The spring transfer portal window is closed, and while teams can still add players, no one else can enter the portal.
With that being said, now is a good time to take a look at Ohio State's roster.
Here are 40 thoughts on 40 of Ohio State's scholarship defensive players: Tuesday was offense.
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Ohio State Football: 39 Thoughts on 39 Buckeyes Offensive Players
Defensive End
Mitchell Melton, Senior Republican Senator: Melton is perhaps one of the most overlooked players on the defensive line. But that's not his fault. He's been injured for most of his career. Still, the Woody Hayes Athletic Center believes now is Melton's time to make a difference. He's in good form and is calm on defense. If you're looking for an under-the-radar defensive X-factor, it's Melton.
JT Tuimoloau Sr.: When Tuimoloau decided to return, expectations on the defense skyrocketed. That's how good and impactful he is. I know he only had five sacks and 7.5 tackles for loss last year, but he did have six quarterback hits. He's going to have a strong season and be a guaranteed first-round draft pick, which is what he should be, given his athleticism.
Jack Sawyer Sr.: While Tuimoloau gets a lot of attention, especially in NFL mock drafts, there's also the argument that Sawyer was the best defensive lineman late in last season. He led the Ohio State team with 6.5 sacks and 10 tackles for loss. He's an athletic defensive end who can target the pass rush as well as consistently showcasing the ability to stop the run. There's no better duo in the country than Sawyer and Tuimoloau, and they now have the depth around them.
Cayden Curry Jr.: Curry, another reserve who could start anywhere in the country, should also perform well this year. Curry has positioned himself as a valuable second-team member of the defensive line. The nice thing about Curry is that you can move him around and still be effective, especially in rusher packages.
Kenyatta Jackson Jr., Second Generation Republican: Jackson was the talk of the 2023 spring league, but he didn't make the impact some expected him to. He played 167 snaps, third-most among defensive ends. He has all the talent to be an elite pass rusher and should get a chance to show it this year. Last year, we saw a decline when Tuimoloau and Sawyer came out. I don't think that will happen this season.
Joshua Mickens, R-Fr: There's a lot of layers in front of Mickens, so I don't think he's ready to make that leap just yet.
Father Edric Houston: I'd like to see a look at fall camp before jumping on the bandwagon completely, but Houston should do really well at Ohio State. He could finish the spring strong and work his way into the back of the rotation before the season ends, but a good fall camp is key first.
Father Dominic Kirks: Kirkus is expected to arrive on campus this summer, but will need time to become acclimated to the program.
Ty Hamilton recorded 38 total sacks for the Buckeyes in 2023. (Barbara J. Pelenic/Columbus Dispatch/USA Today)
Defensive tackle
Ty Hamilton, Senior Republican Senator: Hamilton is my favorite defensive lineman. He puts his head down, takes double teams, and doesn't ask for much else. But what we saw in the spring was Hamilton's ability to ask for double teams and then make plays through them. We saw that briefly last season, but he's gotten stronger and is doing it more consistently. He's going to wreak havoc on offensive guards and centers this year.
Tylake Williams Sr.: Williams is one of the best inside linemen in the country. Like former teammate Mike Hall, he has great quickness off the ball, but Williams is bigger at 6'3 and 327 pounds. He can chase down the quarterback and instinctively knows when to put his hands up to deflect the ball. He intercepted five passes last season. He has a chance to make big money this season.
Tywan Malone, Republican Jr.: Larry Johnson said it took Malone a while to get used to playing just football, but he's improving as he approaches his first full year in the program. But it remains to be seen whether he'll be an impact player. Fall camp will determine that, but Ohio State could take advantage of its depth.
Hero Kanu, R-So: Kanu looked much better by the end of last season, finishing with 10 tackles and one sack in 88 defensive snaps. He carried that production into the offseason and had a strong spring. He's firmly entrenched in the second rotation and has a chance to have that big breakout year that many are talking about.
Cayden McDonald, So: McDonald has all the makings of a second-team contributor. He's big at 6'3 and 326 pounds, but he's also very strong. I'm excited to see him play this year because I think he'll be a wake-up call for the guys.
Jason Moore, Republican Priest: There's been a lot of talk about Moore this spring. Although he redshirted last season, I think he's in the top two above McDonald as the glue that holds together a deep interior group.
Will Smith Jr., R-Fr: Smith is learning and growing, but I think he still needs time before he's ready to get on the field and make key plays.
Father Eric Mensa: Give him time, he'll likely redshirt this year, but at 6'3 and 290 pounds, he's got what it takes.
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Linebacker
Cody Simon, Senior Graduate: Simon, the most experienced linebacker to date, will replace Mike linebacker Tommy Eikenberg, who will thrive at the position after splitting playing time and posting 57 tackles last season. Simon will be responsible for leading the rest of a talented, albeit inexperienced, linebacker corps.
Court Williams, R-Sr: Williams was converted from safety to linebacker but missed all of last season due to injury.
CJ Hicks Jr.: Fans who have been hoping to see more from Hicks for years will finally get their wish. A former five-star recruit out of Dayton, Hicks is arguably the team's most talented linebacker but doesn't have the most experience. He's only played 72 defensive snaps, so there may be some hiccups early on, but he could be a difference-maker.
Sonny Styles Jr.: It remains to be seen what Ohio State plans to do with Stiles, but the idea of having him, Hicks and Simon on the field at the same time is intriguing. Not only are they versatile enough to run and pass, but the blitz designs Jim Knowles would put together with them would give any offensive coordinator a headache.
Gabe Powers, R-So: Powers played well this spring, but with so much talent waiting in the wings, I think he'll need a year to work his way into the lineup.
Abel Riess, So: “Reese is a talented young player that the Ohio State staff likes. He will start as Mike's second linebacker in the spring and I expect we'll see him on the field for big wins late in games. That time will be important, as Ohio State values his potential.”
Father Peyton Pierce: Pierce was in Columbus in the spring, but he still has plenty of talent. The emphasis is on development.
Father Garrett Stover: Stover, a former linebacker turned safety, has the athleticism to stand out, but he's still young and needs more time.
corner
Denzel Burke Sr.: The All-Big Ten cornerback returns this year and should be a potential All-American and first-round draft pick this year. Burke was a lockdown cornerback last year and I expect him to be the same this year, with at least one interception.
Jordan Hancock Sr.: Hancock was snubbed of All-Big Ten honors last year after his success at nickel completely changed the way Ohio State played defense, and he's back again this year, making him the perfect chess piece for a well-stocked secondary.
Lorenzo Stiles Jr., R-Jr: Stiles redshirted last season after being moved to cornerback, and while he has talent, he appears to be at least a step behind Jermaine Matthews in terms of depth.
Davison Igbinosun Jr.: Igbinosun has been one of the best additions to this defense in the Jim Knowles era. He's a perfect fit in the secondary and had a great spring. His confidence remains high and his length was evident, especially in the red zone.
Jermaine Matthews Jr., SO: Matthews came into his own in a big way last year when the Buckeyes were plagued by injuries. He played well and earned minutes the rest of the year and should get similar minutes this season. The second-year cornerback doesn't have any weaknesses in the secondary, making the idea of more dime packages appealing.
Calvin Simpson Hunt, Republican, Father: Simpson-Hunt had a strong spring game, throwing an interception, and we're looking for him to continue that performance in fall training and add depth to the team.
Father Miles Lockhart: I love Lockhart's physical strength. He had a good spring. He should develop nicely after this redshirt year.
Bryce West, Fr: West missed the spring game due to injury, but that shouldn't affect his long-term impact. He has a chance to be something special.
Aaron Scott Jr., Fr: Scott has played this spring and there have been some bright spots, but like West and Lockhart, this is a year of development.
Safety
Lathan Ransom, graduating senior: Ransom was impressive last season before suffering a season-ending Lisfranc injury against Wisconsin. He hasn't played much this spring, but he remains one half of Ohio State's dynamic safety duo. Staying healthy will be key.
Republican Senator Keenan Nelson: The Buckeyes' new addition is a transfer from South Carolina, and Nelson had three years of eligibility remaining entering this year, so it won't hurt if he can't adjust right away, and his impact will likely extend beyond this season.
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Caleb Downs, SO: The freshman All-American from Alabama was Ohio State's biggest addition this offseason. The Buckeyes acquired what could be the team's best defensive player and filled their only hole on the roster. With him and Ransom's additions, the Buckeyes have two dynamic safeties to cover the rest of the defense.
Malik Hartford, SO: Ohio State was forced to thin its roster last year and found Hartford to be more reliable than many thought. He should play this year even if Downs and Ransom are healthy. He needs more experience to take the next step in his junior season.
Jayden Bonsu, R-Fr: After a strong performance in the spring game, Bonsoo is expected to continue to play a part this season. He's unlikely to take the primary snaps from Caleb Downs or Ransom, but the spring game showed Ohio State can trust him even with injuries.
Father Jaylen McClain: McClain closed out his Ohio State career with an interception in the spring game, and while this should be a developmental year and he has time to improve on that tally, a strong performance in fall camp will be key to adding to his roster.
Father Leroy Roker: This is a redshirt year for Roker, but he needs a development year either way.
(Top photo of Mitchell Melton by Adam Cairns/Columbus Dispatch/USA Today)
