Ohio State tops analyst’s college football post-spring Top 25

Klatt’s praise for coach Day’s Buckeyes was eye-opening. He gave the Buckeyes the nod over Kirby Smart’s Georgia Bulldogs for one key reason: defense. 

“The defense for Ohio State is what makes them the number one team in the country,” Klatt said “They will be the best defense in the country.

“I think that Ohio State is going to have as good of a defense as we’ve seen in a long time, maybe back to the 2021 Georgia team.” 

Klatt seems to believe Day’s team could return to the days of Jim Tressel with more of a ball-control offense and a culture that relies on defense and field position to win football games. 

“This (team) has draft picks littered all over it in the next two drafts, they all come back,” Klatt continued. “They worked really hard to maintain this roster, and this defense is going to be an elite defense.

“It might not be a team that scores the amount of points that we’re used to seeing a Buckeyes team score, but the defense is going to be incredible.” 

Klatt said that the sheer talent and experience of the defense will allow the team’s less proven quarterbacks and offensive line to settle into place alongside under new offensive coordinator Chip Kelly. 

The Buckeyes’ nine returning starters on defense include the following: 

DT Ty Hamilton: Hamilton recorded 38 tackles along with 4.5 tackles for loss (TFLs) and two sacks. 

DT Tyleik Williams: Williams had 53 tackles, 10 TFLs and five pass break-ups. 

DE Jack Sawyer: Sawyer had 48 tackles, 10 TFLs and 6.5 sacks 

DE JT Tuimoloau: Tuimoloau had 38 tackles, 7 TFLs and five sacks. 

LB Sonny Styles: Styles had 53 tackles, 4.5 tackles for loss and two sacks last season. 

CB Denzel Burke: Burke had 24 tackles, one interception and nine pass break-ups. 

CB Davison Igbinosun: Igbinosun had 59 tackles, 1.5 tackles for loss, and five pass break-ups. 

NB Jordan Hancock: Hancock had 41 tackles, two interceptions and five pass break-ups. 

SS Lathan Ransom: Ransom had 34 tackles, 1.5 TFLs, and one interception.