With Jim Knowles came hope for Ohio State football’s defense. Heading into his first season as the Buckeyes’ defensive coordinator, Ohio State commits in the 2023 class spoke glowingly about Knowles’ scheme, one centered around versatility and multiplicity. “They liked versatile dudes, dudes that can do a lot of things,” cornerback Jermaine Mathews told The Dispatch in August. Knowles’ defense is about disguise, putting fast and physical athletes in as many different situations as possible to confuse and intimidate opposing quarterbacks to hold onto the football longer than they normally would. No position seems to emphasize that mindset more than linebacker, where a player could be serving as a prominent edge rusher on one play before he plays man coverage against a tight end or slot receiver on the next. While Knowles’ pitch seemed attractive to linebacker recruits, Ohio State did lose on recruiting battles for targets including Tackett Curtis…
Continue Reading: 2024 LB Payton Pierce's commitment is big for Jim Knowles, Ohio State. Here's why
