Buckeyes LB Mitchell Melton Ready To Finally Make Impact In 2023
Former four-star linebacker recruit Mitchell Melton is supposed to be an anchor on the Ohio State Buckeyes defense. That's what was expected when he committed and signed.
But a funny thing happened on the way to Melton dominating opposing offenses in Columbus ... he suffered a season-ending ACL tear last spring. The season before, he also missed the entire season due to injury.
While he is in his fourth season with the Buckeyes, he still has three years of eligibility. And he's not just playing linebacker now, he's being used as a hybrid defensive end/linebacker.
But all he really wants is to be healthy and contribute. And that looks like it's happening. Defensive line coach Larry Johnson indicated he's on his way back:
“(He's doing) really well. He's 100% now, he's working out, He's running,” Larry Johnson said in May. “And he might be a surprise. He might be a surprise. I'm really looking forward to him. He's really hungry. He can't wait. We held him out in the spring for a reason. He walked out there for spring ball and he said, 'Thanks, Coach.' I said, ‘We need you to be healthy in August. I don't need to see what you can do in the (spring).’ And I think that really helped him mentally because he knew he wasn't quite ready. He did the individual road, we just kept him out of all the team stuff. And I think that really helped him get ready mentally.”
It's strange to think that Melson has never taken a defensive snap with the Buckeyes. During his freshman season in 2020, he played only on special teams during the COVID-shortened campaign. Then major injuries have kept him off the field the past two seasons.
But defensive coordinator Jim Knowles continues to have confidence in his ability and future with the Buckeyes:
“I want to see him back to where he was. We moved him from linebacker to the front when I got here, and then started experimenting with him in the Jack position,” Knowles said. “And he jumped out. He jumped out, he really did, to Coach Johnson and to me in things that he did. So I just want to see him back there. I want to see, OK, has he recovered completely? Is he healthy?”
If Melton can stay healthy and continue to improve on the field, he could become that anchor in Knowles' defense that he's expected to be.
“We're hoping he can make an impact for us this year,” Head coach Ryan Day said this spring. “Before the injury, we were excited about him, what he was doing. So he's got really good pass-rush ability and really good strength and play speed. So we just got to be smart and make sure we're bringing him back the right way.”
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