Ohio State Coach Jim Knowles Making Changes to Buckeyes' Linebacker Room

After the losses of Steele Chambers and Tommy Eichenberg to the NFL, Ohio State Buckeyes defensive coordinator Jim Knowles is making some changes to the linebacker room.

As the Ohio State Buckeyes finished third in total defense, defensive coordinator Jim Knowles spoke with the media Thursday, particularly highlighting junior Sonny Styles’ switch from safety to linebacker and what to expect from senior defensive ends Jack Sawyer and J.T. Tuimoloau.

With Steele Chambers and Tommy Eichenberg both heading to the NFL, Knowles thinks that Styles will fit into the position well.

“I felt long term in my vision for him that playing safety would give him a better perspective of the defense," Knowles said. "One of the biggest parts of being a linebacker is you have to know all the pieces around you so you can play fast. Sonny’s showing a lot of that in the first two days."

Styles, who recorded 53 tackles, two sacks, and a pass breakup last season, helped the Buckeyes to one of the top secondaries in the country, a team allowing less than 2000 passing yards the whole season and just under 150 passing yards per game.

Knowles said although Styles and Simon will likely see the field more than others in the linebackers room, they will still compete with rising juniors C.J. Hicks and Gabe Powers, who only saw the field in six games in 2023.

“Gabe is one of the most improved guys,” Knowles said.

He also wants to see Sawyer and Tuimoloau calling some of the plays, and “to train them as outside linebackers.”

“If we’re strong inside, those guys can become more multiple,” Knowles said. 

Sawyer and Tuimoloau recorded a combined 86 tackles, 11.5 sacks and two forced fumbles in a season where the Buckeyes allowed less than 120 yards on the ground per game, good for 27th in the country.

Sawyer and Tuimoloau are just two of a pack of juniors who decided to return for one last shot at a national title and to beat Michigan - a pack that hopes to end a three-game losing streak to the Wolverines and put Ohio State football back where it belongs.