The Ohio State Buckeyes defense in 2019 was one of the best in the NCAA. What was the absolute best in the association by a long shot was their two-man duo of Chase Young and Jeff Okudah.
Young, the No. 2 overall pick, set the university’s single-season sack record despite being suspended for two games.
He finished the season with 16.5 sacks and was taken by the Redskins, oftentimes being hailed as the best draft’s best prospect.
Immediately after Young was Jeff Okudah.
The No. 3 overall pick was an absolute lockdown corner. While his numbers aren’t great, if quarterbacks had the opportunity to avoid him, they did. Okudah has no weakness as an outside cornerback.
The Buckeyes were a few blown calls away from making the national championship game with these two leading the way.
The duo, along with other solid cornerbacks, safeties, and lineman, helped pave the way above a 90.0 grade in both pass-rush and coverage, the only team do have such numbers.
This team’s defense was at-large the best in the nation, and Pro Football Focus has them graded as the best pass-rush, coverage duo as well.
The Buckeyes will lose many key starters including their best and second-best corners.
These two will leave irreplaceable holes, and it’s a shame they couldn’t have help up the national championship trophy during their three-year stint with the Buckeyes.
