COLUMBUS, Ohio — In the background of Julian Sayin’s first spring press conference last week, a group of Ohio State defensive linemen were gathered around an oversized medicine ball.
As the potential starting quarterback spoke about leadership, Caden Curry was displaying it.
The senior defensive lineman demonstrated a drill to newcomer Logan George, a transfer from Idaho State. Curry then lined up again, going through the drill a second time — this time in slow motion, showing George a step-by-step breakdown.
When George asked follow-up questions, Curry answered them.
At a position where Ohio State is losing the most — in production and leadership — it’s finding success in replacing the latter.
Why? Because Curry and fellow defensive end Kenyatta Jackson know it’s their turn.
“We lost a lot of good players, a lot of good leaders,” Jackson said. “The guys stepping up, we’ve just got to step up. We’ve got to take on what the guys left before us.”
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Ohio State lost its entire starting defensive line — Jack Sawyer, Tyleik Williams, Ty Hamilton and J.T. Tuimoloau — to the NFL after winning a national title in January.
To label that collection of seniors as leaders would be fitting. It could also be an understatement.
Sawyer was among a group leading the charge for seniors to return for the 2024 season. They wanted to handle unfinished business and did so with a championship.
Along the way, they became legends.
Tuimoloau had 12.5 sacks last season, including 6.5 across four College Football Playoff games. Sawyer had the most iconic play of the run, returning a fumble 83 yards for a game-sealing touchdown against Texas at the Cotton Bowl.
Ohio State is losing plenty of contributors across its roster. Few tasks are tougher than replacing what was along the defensive line.
The returners don’t shy away from that.
“Me, (Jackson) and C.J. (Hicks) all try to take that leadership role and just try to push the guys, push them to be the best version of themselves every day,” Curry said. “We’re definitely trying to take that next step.”
Caden Curry is entering his senior season with Ohio State football.David Petkiewicz, cleveland.com
Curry and Jackson have been striving for starter and leader roles. They expected to have it last season, but when Sawyer and Tuimoloau returned, they had to accept another year as back-ups.
They admit there were options to transfer if they decided to go into the portal. Instead, they stayed put.
Curry and Jackson are among only seven players from the 2022 signing class still on the roster.
They hope to leave in a similar light as the 2021 group.
“It fuels us every day,” Curry said. “We don’t really even want these banners on the wall because they kind of just show us that we are satisfied with what we have. We’re definitely still hungry. We still want more.”