has used a 3-4 as well as a 4-3 defensive line configuration. Johnson is known as a 4-3 coach, but he stressed that he has used multiple fronts in the past and has always been flexible.
Johnson believes he and Patricia will work well together.
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“First of all, coach Patricia is a great coach,” Johnson said. “He’s very smart. He’s done a good job introducing what he feels is his philosophy, trying to merge two things together. It’s a great defensive scheme to play in.”
Former coordinator Jim Knowles, now at Penn State, used multiple fronts at Oklahoma State before going to Ohio State. Knowles experimented with using Sawyer as the hybrid defensive end/linebacker “jack” position in his first season in 2022, but it didn’t work.
After that, there were online reports of philosophical differences between Johnson and Knowles, which Johnson refuted.
“There was no conflict,” Johnson said. “Jim and I had a great relationship. I didn’t have an ultimatum (of using a 4-3). It was never that. But the story got created, which is unfair, by someone on a podcast, I guess, trying to get clicks or something.”
Knowles also denied any disharmony with Johnson.
“I have tremendous respect for what he does,” he said. “He’s legendary. Yeah, he’s tied to the four-man front, and that was fine. I ran some of the jack stuff my first year (at Ohio State). We got away from it, but that was more me just saying, ‘This doesn’t work here. That’s not how we’re built. That’s not how we recruit. That’s not something we need to do.’
“It wasn’t anything with Larry. I think he’s great at what he does, and he and I always had a good relationship.”
Johnson is entering his 12th season at Ohio State after 18 at Penn State. He has recruited and developed nine first-round NFL draft picks in those 32 years. Fifteen of his OSU linemen have been drafted.
All four of last year’s starters will be as well, and now Johnson is looking forward to the next wave.
“It’s fun,” Johnson said. “It’s really what coaching is all about. Can you do it again? Can you get a bunch of young guys to play at the highest level every day? That is a challenge. But that’s what you get in the morning and come to work for. You look for a challenge. I love challenges. It’s been my life.”
Johnson expects that to continue for the foreseeable future.
“Until God says I’ve got to stop,” he said.
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This article originally appeared on The Columbus Dispatch: Retirement? OSU DL coach Larry Johnson says he didn’t even consider it
