Ohio State Defensive Coordinator Hot Board: Top 5 Replacements For Chris Ash

The Ohio State Buckeyes are searching for a new co-defensive coordinator after Chris Ash took the head coaching job at Rutgers. Ash paired with Luke Fickell to lead the Buckeyes' defense, but Ash was the one calling the shots. While OSU could elect to just promote Fickell and make him the sole defensive coordinator, it's more likely the Buckeyes add another coach. Here are the top five coaches that could take over as Ohio State's co-defensive coordinator next season:

5. Jeremy Pruitt, Georgia defensive coordinator

Pruitt is on the market after Georgia fired head coach Mark Richt. Pruitt served as the Bulldogs defensive coordinator this year after holding the job at Florida State in 2013. However, Pruitt does have strong ties to the Alabama program and is expected to take over their defensive coordinator job after Kirby Smart took the Georgia head coaching job. OSU will look, but this is unlikely. 

4. Vance Joseph, Bengals secondary coach

Joseph interviewed for the job that went to Ash a two years ago. However, much has changed for Joseph in that time. He's a rising star in the NFL and will likely be a defensive coordinator in the near future. He'd be a perfect fit for the Buckeyes, but Joseph might not want the job. 

3. Dean Hood, former EKU head coach

Hood was the head coach at EKU, but has since been fired. He might not be the perfect fit because he isn't a great recruiter and hasn't spent much time calling the defensive plays. However, he's a childhood friend on Meyer's and Meyer helped send Noah Spence to EKU after the Big Ten banned Spence. 

2. Mel Tucker, Alabama secondary coach

Tucker has ties to OSU, which is why his name tends to pop up when the Buckeyes need a defensive coach. Tucker served under Jim Tressel before jumping to the NFL. He was a defensive coordinator for several teams from 2008 to 2014. He also served as the Jaguars' interim head coach for a brief time. The end of time in the NFL didn't go so well, but Alabama hired him as their secondary coach. That's a promising sign for Tucker, who is just 43. He may not get the job, but expect to hear his name linked to the job. 

1. Paul Rhoads, former Iowa State head coach

Rhoads could be a perfect fit for OSU. He is reportedly friends with Meyer and was a graduate assistant for the Buckeyes in 1991. He's the favorite for the job. It ultimately depends on if Rhoads wants to return to Columbus or take some time off.