COLUMBUS, Ohio — When Ohio State sent four defensive linemen to the NFL Draft following their 2024 national championship season, the consensus was clear: the 2025 defensive front would inevitably take a step back. But on the latest Buckeye Talk podcast, Stephen Means offered a take so scorching it left his co-hosts momentarily speechless.
“I have a hot take. I think the 2025 defensive line was better than the 2024 defensive line,” Means declared.
Better than a unit that produced a first-round pick in Tyleik Williams, a second-rounder in JT Tuimoloau, and two more selections in Jack Sawyer and Mike Hall? The claim sounds preposterous at first blush, but Means laid out a compelling case that deserves serious consideration.
The 2025 defensive line, anchored by unanimous All-American Kaden McDonald and breakout edge rusher Kaden Curry (who tallied 11 sacks), didn’t just fill the massive shoes of their predecessors – they might have outgrown them entirely.
Means pointed to superior depth as a key factor in his argument. “The depth at defensive tackle was better in 2025 you had four guys. Last year you had two and a half and the half guy was playing defensive end until like three a month and a half into the season,” he explained.
This depth proved critical throughout the season. While the 2024 unit relied heavily on star power at the top, the 2025 group brought waves of talented players who kept fresh legs on the field. Taiwan Malone emerged as a force alongside McDonald, while Edric Houston overcame early-season injuries to become a disruptive presence by season’s end.
Andrew Gillis, though initially skeptical of Means’ hot take, eventually acknowledged the remarkable achievement of the 2025 group.
“So, I’m at a nine as well because I think they replaced the defensive line that lost every single starter to the NFL with a defensive line that might have had every single starter that could get dropped into the NFL,” Gillis said.
The potential NFL futures of the 2025 unit support Means’ argument. McDonald is widely projected as a potential first-round selection should he declare for the draft, while Curry’s 11 sacks put him in elite company with Chase Young (16 in 2019) and Tuimoloau (12.5 in 2024) as the only Buckeyes to reach double-digit sacks in the Ryan Day era.
What makes this achievement even more remarkable is the background of these players. While the 2024 defensive line featured several five-star recruits who had been groomed for stardom, the 2025 unit included several developmental success stories. Curry, in particular, wasn’t widely expected to become the dominant force he emerged as this season.
“The only person in on the Ohio State beat who would have ever predicted that Kaden Courier was going to do what he was going to do this year is Jeremy Birmingham,” Means noted, giving credit to a colleague who had long championed Curry’s potential.
The numbers tell a compelling story as well. McDonald’s production outpaced his predecessor at nose tackle, Tyleik Williams. In 448 snaps across 14 games, McDonald recorded 65 tackles – just four fewer than the team’s top draft prospect – along with nine tackles for loss, three sacks, two forced fumbles, and a fumble recovery. By comparison, Williams had more pressures but significantly fewer tackles (46) and comparable disruption stats.
The defensive line’s stellar play wasn’t just about individual achievements. The unit maintained its dominance against every opponent on the schedule, including in the team’s two losses. Against Miami in the Cotton Bowl, Edric Houston “is lighting up the tape,” as Means observed. Even in defeat, the defensive front showed its quality.
Perhaps most impressive was how the unit performed without the element of surprise. Opposing offenses knew exactly who they needed to account for, yet still struggled to contain players like Curry, who Stefan Krajisnik observed “tried to kill the Heisman Trophy winner in the first snap of the game” during the conference championship.
When the hosts rated the defensive line’s performance on a scale of 1-10, both Krajisnik and Gillis gave the unit a 9, reflecting just how dramatically they exceeded preseason expectations.
The debate about which defensive line was better ultimately speaks to the incredible standard of excellence that Larry Johnson has established in Columbus. That a unit replacing four NFL draft picks could potentially exceed their predecessors’ performance is a testament to Johnson’s development skills and the Buckeyes’ recruiting prowess.
Whether you side with Means or maintain that the 2024 group still holds the edge, one thing is undeniable: the Buckeyes’ defensive line in 2025 was something special, and the foundation has been laid for continued dominance in 2026 and beyond.
Here’s the podcast:
