Top 3 Ohio State defensive players to watch out for in 2025 Cotton Bowl ft. JT Tuimoloau

The Ohio State Buckeyes will look to punch their ticket for the National Championship Game when they face the Texas Longhorns in the Cotton Bowl on Friday.

While the No. 6 Buckeyes hung over 40 points in College Football Playoff wins over Tennessee and Oregon, their defense set the tone in both cases. Ohio State has allowed 18 first-half points in their first two CFP games. They also shut out the Volunteers and Ducks in the first quarter, allowing their first points while leading by multiple scores.

Top 3 Ohio State defensive players in the Cotton Bowl

Safety Caleb Downs is a sure tackler in the open field. - Source: Imagn

Ohio State allowed more than 17 points only twice this season, both times against Oregon. Here are some of the players to keep an eye on against No. 3 Texas.

#3. Jack Sawyer, Defensive End

Ohio State has raced out to take the lead against Tennessee and Oregon, allowing their talented defensive ends to take over. Texas could look to run the football and try to keep the Ohio State offense off the field, but their running game isn’t stellar. That’s where Jack Sawyer comes in.

The senior defensive end has eight sacks this season, including 3.5 in the playoffs, two of them against Oregon. Sawyer has also contributed with 53 tackles, as he can bring down running backs consistently.

With JT Tuimoloau (more on him later) drawing most of the attention in the trenches, Sawyer could be in for a big game against Texas.

#2. Caleb Downs, Safety

The Alabama transfer has paid off in a big way in Columbus. Caleb Downs was a unanimous All-American and a Thorpe Award finalist. He will be tasked with patrolling the middle of the field in the secondary.

Texas has speedy receivers, and Quinn Ewers can hit some big plays (as in fourth and 13 in the Peach Bowl). But Downs is rangy and can tackle players in the open field. He’ll be counted on to prevent the Longhorns from breaking big plays.

#1. JT Tuimoloau, Defensive End

The other defensive end for Ohio State could be even more dangerous than Jack Sawyer. JT Tuimoloau led the Buckeyes with 10 sacks and had two in each playoff game. He also had his second forced fumble of the season at the Rose Bowl.

He is also adept at bringing down ball carriers behind the line of scrimmage, leading the team with 17 tackles for a loss. Few college defensive players create penetration like the senior from Edgewood, Washington.

If the Buckeyes grab the lead early once again, their defensive line is good enough to shut the door against Texas, and Tuimoloau might be the best of the bunch.