3 Unanswered Questions for the Defense After One Week of Camp

What questions are still unanswered for the Ohio State defense after the first week of fall camp?Tony Gerdeman and Tom Orr take stock of what they’ve seen and heard so far and break down three major areas where the Buckeyes are still sorting through personnel, roles, and rotations.The first question comes at defensive end, where Kenyatta Jackson and Beau Atkinson appear to be leading the way, but the pecking order behind them is still unsettled. Zion Grady, Epi Sitanilei, and Qua Russaw are all in the mix, and the answer may depend on down, distance, and situation.At linebacker, the biggest mystery may be Riley Pettijohn. Ohio State has already worked him at Sam, Will, and Mike as the staff tries to determine where he fits best. Tony and Tom discuss how Pettijohn compares with T.J. Alford, Christian Alliegro, and Payton Pierce—and whether Ohio State could end up using more three-linebacker looks this season.Finally, they look at the nickel and safety spots, where true freshman Jay Timmons continues to make a strong impression. If Timmons really is Ohio State’s starting nickel, what does that mean for the rest of the secondary—and how often will the Buckeyes even need to be in nickel against the changing offensive trends in college football?Which defensive question do you most want answered next? Let us know in the comments.0:29 — Welcome to Buckeye Weekly1:12 — Three unanswered questions for the Buckeye defense1:34 — Who is the next defensive end after Kenyatta Jackson and Beau Atkinson?2:03 — Zion Grady, Epi Sitanilei, and Qua Russaw in the rotation3:08 — How soon will Ohio State settle the defensive end pecking order?5:00 — Where does Riley Pettijohn fit in the defense?6:13 — Sorting through Ohio State’s loaded linebacker room8:13 — Can Pettijohn and T.J. Alford both find major roles?9:14 — How much will Ohio State actually use the nickel?10:06 — Why Jay Timmons could play a major role early11:30 — What Timmons’ rise means for the safety room13:14 — Final thoughts on the unanswered defensive questionsSubscribe to the Buckeye Weekly Podcast for daily Ohio State football news, camp updates, analysis, and discussion.Become a member and join the conversation at BuckeyeInsiders.com.