Kenyatta Jackson Jr. is next in Ohio State’s defensive end pipeline

Ohio State Buckeyes defensive end Kenyatta Jackson Jr. (97) reacts during the Cotton Bowl at AT&T Stadium in Arlington, Texas for the College Football Playoff quarterfinal game against the Miami Hurricanes on Dec. 31, 2025. Ohio State lost 24-14. | Adam Cairns/Columbus Dispatch / USA TODAY NETWORK via Imagn Images

Ohio State’s defensive end tradition under Larry Johnson has never been about instant stardom. It has been about development, patience, and timing.

From Joey Bosa to Nick Bosa to Chase Young, and more recently J.T. Tuimoloau and Jack Sawyer, the pattern has remained consistent. Elite traits arrive early, but true production comes when experience meets opportunity.

Kenyatta Jackson Jr. is now standing at that exact intersection.

After spending multiple seasons developing within the system, Jackson enters 2026 not as a projection, but as a proven, ascending edge defender coming off his most complete season. And if history is any guide, this is the moment when Ohio State’s next great defensive end typically emerges.

The 2025 leap: Production catches up to potential

Jackson’s 2025 season is the clearest indicator of what he is becoming, and why expectations are so high heading into 2026.

In 14 games, he recorded 28 total tackles, 11 tackles for loss, and 6.5 sacks, ranking among Ohio State’s most productive pass rushers. He finished second on the team in sacks behind Caden Curry and was one of the Buckeyes’ most consistent edge disruptors all season.

The context of that production matters just as much as the numbers. Jackson’s impact was not inflated by one or two breakout games. His pressure showed up consistently, particularly in Big Ten play, where all 6.5 of his sacks came against conference opponents. That is a strong indicator of translatable production, not just flashes.

This was not just a step forward, it was a turning point. The Florida native evolved from a rotational upside edge rusher into a consistent, reliable producer.

The traits: Why he fits the Larry Johnson mold

Physically, Jackson looks exactly like the next name in the pipeline. At 6-foot-6 and 265 pounds, he has the length and frame that have defined Ohio State’s best edge rushers. But what makes him particularly intriguing is how those tools translate on the field.

Jackson wins in layers. He has the length to disrupt passing lanes and keep tackles off his frame. He has enough bend to threaten the edge. And he has developed the play strength to convert speed into power, something that often takes years in Larry Johnson’s system.

That last piece is critical. The difference between a talented edge rusher and a complete one is the ability to win multiple ways. Early in his career, Jackson relied more on athleticism and flashes. In 2025, his game began to round out. He became more controlled, more intentional, and more consistent in how he attacked offensive tackles.

That progression mirrors what Ohio State has seen from its best defensive ends.

The role: From contributor to focal point

What changes in 2026 is not just Jackson’s development. It is his responsibility.

For the first time in his career, he enters the season as a clear focal point of the defensive line. The rotation is still deep, with players like Qua Russaw, Zion Grady, and Beau Atkinson all expected to contribute, but Jackson is now the one offenses will have to account for first.

That shift matters. Pass rush production is heavily tied to role. Starters get the most snaps. They get the most third-down opportunities. They get the highest-leverage situations where sacks are created.

Jackson will have all of that. And unlike previous seasons, he now has the experience to capitalize on it.

NCAA Football: CFP National Championship-Ohio State at Notre Dame

The ceiling: What comes next?

The jump from 6.5 sacks to double digits is not theoretical. It is the exact type of leap Ohio State defensive ends have made before.

Chase Young went from solid contributor to dominant force. The Bosa brothers followed similar trajectories. Even recent players like J.T. Tuimoloau and Jack Sawyer saw their production spike as their roles expanded in Junior and Senior seasons.

Jackson is on that same path. If his 2025 season established the floor, 2026 becomes about the ceiling. There are still areas to refine. Finishing consistency, counter moves, turning pressures into sacks at an even higher rate. But those are the final steps in the process, not the early ones.

And that is what makes this moment different. Jackson is no longer learning how to play the position, he is learning how to dominate it.

The bottom line

Ohio State does not hand out defensive end stardom. It develops it.

Kenyatta Jackson Jr. has followed the blueprint almost perfectly. Early patience, gradual growth, breakout flashes, and then real production.

Now comes the final step. If his trajectory continues, Jackson will not just lead Ohio State’s pass rush in 2026. He will become the next name added to one of the most consistent pipelines in college football. And at this point, that feels less like a projection and more like the next chapter.