Buckeye Defense Chats with Media Following Thursday's Practice
8/13/2026 3:35:00 PM | Football
On having Arthur Smith join the coaching staff:
“We’re just so blessed and lucky to be here at Ohio State with Coach Day who brought us both here from the NFL and let us continue that joy of coaching. Watching (Coach Smith) go through a little bit of what I went through last year has been really fun. I talked to him a lot before and during the transition process and he’s just such a great coach I have so much respect for him… I’ve been able to give him some insight here and there which has been great.
On the culture and dynamic of this year’s new defense:
“I think the great thing that’s been interesting to watch throughout the course of the spring and the summer is having those different personalities coming from those different areas. Whether it’s two from the SEC, another from the ACC, another from the Big 10 and then just kind of watching those cultures come in the building and then get on the Buckeye culture has been pretty cool. Then watching our young guys, that have been here, really emerge to lead and kind of show them the way has been really neat.”
On replacing Kayden McDonald and the impact of the defensive line:
“I think it’ll be a committee of guys early on, especially as we work our way through the season and guys gain more experience. Early in the year you really try to build those reps up as you get ready for the long haul and a committee would be great, it’s really hard to replace really good players in the middle of the defense, and I do believe it’s important to be strong in the middle of the defense coming from my background in New England having guys like Keith Traylor Vince Wilfork, Ted Washington any of those guys - those are some big boys rolling through there. If you coach linebackers, the bigger those guys are upfront the more comfortable you feel.
On how his first training camp at Ohio State:
“I’m just honestly grateful to be a part of something bigger than myself. So, I’m just happy to be here and happy to have the opportunity to do the work every single day.”
On how this program makes it feel bigger than himself:
“Because really, there’s no excuses every day. There’s no, I wouldn’t even say no pity, I would just say like you got to come to work every day and you got to bring your heart every day.... A lot of people depending on everybody, a lot of people in this program. A lot of us depend on each other, so it’s hard to really let your brother down and etc. ”
On how if he feels that he is a vital piece of this defense:
“I wouldn’t necessarily say that I’m just trying to do whatever for the team. Like whatever my guy's need from me, day in and day out. And I know, I tell my young guys, when you look at me when I leave here, I need you to understand what it’s supposed to look like...Like Coach says leaving the jersey in better shape than when you came in.”
On his unique skills:
“I say definitely my speed off the edge. My relentless effort to get to the quarterback.”
On what he thinks he can do here:
“I think I’m able to move around more, like the spots on 3rd down and I think when we get to week two, everybody will see.”
On the impact him and the transfers are determined to make:
“The standard here is pretty high. Jose got us just running to the ball; that standard is high. Competing every day, come out here and try to do our job to the best of our ability and just soaking all the stuff Coach J gives up and even Keanu, he’s been here for a minute and he gives us tools and different stuff to use.”
On him and James Walker being close:
“We went to the same high school; we trained at the same facility. We were kind of with each other every day and we know what we’re looking for like in coaches and we both want to get to the next level.”
Walker on the identity of the interior defensive line:
“We’ve got a bunch of guys that are hungry and are willing to make plays and do whatever to cause havoc in the inside.”
Walker on working with Coach Johnson:
“I’m trying to be like a sponge, just soak up everything. I’m just trying to take it one day at a time and just listen to everything he’s saying. He’s a legend — he’s been doing this for a long, long time...Just the way he breaks things down of our technique, it just made me understand a lot faster. So I just knew if I came up here and really took time to spend with him, I knew I was going to be a really good football player.”
Walker on how he pushes through on the hard days:
“Everyday we’re just getting better and continuing on working and competing. There are going to be days when things are hard — you don’t feel like practicing, your body hurts. You have to fight through. You have to push. You have to sacrifice and I’m willing to sacrifice and do what I have to do to help my team.”
