Ohio State Set to Reload at Defensive Tackle With Two Top-End Transfers, Returning Experience

James SmithKayden McDonald posted one of the best seasons ever by an Ohio State defensive tackle in 2025.

The Georgia native was a unanimous All-American for a reason. He finished with numbers rarely ever seen at the nose guard position: 65 tackles, nine tackles for loss, three sacks. He devoured space inside. Even as Miami found some success running the ball in the College Football Playoff quarterfinals, McDonald plugged the middle as usual, picking up five tackles and a TFL.

Nose guards of that caliber are once-in-a-decade players. McDonald was that good in 2025. But Ohio State's taken some remaining major pieces of last year's defensive tackle room and paired them with two talented veteran…