Ohio State Football: 7 Best Defensive Players on the Buckeyes' Roster

The Ohio State defense is usually referred to as the "Silver Bullets" because of how physical and athletic the Buckeyes line up defensively.

In addition to the scandal that cost the team their head coach and starting QB, the defense will have to replace seven starters this season, five of whom were drafted into the NFL.

With only four returning starters, it will be up to the depth players—guys who have shown some flashes of brilliance in limited time due to injury or being a backup at the time—to help continue the tradition of the Silver Bullets.

But there is no doubt there will be a tremendous amount of talent on the field defensively.

Here is a look at Ohio State's seven best defensive players going into the upcoming season.

7. Johnathan Hankins, DT

It's hard to miss the biggest guy on any defensive line, but to call Johnathan Hankins just a space-eater would probably be considered an insult to him.

At 330 lbs., Hankins is the prototypical two-gap DT with run-stuffing ability.

But by no means is Hankins a slow tackle. He does have very underrated quickness for his size, and he looks smaller than he actually is.

He will likely start this season on the line, and his quickness—combined with his strength—can make him a tough guy to push up front. And if he can get into the backfield, it could be a long day for opposing backs.

6. C.J. Barnett, S

It may be crazy to consider a player who only started two games in his career as the sixth-best defensive player on the team.

But in the time he played, C.J. Barnett showed flashes of the type of game-changer he could be in the secondary, much like Kurt Coleman and Donte Whitner used to be.

Barnett's signature game was the one that cost him his 2010 season: Miami. Before he was injured though, Barnett deflected a ball to DE Nathan Williams for an interception and had a few big hits, including a monster smack of WR Leonard Hankerson.

He seems to be in much better condition going into fall camp and could continue to be a force from the SS position this year.

5. Tyler Moeller, S/LB

Coming back from missing most of the season like Barnett, Tyler Moeller has proven to be a difference-maker in different spots on the field.

Moeller is quite an athletic specimen with linebacker size and the speed of a safety. Although he is not an amazing pass defender, Moeller is quite the open-field tackler in the running game.

Whether he is lined up as a linebacker or safety, Moeller has the instincts and pure hitting ability to be a factor on the field.

4. Andrew Sweat, LB

Andrew Sweat is the only returning starter out of the LB corps this season, yet he is one of the least talked about defensive players on the roster—even below Etienne Sabino and blue-chip recruit Curtis Grant, neither of whom have started a game at the college level.

But as much as Sweat is not talked about, that does not at all reflect anything bad about the way he plays.

Sweat may not be an athletic freak, but he does have some James Laurinaitis and Matt Wilhelm in him with his ability to tackle in the open field, plus great cerebral defensive recognition.

He is a three-year starter and a very steady player, and that kind of experience makes him a good leader on the field. With two new starters in the LB corps—likely a combination of Sabino, Grant and Storm Klein—Sweat's experience makes him a rock the other two can lean on if times get tough on the field.

3. Nathan Williams, DE

As far as a pure pass-rusher on the OSU roster is concerned, they don't get any better than Nathan Williams.

Williams has been a contributor in each of his first three seasons and a two-year starter who is just a terror off the edge.

He doesn't have the freakish athleticism players like Julius Peppers and Dwight Freeney have, but he has a non-stop motor that makes him a force on the line.

His sack totals—like the rest of the team's total—diminished in 2010, but mostly because opponents threw out of quicker drops since the OSU defensive line was very good last season.

Williams has a chance to be a Day 2 pick in the NFL Draft if he continues to show the athleticism that makes him a dangerous player.

2. Travis Howard, CB

Ohio State's biggest loss on the field might be at the corner position where they must replace both starters, including four-year contributor Chimdi Chekwa.

But if Travis Howard can continue the momentum he had in the second half of the season and in spring practice, he can make people forget about Chekwa pretty quickly.

Howard was incredible the second half of 2010 with an INT for a TD against Penn State and another interception against Michigan.

From some reports coming out of spring practice, Howard looked like a potential All-American candidate. If he can continue that momentum from his break-out end to last season, Howard can be a really talented shut-down corner for the Buckeyes.

1. John Simon, DT

There may be no bigger game-changer on the entire defense than DT John Simon.

Simon, who burst onto the scene in 2009 looking very strong as a true freshman against USC All-American center Kris O'Dowd, has an incredibly freakish combination of size and speed.

He might end up being converted to DE like Cameron Heyward was before his junior season in 2009, but Simon really has the versatility to line up anywhere and be a disruptive force on the line.

Simon has a great future with All-American and first-round potential in his remaining years with the Buckeyes. He is without a doubt the most dangerous player on the Ohio State defense.

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