Ohio State's 2024 Defense will go down in the history books as one of the best groups of all-time.
The 2024 Ohio State defense was one of the best all-time at the moment. They were a dominant group that suffocated opponents from the first play until the last.
They were nearly impossible to throw against because of their veteran secondary, and they were impossible to run against because of their veteran defensive line and linebacking core.
Trying to move the ball on them was like solving a jigsaw puzzle. It still is amazing that they lost two games that season, and they are thanking their lucky stars for the first-ever 12-team playoff.
The result of that season was a National Championship, and the result for that defense is that all 11 starters from the group were drafted into the NFL.
Tyleik Williams was the first one off the board when he was selected in the 2025 NFL Draft in the first round by the Detroit Lions. The final one, the cherry on top, was Davison Igbinosun when he was drafted in the second round by the Buffalo Bills.
- Tyleik Williams - Round 1, Detroit Lions
- JT Tuimoloau - Round 2, Indianapolis Colts
- Cody Simon - Round 3, Arizona Cardinals
- Lathan Ransom - Round 3, Carolina Panthers
- Jack Sawyer - Round 3, Pittsburgh Steelers
- Ty Hamilton - Round 5, Los Angeles Rams
- Jordan Hancock - Round 5, Buffalo Bills
- Denzel Burk - Round 5, Arizona Cardinals
- Sonny Styles - 2026 Round 1, Washington Commanders
- Caleb Downs - 2026 Round 1, Dallas Cowboys
- Davison Igbinosun, 2026 Round 2, Buffalo Bills
That collection of players is as good a group of players that will ever share the field together on a college football field. Each of those players was an impact player for the Buckeyes on their run to the National Championship, and each of them is making an impact at the next level.
The even wilder part is that behind them were NFL-caliber players, too. Arvell Reese and Caden McDonald were both depth players on that roster; that's how insane they were.
There will never be another group like this one, and thankfully, they were able to produce a National Championship for the state of Ohio with their win over Notre Dame.
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