Ohio State football has long been a factory for elite defensive ends, producing players who dominate college football and shine in the NFL. From Heisman finalists to Super Bowl champions, the Buckeyes’ edge rushers have set a high standard. In 2025, junior defensive end Caden Curry is emerging as a force, prompting fans to ask: is he the next in this storied lineage of Buckeye greats?
Curry’s Breakout: A Performance for the Ages
Entering the 2025 season, Ohio State’s defensive line faced uncertainty after losing four NFL-bound starters from 2024. Caden Curry, with 45 career tackles and 8.5 tackles for loss over three years, was among the untested players tasked with stepping up. Through four games, he’s proven he’s more than ready.
His defining performance came on September 27 in Seattle, where No. 1 Ohio State crushed Washington’s high-powered offense 24-6. Curry exploded for 11 tackles, five tackles for loss (tying a school record), and three sacks, dismantling a Huskies attack that averaged over 55 points per game. His efforts held dual-threat QB Demond Williams Jr. to -28 rushing yards and limited Washington to just two field goals. “Caden Curry is a monster,” fans raved, and the stats backed it up.
This wasn’t a one-off. Against Ohio University, Curry posted a 92.5 PFF grade—one of the highest ever for a Buckeye DE—adding a sack and seven QB pressures in a 37-9 rout. His relentless motor, developed under his father’s coaching, has made him the anchor of the line. Teammate Sonny Styles called him a “beast” who can do “so many different things.”
At 6-foot-4 and 260 pounds, Curry blends power and speed, reminiscent of Ohio State’s past legends. His high school resume—290 tackles, 83.5 TFLs, and 28 sacks—foreshadowed this potential, but his time learning behind stars like JT Tuimoloau and Jack Sawyer has honed his craft. Now a starter, Curry’s pass-rush win rate is soaring, and NFL scouts are buzzing about first-round potential. He’s not just filling a gap—he’s setting a new standard.
The Buckeye DE Legacy: A Pipeline to NFL Stardom
Ohio State’s defensive ends are more than college stars; they’re NFL elite. With more first-round picks than any program (95 as of 2025), the Buckeyes’ edge rushers have earned Pro Bowls, All-Pro honors, and championships. Below is a rundown of the greatest defensive ends who starred at Ohio State and made it to the pros, ordered by when they played in Columbus.
|
Player |
Years at OSU |
OSU Career Highlights |
NFL Career Highlights |
|---|---|---|---|
|
Jim Parker |
1954-1956 |
Two-time All-American; Outland Trophy winner; versatile lineman who anchored the line. |
Hall of Famer; 11 Pro Bowls with Cleveland Browns; played both offense and defense early in career. |
|
Jim Marshall |
1957 |
Dominant edge presence in Woody Hayes’ early defenses. |
282 consecutive games started (NFL record); 8 Pro Bowls with Vikings; 128 career sacks. |
|
Alonzo Spellman |
1988-1991 |
22 sacks; All-Big Ten. |
39 sacks with Bears/Cowboys; 3x Pro Bowler. |
|
Mike Vrabel |
1993-1996 |
School-record 36 sacks; two-time All-American; Big Ten POY. |
3x Pro Bowler; Super Bowl champ with Patriots; 48 sacks; now Titans HC. |
|
Na’il Diggs |
1997-2000 |
18.5 sacks; DE/LB. |
9-year career with Packers; 13 sacks. |
|
Will Smith |
1998-2003 |
23.5 sacks; key in 2002 national title run. |
59.5 sacks with Saints; Pro Bowler; Super Bowl XLIV champ. |
|
A.J. Hawk |
2002-2005 |
15.5 sacks from DE/LB hybrid role; two-time All-American. |
4x Pro Bowler with Packers; Super Bowl XLV champ; 11-year career. |
|
Vernon Gholston |
2004-2007 |
32 sacks (most since Vrabel); two-time All-American. |
First-round pick (Jets); 6-year career with 6 sacks. |
|
Joey Bosa |
2012-2015 |
26 sacks; two-time All-American; Bronko Nagurski winner. |
3x Pro Bowler; 67 sacks with Chargers Defensive Rookie of the Year. |
|
Sam Hubbard |
2014-2017 |
15.5 sacks; rotational DE. |
7-year starter with Bengals; 27 sacks. |
|
Nick Bosa |
2016-2018 |
17.5 sacks in two seasons; unanimous All-American. |
2x Pro Bowler; Defensive Rookie of the Year; 49ers star with 48 sacks. |
|
Chase Young |
2016-2019 |
30.5 sacks (2nd all-time); Heisman finalist; 16.5-sack record. |
2x Pro Bowler; Defensive Rookie of the Year; 38 sacks with Commanders/Saints. |
|
JT Tuimoloau |
2021-2023 |
23.5 sacks; key in 2022-23 playoff runs. |
2nd-round pick (Colts); early NFL career ongoing. |
Recent additions like Jack Sawyer (projected high 2026 pick) continue the tradition. The “Four Kings”—Young, Joey Bosa, Nick Bosa, and Vrabel—define the archetype: explosive, instinctive, and relentless, combining for over 200 NFL sacks and multiple Defensive Rookie awards.
Why Curry Fits the Mold—and What Comes Next
Curry’s profile echoes these icons: a blue-collar grinder with explosive upside, thriving under Larry Johnson’s coaching. Like Young in 2019 or Bosa in 2015, his junior-year surge (projected 10+ TFLs) screams future star. He’s not just sacking QBs; he’s leading a reloaded line that’s turned a question mark into a strength.
As Ohio State chases another title, Curry’s trajectory points to the 2026 NFL Draft. If he channels Vrabel’s relentless spirit or the Bosas’ polish, he’ll join this elite fraternity. Buckeye fans, the next dominant DE isn’t coming—he’s here.
