Larry Johnson previews Ohio State's plans, potential players for hybrid 'Jack' position
Larry Johnson is entering his ninth season working with the defensive line at Ohio State. However, he’s entering his first year working with new DC Jim Knowles.
With Knowles bringing his 4-2-5 defense to Columbus, the Buckeyes are bound to see some new wrinkles, including on the defensive front. Johnson admitted his defensive line unit has “a lot of difference” to what they’re doing inf all camp.
He did, however, decline to comment on those differences.
Larry Johnson on how Jim Knowles’ system could change things for the OSU DL:
“There’s some different things we’re doing, yes. There’s a lot of difference in what we’re doing.”
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One of those differences is at least the introduction of the “Jack” position. According to Nathan Baird with Cleveland.com, the “Jack” is a hybrid position between a defensive end and linebacker. That player is used to rotate at different spots across the defensive line as opposed to only coming off the edge in Knowles scheme.
According to Johnson, the Buckeyes are training Jack Sawyer, Javontae Jean-Baptiste and Palaie Gaoteote at the position. Of that group, Sawyer was a true DE/DL prospect coming out of high school while Jean-Baptiste and Gaoteote were rated as linebackers.
It will be interesting to see how the position comes together to open the season.
Larry Johnson says Jack Sawyer, Javontae Jean-Baptiste and Palaie Gaoteote are the three Buckeyes training at the Jack position.
Johnson says he isn’t involved in training the Jacks. pic.twitter.com/PtT3CUeBjx
— Griffin Strom (@GriffinStrom3) August 16, 2022
