4 Ohio State football defenders you need to be keeping an eye on during Saturday's spring game
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Ohio State football will be back in action on Saturday for the spring game. The Buckeyes have multiple defensive players you need to keep an eye on.
The Ohio State Buckeyes are back in action on Saturday for the spring game and it’s going to be the fans’ first look at what the 2026 team will consist of.
Ohio State football plans on going live and tackling for the majority of the scrimmage, so it should be a solid evaluation period for the spring. Several players aren’t expected to play such as running backs Bo Jackson, Isaiah West, and Legend Bey.
Recently here at A to Z Sports, I went through multiple offensive players you should watch on Saturday. Today, we’re going to take a look at the other side of the football.
DT James Smith
I’m only including one transfer from this winter and it’s the former Alabama defensive tackle. The Tide transfer is battling for a starting spot on the interior of Ohio State’s defensive line, and he’s going to play a ton in 2026 even if he’s not starting. Smith is a former five-star recruit who has one year of eligibility left in Columbus.
Smith has shown flashes of high-level play over the last three seasons at Alabama, but has never been able to become a consistent impact. Working with defensive line coach Larry Johnson should be a big benefit for Smith, and I’m excited to see how he’s moving around on Saturday.
EDGE Beau Atkinson
Atkinson had 7.5 sacks two seasons ago at North Carolina before transferring to Ohio State last spring. The former ACC standout had just 11 tackles and one sack last season and ended up being passed up on the depth chart. When Atkinson chose to stick around this past winter and not leave in the portal, it was clear there was a two-year plan in place.
Notably, Atkinson has had a strong offseason in Ohio State football’s strength program and has a chance to get serious snaps opposite Kenyatta Jackson this fall. Ohio State has Atkinson, Qua Russaw, and Zion Grady battling to be the second pass rusher. We’ll be watching closely on Saturday as Johnson’s group gets after the passer, even if they can’t bring them down.
S Leroy Roker
Jayle McClain returns as one starting safety for Ohio State and it appears Earl Little Jr. has locked down the nickel spot. Roker is battling for the second safety spot alongside McClain, and he’s competing against Duke transfer Terry Moore for the job. Roker played in 14 games last season and made nine tackles as a depth piece in the Buckeyes’ safety room. The third-year player has been a popular name this spring and showing out in the spring game could propel him into a strong summer.
LB Garrett Stover
Stover is a name not many are talking about because he’s been buried at linebacker on the depth chart and still isn’t a starter this year. Still, I expect Stover to find the field in 2026 and be a key special teamer at the very least. The third-year linebacker was an Iron Buckeye and had a terrific offseason. Stover should get plenty of run on Saturday. A player who has had a strong winter and spring, finishing strong in Saturday’s scrimmage is key.
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