Ohio State LB Teradja Mitchell responds to Ryan Day's challenge for a top-10 defense: 'We should be aiming for No. 1'

Ohio State LB Teradja Mitchell has his sights set on making Ohio State’s defense the best in the country.

At last month’s Big Ten Media Days, Ryan Day said he expects a top-10 defense in 2022. At the Woody Hayes Athletic Center, Days’ “top-10” quote is a popular topic as members of the OSU defense meet with the media. New defensive coordinator Jim Knowles’ expects a top-5 unit.

RELATED: Jim Knowles ups the expectations for Ohio State defense after Ryan Day said top-10

“My standard and the way we work, I feel like we should be aiming for No. 1, that’s the goal,” Mitchell said Tuesday. “We’re not looking at the results, but the way we work, how hard we work – if you’re going to work hard, you might as well go for the top spot.”

Teradja Mitchell’s response to Ryan Day’s challenge for a top-10 defense:

“My standard and the way we work, I feel like we should be aiming for No. 1.” pic.twitter.com/Boz76LNJsG

— Griffin Strom (@GriffinStrom3) August 9, 2022

Mitchell is in his fifth season at OSU. In 2021, his fourth season, he earned a starting spot and was a co-team captain. Mitchell logged career-highs of 45 total tackles, including 4.5 tackles-for-loss, a last year.