‘He's just amazing' – Ohio State football's Larry Johnson is glowing about a newcomer for the Buckeyes' new defense

NCAAF College Football News, Photos, Stats, Scores, Schedule & Videos...

Ohio State is going to have a ton of new on it's defense in 2026 and defensive line coach Larry Johnson is clearly excited about one transfer.

Ohio State football will play its annual spring game tomorrow (Saturday) in front of tens of thousands of fans. It'll be the first look at several Buckeyes in the scarlet and gray for the first time. 

The Buckeyes brought in a large transfer portal class and 51 new players in total when you add in the near 30 player recruiting class (on scholarship). Ohio State's defense specifically will look very new next year, and a pair of Alabama transfers are expected to play key roles. 

Ohio State DL coach Larry Johnson is glowing about former Alabama EDGE Qua Russaw 

Pass rusher Qua Russaw and defensive tackle James Smith will both play significant roles for the Buckeyes even if they're not starting every single game. Ohio State's defensive line coach raved about Russaw this week. 

“I think he’s very physically strong," Johnson said earlier in the week. "I mean, he’s probably strong at the point of attack with his hands and body. He’s just amazing. A guy at 245 pounds that can set the edge the way he does it, and he can bring great speed to the table."

So he can do a lot of things for me. He can play end, he can play what we call a Buck position, do some things out of there."

Russaw is a 6-foot-2, 240-pound pass rusher who has two years of eligibility remaining out of the class of 2023. Russaw played in nine games last season and made 14 tackles with one sack. During the 2024 season, Russaw had 36 tackles, two interceptions, and a sack in a bigger role. 

A couple of weeks ago Russaw lost his black stripe signaling he was fitting right in with the Buckeyes. The former Alabama pass rusher enters a room led by Kenyatta Jackson as the top pass rusher. There's a need for someone to step up and take Caden Curry's spot. Zion Grady and Beau Atkinson are the two returning pieces and Grady should take a big step in his second season. 

Second-year pass rusher Epi Sitanelei and freshman Khary Wilder are other players who could leave a mark in 2026. 

Russaw was never able to break out at Alabama despite showing flashes. Health and inconsistent play riddled his time at Alabama, but the early returns have been good for Russaw with the Ohio State football program. Coach Johnson has been around a long time and doesn't speak on players in such a positive way by accident. 

Russaw will be a player worth paying attention to during Saturday's spring game. A strong spring should lead into a key summer and fall where Russaw can win a starting spot if he wants it. 

More at NCAAF College Football News, Photos, Stats, Scores, Schedule & Videos