COLUMBUS, Ohio -- NFL mementos checker the wall of Ohio State's defensive line meeting room, where position coach Larry Johnson presides.
There's a Chase Young jersey from the Washington Commanders and a split Bosa jersey -- half Los Angeles Chargers, half San Francisco 49ers -- for Buckeyes brothers Joey and Nick. All three defensive linemen starred at Ohio State under Johnson, who has spent nearly a decade on staff after mentoring seven NFL first-round draft picks at Penn State during 18 years there.
If the 2023 season goes well for Ohio State's defensive line, Johnson will have a few more NFL items on his wall next year, and a different group of players sitting before him.
Every college football season includes a group of talents who haven't reached their potential but can climb NFL draft boards if they deliver consistently on game days. Arguably no team has more players who check those boxes than Ohio State, especially in the defensive line room.
Defensive ends Jack Sawyer and JT Tuimoloau were ESPN's No. 1 and No. 5 recruits in the 2021 class, while tackle Mike Hall came in at No. 82. All three have showcased their abilities in snippets -- Tuimoloau, in particular, during an unforgettable performance last October at Penn State -- but each is seeking a season's worth of evidence to win over NFL evaluators.
"I get emotional talking about it because I know exactly what we have the possibility to be," Johnson told ESPN. "I walk into the room jacked up, fired up, energetic, ready to go, because I know if we can do the right thing, we can serve notice to the whole entire country."
Their quest continues Saturday night as No. 6 Ohio State visits No. 9 Notre Dame (7:30 p.m. ET, NBC) in one of the season's biggest matchups to date. Ohio State's defensive line group will face one of the nation's best offensive fronts, anchored by NFL prospects Joe Alt and Blake Fisher at tackle.
Here's a player-by-player look at five Buckeyes who could significantly improve their draft standing this season based on the most recent position rankings by ESPN NFL draft analysts Mel Kiper Jr., Jordan Reid and Matt Miller, as well as five others from other teams around college football.
JT Tuimoloau, defensive end, Ohio State
Vitals: Junior, 6-foot-4, 270 pounds; Edgewood, Washington
ESPN recruiting ranking: No. 5 overall in 2021 class
ESPN NFL draft position ranking: Kiper No. 2 | Reid No. 3 | Miller No. 3
Unlike others mentioned here, Tuimoloau already projects as a first-round pick for some, and before the season ranked second or third on ESPN's list of top defensive end prospects. But he fell off Mel Kiper's latest Big Board and has another tier to reach, especially when it comes to consistent excellence. Tuimoloau also has an ideal reference point, as do the NFL scouts evaluating him.
He's responsible for one of the best single-game performances by a defensive player in recent FBS history: 2 interceptions, including a pick-six, 2 sacks, a forced fumble, a fumble recovery, 3 tackles for loss and 4 turnovers forced against Penn State last season.
"He showed off his skill set that day, pass-rushing, dropping into coverage, getting his hands on balls, you can see how disruptive he can be," Ohio State coach Ryan Day told ESPN. "That's his ability level."
Tuimoloau watches the game occasionally, in disbelief.
"There's no way I did that," he said with a laugh. "It also motivates me to try to, it sounds crazy, but try to top it. You have the ability to do things like that. You've just got to stay consistent."
Tuimoloau hasn't come close to matching his Penn State gem, his only multisack performance at Ohio State. He finished with 10 tackles for loss and six pass breakups in 2022, earning first-team All-Big Ten honors, but his most disruptive moments were confined to that afternoon at Beaver Stadium.
Through three games this season, Tuimoloau has yet to truly make a dent, recording seven tackles, no sacks and a quarterback hurry.
"Forty-four is a manchild but he doesn't always play with his hair on fire," a Big Ten coach said. "What he did against Penn State, it was unbelievable, one of the greatest performances you've ever seen from that position. But you don't see it that much."
Johnson called Tuimoloau's Penn State performance "a Michael Jordan moment" and will encourage the junior to watch the game often. Tuimoloau has all the physical traits to steadily impact games, but Johnson wants him to refine the details of how he plays the position.
"It has to come natural to him," Johnson said. "Now it's like, 'Coach, I saw that. My eyes are much better.' When your eyes are better, you see what you're hitting and your hands are faster. That's the growth with JT."
Jack Sawyer, defensive end, Ohio State
Vitals: Junior, 6-foot-4, 265 pounds; Pickerington, Ohio
ESPN recruiting ranking: No. 1 overall in 2021 class
ESPN NFL draft position ranking: Kiper NR | Reid No. 5 | Miller No. 5
Several decorated prospects from the 2021 recruiting class have already secured strong draft positions for 2024, including USC quarterback Caleb Williams (No. 17), North Carolina quarterback Drake Maye (No. 48) and Ohio State wide receiver Marvin Harrison Jr. (No. 83). But there's still mystery around the man at the top of ESPN's rankings.
Sawyer recorded 7.5 sacks, a forced fumble and 37 total tackles during his first two seasons with Ohio State. He had a sack-fumble against Maryland's Taulia Tagovailoa as a true freshman and recorded sacks in each of his final two regular-season games in 2022. But the wow moments have been limited. He has 10 tackles and no sacks through the first three games.
"Early on, I was pressing to make plays, pressing to get stats and all this," Sawyer told ESPN. "As soon as you start pressing, you get out of your gap. After last year, my perspective switched and it's allowed me to be the best I've been since I've been here, physically and mentally. So it's been good."
Sawyer spent last season playing both defensive end and an end-linebacker hybrid position, coincidentally called "Jack." He has returned to the traditional end spot for 2023 and spent the offseason changing his body. Sawyer's time at "Jack" was a good developmental step, but defensive end is "his best position," Johnson said.
Although Sawyer's weight is about the same as in 2022, he estimates he trimmed 8-9% of his body fat
"I've got abs again, I look a lot better," Sawyer said, smiling. "I feel a lot twitchier. I've got that bounce in my step back. I'm bending way better, feeling as loose as I've ever felt."
Both Day and Johnson acknowledged the unique pressure Sawyer faced, growing up near Ohio State, to make a major impact right away. Johnson said Sawyer never lost his sense of self and worked hard to gain strength, speed and flexibility.
The return to defensive end is designed to streamline the focus for Sawyer. Johnson thinks the tandem of Sawyer and Tuimoloau has similar potential to Young and Nick Bosa, "if we can get those two guys to believe in each other, that two is better than one."
"Every one of us has aspirations to go to the NFL," Sawyer said. "Coach Johnson has been preaching to us to just focus on the day, you can't control yesterday. We've probably got eight, 10 dudes who are going to play in the NFL in our defensive line room, so that's definitely been one of the biggest messages, to take it step by step."
Michael Hall Jr., defensive tackle, Ohio State
Vitals: Junior, 6-foot-2, 280 pounds; Streetsboro, Ohio
ESPN recruiting ranking: No. 81 overall in 2021 class
ESPN NFL draft position ranking: Kiper No. 3 | Reid No. 5 | Miller No. 5
Hall appears at No. 5 on ESPN's defensive tackle rankings for the NFL draft, but has a good opportunity to rise after a strong 2022 season. He battled some injuries and made only five starts but tied Sawyer for the team sacks lead with 4.5, and had 7.5 tackles for loss.
At 280 pounds, Hall isn't the biggest interior lineman, but he uses leverage and explosiveness to fluster opposing linemen. He has a sack and four tackles entering the Notre Dame game.
"Hall's amazing," a Big Ten coach said. "He's so twitchy and explosive and powerful. He's so hard to block. He's like a lot of their guys -- so hard to stay on because of how they use their hands."
Like a lot of linemen his size, Hall looks up to Los Angeles Rams star Aaron Donald, a nine-time Pro Bowler and three-time NFL Defensive Player of the Year despite a modest frame (6-foot-1, 280 pounds). Hall has relied on his strength and burst off the snap while trying to improve how he uses his hands, especially against the run.
Johnson wants Hall at 280-285 pounds so he can play both nose guard and 3-technique and "not be looked at as a tweener." Hall also pairs well with fellow tackles Ty Hamilton and Tyleik Williams.
"He's got explosiveness, he's got power, he's got quickness, some of that Aaron Donald style to him," Day said of Hall. "He's not one of those 330-pounders that's just going to take up space. His quickness is tremendous. Watching him work out this summer, we'd be doing drills and he's like two steps ahead of everybody.
Day snapped his fingers.
"When that whistle blows, the initial quickness and twitch is elite," he added.
Like his linemates and coaches, Hall outlines his expectation that Ohio State's defensive front will be the nation's best in 2023. If so, the team could be positioned to close out the four-team CFP era like it began -- with a national championship.
"That will help the team tremendously," Hall said. "And those guys leaving this year to potentially go to the [NFL] draft, it would set them up in the best way to boost their stock."
TreVeyon Henderson, running back, Ohio State
Vitals: Junior, 5-foot-10, 212 pounds; Hopewell, Virginia
ESPN recruiting ranking: No. 10 overall in 2021 class
ESPN NFL draft position ranking: Kiper No. 3 | Reid NR | Miller No. 4
Henderson was the top running back recruit in the 2021 class and looked the part as a true freshman for the Buckeyes, setting team freshman records for touchdowns scored (19) and single-game rushing (270 yards against Tulsa). He finished his debut season with 1,248 yards and ranked second nationally in yards per carry (6.8).
If Henderson continued on that trajectory, he seemed set to be among the first backs selected in the 2024 draft. But there's more uncertainty around him after a choppy, injury-plagued sophomore season, in which Henderson had only two 100-yard performances and just one of more than 20 carries. Henderson still averaged 5.3 yards per carry but could never get in rhythm because of a foot injury that eventually required surgery.
"That was my first long-term injury that really affected my game," Henderson told ESPN. "I couldn't practice. It was basically just, shoot, get ready for the game and try to do the best I can. I was never healthy after that third game. Last year wasn't who I was.
"I wasn't able to perform the way I wanted to perform."
Henderson is healthy now, though, and has turned the page to what could be his final season at Ohio State. He feels he can be more powerful with his left foot following surgery and rehab.
The junior is off to a solid start, averaging 6.4 yards per carry with four rushing touchdowns in the first three games.
"He has brought his prep and game up a whole other level," offensive coordinator Brian Hartline told ESPN. "He's running harder, I feel like he's practicing harder. His whole game is elevated. The life of a running back can be up and down at times."
Hartline said Henderson has remained strong in pass protection and wants to improve his yards-after-contact numbers. Although Henderson had not had a significant injury before 2022, his ability to get through it allowed him to grow.
"You rarely grow when things are good, so it's an opportunity to learn," Hartline said. "Frankly, the odds are you're going to experience something again, so how are you going to handle that?"
The urgency for Henderson this season is reflected in his varying draft projections from ESPN analysts. In the preseason prospect rankings, Kiper had Henderson as the top draft-eligible running back, while ESPN's Matt Miller had him fourth and Jordan Reid didn't list the Buckeyes junior. Kiper has Henderson at No. 3 on his latest prospect rankings.
"I know a lot of us have a chance to go to that next level after this year, but we've got to stay focused on the now," Henderson said.
Denzel Burke, cornerback, Ohio State
Vitals: Junior, 6-foot-1, 190 pounds; Phoenix
ESPN recruiting ranking: No. 268 overall in 2021 class
ESPN NFL draft position ranking: Kiper No. 6 | Reid NR | Miller NR
Burke didn't receive the same recruiting accolades as the other Buckeyes listed, but he made an immediate impression in 2021, earning third-team All-Big Ten honors and several freshman All-America selections. Then, he backslid a bit last season and drew the type of criticism that all cornerbacks can face, especially at Ohio State.
The end to the Buckeyes' season -- losses to archrival Michigan and to eventual national champion Georgia in the CFP semifinal -- motivated every player returning for 2023, but perhaps none more than Burke.
"If you said somebody who has had the best offseason, it would be Denzel Burke," Day said. "He's almost rededicated himself: his body, his work ethic, his habits, everything has been off the chart. If he continues on this trend, you're going to see him play at a high level."
Burke told ESPN that he watched the Georgia game about 100 times during the offseason, identifying new details each time. He was beaten by Georgia's A.D. Mitchell for the game-winning touchdown in the final minute.
"I lost my leverage on that corner route," he said. "If I would have kept my leverage on the outside, interception, but I kind of bit on the inside route."
Burke often works against the nation's best wideout in Harrison, whom he credits for helping him build pro-like habits before, during and after practice and in meetings.
His main goals are locating the ball better and not losing focus. Burke recorded Ohio State's only interception in the first two games and has locked down opposing wideouts. He has been likely the Buckeyes' best defender early on, recording four pass breakups and a forced fumble.
"Second year in the system, third year in the program, a little bit of a receiver in high school so [cornerback] was a new position for him," Day said. "He really came in on the scene as a freshman and played well, but Year 3 is typically where you see them take that next big step."
Burke is No. 6 on Kiper's cornerback rankings for the 2024 draft. At 6-foot-1, he has the type of length NFL teams seek on the perimeter.
"We talk about how we've got to act like pros," Burke said. "We can't have a kid mentality and expect to go to the next level. You've got to start building that now."
Andrew Mukuba, safety/cornerback, Clemson
Vitals: Junior, 6-foot, 195 pounds; Austin, Texas
ESPN recruiting ranking: No. 155 overall in 2021 class
ESPN NFL draft position ranking: Kiper NR | Reid NR | Miller NR
Like Ohio State's Henderson, Mukuba is trying to recapture his freshman excellence as a junior. He won ACC Defensive Rookie of the Year honors in 2021, while also being named third-team All-ACC. That fall, Mukuba tied Clemson's single-season freshman record with nine pass breakups while recording 54 tackles, a sack and a fumble recovery in 10 starts.
His performance leveled off last season, though, most likely the result of injuries that Mukuba played through but didn't reveal until this summer. He also played more at cornerback after starring as a safety. After playing at around 180 pounds in 2022, Mukuba is up to 195 this season.
"Last year I was going through a lot of nagging injuries, just because my body couldn't take the physicality," he said. "Putting on a little bit of weight, mass, I'm rocked up, that's one big improvement. I feel real, real comfortable at 195."
Mukuba dealt with a lower-body injury early this season but feels better about his overall game, from getting out of breaks to playing with "zone eyes" so he can read quarterbacks in zone coverage and go after the ball.
"He's a good player," an ACC coach said. "He's got an interesting skill set. He's physical enough to tackle, he can cover some. There's a lot of different things he can do as a player." Mukuba's challenge is to stay healthy, increase his production and ultimately get back on the NFL radar after a tough sophomore season. He missed Saturday's game against Florida Atlantic, but coach Dabo Swinney is optimistic Mukuba will play in this week's showdown against No. 4 Florida State.
"This season can really change my life, with the kind of goals I've set for myself," Mukuba said.
Amarius Mims, offensive tackle, Georgia
Vitals: Junior, 6-foot-7, 340 pounds; Cochran, Georgia
ESPN recruiting ranking: No. 21 overall in 2021 class
ESPN NFL draft position ranking: Kiper No. 5 | Reid No. 3 | Miller No. 3
Mims was Georgia's second-highest-rated recruit in the 2021 class, behind linebacker Smael Mondon (No. 12). He didn't start as a freshman and briefly entered the transfer portal in the spring of 2022 before playing most of his sophomore season behind mainstay right tackle Warren McClendon. But Mims' opportunity arrived at the biggest moment.
An injury to McClendon put Mims in the starting lineup for the College Football Playoff, as he helped Georgia to its second consecutive national title. Mims entered his third season as Georgia's clear-cut starter at right tackle and an immediate source of fascination for NFL scouts and personnel staffers.
"He really played like a starter last year, and he's continued to do that this year," Georgia coach Kirby Smart said. "We really looked at him as a starter last year, played the second or third series of every game throughout the year and then started those last two."
Penn State's Olu Fashanu and Notre Dame's Alt are generally regarded as the top two tackle prospects for the 2024 draft. Sims' current status is uncertain after Smart announced on Monday Sims would need surgery on his right ankle. But Smart expects Mims to return -- "He'll be back, it's just a matter of how long" -- and he has the size and skill set to move up the boards when he does.
Braiden McGregor, defensive end, Michigan
Vitals: Senior, 6-foot-6, 267 pounds; Port Huron, Michigan
ESPN recruiting ranking: No. 32 overall in 2020 class
ESPN NFL draft position ranking: Kiper No. 3 | Reid NR | Miller NR
McGregor headlined Michigan's 2020 class and showed the Wolverines could still land top in-state recruits. But his development has been very gradual, as he redshirted in 2020 because of a knee injury from high school and had only five tackles in nine games during his first full season in 2021, while playing behind standouts Aidan Hutchinson and David Ojabo.
He flashed a bit more last fall, recording two sacks and 4.5 tackles for loss, but his overall production remained modest.
"I love the journey that I got to take, it sucked half the time but I know it was worth it," McGregor told ESPN. "To be able to sit behind some of the best guys to ever come through here and play defensive end, and learn from them, and to be able to get my opportunity now, I appreciate the journey. It was a rough one, coming in with high expectations and not being able to do anything for the first year, year and a half.
"I realize this is now or never."
The potential is clearly still there, as evidenced by Kiper listing McGregor as his No. 3 defensive end prospect for the 2024 draft, behind Florida State's Jared Verse and Tuimoloau. McGregor's length at 6-foot-6 jumps out, and he worked on his upper body during the offseason to become sturdier and more powerful.
He increased his Turkish get-up -- a grueling exercise where the participant must go from lying flat on the floor to standing while holding a kettlebell over his head -- to around 150 pounds, and did 22 reps of single-arm bench press at 115 pounds on both sides. Through three games, he has 2 tackles for loss, a quarterback hurry and 8 total tackles.
Said McGregor: "We say this all the time: 'You've got 12 opportunities. Make them count.'"
Kingsley Suamataia, offensive tackle, BYU
Vitals: Redshirt sophomore, 6-foot-6, 325 pounds; Orem, Utah
ESPN recruiting ranking: No. 98 overall in 2021 class (Oregon)
ESPN NFL draft position ranking: Kiper NR | Reid No. 5 | Miller NR
Suamataia had every major school after him in high school but picked Oregon, where coach Mario Cristobal had made a haven for promising offensive linemen. But Suamataia made only one appearance during the 2021 season and redshirted. Then, Cristobal left for Miami and Suamataia returned to his home state and BYU, where he started 12 games last season and did not allow a sack in 361 pass blocks.
He switched from right tackle to left tackle, where he has started each of the first three games.
"He's only been a one-year starter, so every game he has a handful of things that you're like, OK first time this has happened," BYU offensive coordinator Aaron Roderick told ESPN. "It's just about maintaining those reps and learning those lessons that come from experience."
Roderick has coached big-framed offensive linemen before but has never seen someone of that size who moves quite like Suamataia, who is a captain this season. His next step is dominating opponents on every snap, and he will get plenty of opportunities as BYU begins its first season in the Big 12.
"He's a super athlete, very quick-twitch and violent when he hits people," Roderick said. "He has an ability to stay on his feet in open space. He'll sometimes block two people on screens, he's a really good pass-blocker. He's just a good all-around player. But it starts with his athletic ability; he's so fast and explosive for a big guy."