Spring ball is in the rearview mirror, and the 2026 NFL draft has come and gone—which means it's the perfect time to take an early look at what the Ohio State defense might look like this fall. With 51 new players joining the program, projecting a two-deep depth chart is no simple task. But after watching spring reps and hearing which players are starting to turn heads, we have a much clearer picture than we did when the transfer portal closed.

Of course, things will likely shift once fall camp arrives, especially after a summer of conditioning and behind-the-scenes development. But hey, that's what makes this fun. We already broke down the offense, and now it's time to shift focus to the defensive side of the ball and special teams.

Let's dive into the projected Ohio State football depth chart on defense post-spring.

Defensive Line
Starters: Kenyatta Jackson (DE), Eddrick Houston (DT), James Smith (DT), Qua Russaw (DE)
Backups: Zion Grady (DE), John Walker Jr. (DT), Will Smith (DT), Beau Atkinson (DE)

There's no single, dominant household name on the defensive line just yet—but that could change quickly. Defensive line coach Larry Johnson loves to rotate eight players deep, so if this two-deep holds, expect all these guys to see plenty of snaps. The coaching staff made a point to bring in experience, which is why Alabama transfers James Smith and Qua Russaw get the early nod over Will Smith Jr. and Beau Atkinson, joining Jackson and Houston in the starting lineup. This competition will likely stretch deep into fall camp before we know who truly emerges.

Linebackers
Starters: Payton Pierce, Christian Alliegro

Payton Pierce is a lock as a starter. He was essentially the third starter last season, even though Ohio State often used just two linebackers on the field. Don't be surprised if he makes some serious noise this year and becomes a key leader for this defense.