On the record: Ohio State’s defensive tackle rotation will exceed expectations

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From now until preseason camp starts later this week, Land-Grant Holy Land will be writing articles around a different theme every week. This week is all about the things we need to get off our chests before the season starts; the things we need to get on the record. You can catch up on all of the Theme Week content here and all of our ”On the Record” articles here.

In 2025, defensive tackle capped his three-year collegiate career with a dominant season, finishing the year with 65 tackles, including nine tackles for loss (good for 29 total yards), three quarterback sacks, two forced fumbles and two pass break-ups. 

In three separate games last season—against Texas, Penn State and Miami, no less—McDonald logged a career-high eight tackles, and he earned Bronko Nagurski national defensive player of the week honors after his effort in the Buckeyes’ win over Washington, in which he recorded seven tackles, three tackles for loss, and two sacks.

Before being selected 36th overall by the Texans in the NFL draft, McDonald was recognized in droves for these whopping stats: He earned unanimous first-team All-American honors, was named the Big Ten’s defensive lineman of the year, was a finalist for the Outland Trophy given to college football’s best interior lineman, and was first-team all-Big Ten. 

So as McDonald looks forward to his first NFL season, the gap he leaves behind looms large for Buckeye fans. These are some enormous shoes to fill, and no one player on this year’s roster should be expected to fill them. 

But before Buckeye fans start to panic, there is good news: Replacing Kayden McDonald isn’t about finding another Kayden McDonald. It’s unrealistic to expect one defensive tackle on Ohio State’s 2026 roster to replace an All-American overnight. What the Buckeyes need instead is for four talented players to collectively recreate McDonald’s production, consistency and physicality. 

While it’s easy to assume you need a sensation to replace someone like McDonald (if they’re even replaceable), I’d argue it’s less about one player stepping up and more about roster depth, players with complementary skill sets, exactly like that of Ohio State’s 2026 roster. 

It seems likely the Buckeyes will once again use a four-man rotation. Last season, this involved McDonald at nose tackle for the majority of his snaps, with Will Smith Jr. playing backup snaps behind him. Tywone Malone Jr. and Eddrick Houston then rotated at three-technique after Houston, held back by a knee injury, lost his starting job to the redshirt senior.

Smith Jr. and Houston will both be back this year. The two are joined by John Walker, a transfer from UCF, and James Smith, a transfer from Alabama who stands at 6-foot-2, 314 pounds. 

Houston enters 2026 fully recovered from his injury and on the heels of a standout spring. With one of the highest ceilings of the group, this should be the year the former five-star recruit finally breaks out and delivers on his potential as a leader. While he might not singlehandedly fill McDonald’s shoes, he certainly has the ability to push the entire room forward. I wouldn’t be surprised if Houston is an All-Big Ten caliber tackle by season’s end, and if he reaches this level, it allows the rest of the unit to slot into more natural roles and opens the door toward elite play. 

While Houston and James Smith, who brings SEC experience and proven production at Alabama, were the standouts of the group in spring practice, they do primarily play the same position. There will likely be moments where Smith moves to nose tackle to get both of them on the field together, but the most likely scenario, at least to start, seems to be Houston starting in the three-technique slot with Smith rotating in.

At nose tackle, Walker looked solid in spring practice, though it’s unlikely he’ll match McDonald’s dominance this year. Still, he will likely split reps with Smith Jr., who has the potential to be a serious threat to opponents’ pass rush, and together, they have enough talent to prevent a massive dropoff. 

Playing a four-man rotation with this group allows each player to specialize in what they do best. They don’t all need to make plays every single down, something that also allows defensive line coach Larry Johnson to keep the unit healthy through a longer season. 

Johnson, widely considered one of the best defensive line coaches in college football, has high standards for his defensive tackle units, and his formula could very well benefit from the depth of this year’s group. Most people are expecting some level of dropoff from last year’s unit due to McDonald’s absence, but even if things drop slightly, especially to start the season as everyone finds their rhythm, Johnson has a history of getting the unit in shape quickly, and this year should be no different. 

This will be especially critical for the Buckeyes with the difficulty of their 2026 schedule. Against teams like Indiana, Michigan, and Texas, Ohio State will need to wear down opponents as they try to control possession, establish a run game, and exploit tired defenses late in the game. With the depth this four-man rotation affords, the Buckeyes can have fresh defensive tackles longer into the game and even into the season; something that could prove even more valuable than having one standout in the 12-team playoff era.  

If you’re looking to a single superstar to replace McDonald, you’ll probably find yourself disappointed, but if you’re looking to the unit to get the job done? Four players are ready to step up and do exactly that. Ultimately, the expectation is simply that this unit serves as a roadblock for opponents—this quad has all the makings of a group that can do just that. 

If they can deliver on their potential to disrupt at the line of scrimmage, any dropoff we see will be negligible. Don’t count this group out, then. They’ve got the talent to exceed expectations, and if they play to their full potential, they could very well be the best defensive tackle unit in the conference, if not one of the best in the country, even with a McDonald-shaped hole. 

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