Ohio State’s linebackers progressing despite turmoil
Ohio State linebackers coach Al Washington knew he'd have an inexperienced group of players to mold this season.
He couldn't have known all the turmoil he'd face.
“Yeah, there's been moments that have been very challenging, things that are unusual,” Washington said.
That's putting it mildly. Two of the Buckeyes' three scholarship senior linebackers left the team in September after seeing limited playing time early. Dallas Gant entered the transfer portal on Sept. 22. Four days later, during the Akron game, K'vaughan Pope had an outburst on the sideline, was escorted to the locker room and was later dismissed from the team by coach Ryan Day. Pope then entered the transfer portal.
Washington said he has “nothing but love” for Gant and Pope.
“It's never easy, and I completely understand the frustration,” Washington said. “Both of those two young men are great people and really good players.”
Those are hardly the only major issues Washington had to handle since turning down an offer in March to become its Tennessee's defensive coordinator. After the departures of mainstays Tuf Borland, Pete Werner, Baron Browning and Justin Hilliard after the 2020 season, Washington knew he'd have to reload.
It has been a bit chaotic. The Buckeyes added USC transfer Palaie Gaoteote, but the former five-star prospect remained in limbo for months while the NCAA sorted out his eligibility status. Steele Chambers entered the linebacker room after switching from running back. Promising redshirt freshman Mitchell Melton was injured in the spring and hasn't returned.
Washington has only six scholarship linebackers, none of whom had started a game before this year. The inexperience showed early this year as lone senior Teradja Mitchell and sophomores Cody Simon and Tommy Eichenberg endured growing pains.
They have gradually gotten better, with Chambers showing flashes of excellence as his playing time has increased.
“I think the No. 1 thing that has helped is just time,” Washington said. “I think they've gotten their cleats under them a little bit. The more you do anything, the better you get. We've still got a ways to go to get to our standard, obviously. But I'm very proud of the progress amidst all the challenges.”
As part of the schematic adjustments made after the defense's early struggles, the Buckeyes often have only two linebackers on the field. Washington has rotated players to put them in optimum situations. Mitchell leads in snaps with 235 out of the Buckeyes' total of 467, followed by Simon's 232 and Eichenberg's 206, according to Pro Football Focus.
After the jolt from the departures of
Gant and Pope, Washington has been pleased with the way his linebackers responded.
“The conversation was, ‘Guys, what do we need to do? Obviously, right now we need to improve. We need to focus on the things we need to control,' ” he said. “That's been the narrative, and it's never gone negative. We've always been positive.
“We've got to take advantage of the time we have, so that's been our message. You have to be persistent in that, and you have to know who you are and know what you stand for. I think those things help in terms of, ‘How do we keep it together?' because tough times come. Challenging times come, but you have to persist.”
Henry commits
Three-star offensive tackle Avery Henry committed on Tuesday to play for Ohio State.
The 6-foot-6, 305-pound Saint Clairsville product is ranked as the 1,323rd overall prospect in the 247Sports composite rankings. Henry was previously committed to Iowa State before decommitting in September, saying he wanted to stay closer to home. Brabinowitz@dispatch.com @brdispatch