JD PicKell: Ohio State's defense made upgrades in secondary

Ohio State’s defense jumped into the Top-25 last year in Jim Knowles’ first season in Columbus. Still, On3’s JD PicKell believes they can kick it up another notch in 2023 with some fresh faces set to play in their secondary.

PicKell did a deep dive on Ohio State’s defense in a recent episode of ‘The Hard Count’. He said some major additions via the transfer portal at those positions in the backend could pay some major dividends for that unit on the field come the fall.

“I don’t think that the personnel was an issue so much last year. But I think they have improved it,” PicKell said. “Ja’Had Carter was the No. 1 safety in the transfer portal, according to us here at On3, transferring from Syracuse. He joins that ground and it sounds like he’s made a splash of an impression. The good people at Lettermen Row have been very, impressed, very, very high on Ja’Had Carter (and) saying he looks the part, starting to get comfortable.”

“Also, Davison Igbinosun, another guy they’re adding to their secondary? He’s young but he’s played some ball in the SEC after transferring over from Ole Miss,” added PicKell.

As PicKell pointed out, Carter was the portal’s top safety in On3’s Portal Rankings after recording 135 tackles, seven pass deflections, five interceptions, and a forced fumble over three campaigns with the Orange. Igbinosun is right there too, though, as the No. 3 cornerback in those same portal rankings. He arrives with 36 tackles and five pass deflections from his lone collegiate season in Oxford.

Once you add those names to what the Buckeyes already have, that’s when PicKell starts to think that they’re cooking with grease in those spots. He sees it as a way to give them a chance to improve again in an area where they allowed over 200 yards per game, specifically in some key moments.

“They have to feel like there’s some sort of upgrade in the secondary,” PicKell continued. “So you pair that with Lathan Ransom? Another year in the system. Denzel Burke? (He’s) coming off a really good spring. They’re expecting big things from him.”

“The back end of this defense, which allowed for some of the big, busted plays a couple of games at the end of last season? I think that’s a really good sign for Ohio State,” said PicKell. “Personnel wasn’t the Achilles heel. But if you had to pick one group on this defense that needed to produce a better result? It was the secondary. And you’ve seen some slight upgrades, I believe, from a personnel perspective in the secondary.”

Several things will be corrected by Knowles simply because this will be his second go around with Ohio State. Even so, PicKell thinks the secondary upgrades the program made this offseason will only expedite that process for them defensively.