Rutgers Scarlet Knights Defensive Players to Watch vs. Ohio State Buckeyes

The Ohio State Buckeyes will have a tough test against a top secondary in the Rutgers Scarlet Knights.

The Big Ten East is making a defensive statement this season.

The top four teams in the conference all stand in the top 10 defenses in the nation. Most surprisingly, Greg Schiano's Rutgers is having its best start since 2012 thanks to a stout defensive front and secondary.

Scarlet Knights defensive coordinator Joe Harasymiak has turned the team into a winning program in the last year. And he is ready to stop the Buckeyes win streak.

Here are the Knights' top defensive players to watch Saturday versus Ohio State.

CB Robert Longerbeam

Junior cornerback Robert Longerbeam has shut down receivers this season.

He ranks at the top of the conference in pass breakups and holds a nearly identical statistical resume to that of Ohio State cornerback Denzel Burke. Both have PBUs and an interception to their names this season.

Not to mention he has two forced fumbles, tied for No. 2 in the conference. Longerbeam has helped the Knights hold teams to the national second-best 156.2 pass yards per game. And after seeing Buckeye junior quarterback Kyle McCord struggle Saturday in Wisconsin, he can only wait for this weekend.

S Flip Dixon

Coming in with the No. 15 scoring defense, Rutgers has been elite in both stopping the pass and run.

Though the secondary matches that of Ohio State for one of the top in the nation, junior safety Flip Dixon has been a bright spot for the Rutgers defense. He is tied for ninth in the conference with 32 solo tackles, stopping receivers from picking up extra yards.

In addition, he has five pass breakups and an interception. Dixon and Longerbeam have held the fort down thus far — although it may be a lot to ask to stop Ohio State junior receiver Marvin Harrison Jr., it is not farfetched to say they will lock up the middle of the field.

LB Tyreem Powell

A preseason Dick Butkus Award watch list candidate, junior linebacker Tyreem Powell has been yet another great addition to the Knights secondary this season.

With 53 total tackles, good for 12th in the Big Ten and two sacks, Powell has been great rushing the passer and stopping the run. The Knights have shown they have multiple run and pass stoppers — Powell has been both.

Though the defense ranks middle of the pack in total sacks, they, like Ohio State have done great pressuring quarterbacks and backfields. Expect Powell to give McCord and junior running back TreVeyon Henderson a difficult time on Saturday.