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Ohio State then-sophomore Chase Young defensive end (2) pumps up the crowd in the second half of the B1G Championship Game vs.. Northwestern on Dec. 1. Ohio State won 45-24. Credit: Casey Cascaldo | Multimedia Editor
Junior defensive end Chase Young is entering the Ohio State's defense.
Ohio State with 9.5 sacks and 14.5 tackles for loss, but nowadays the player is expected to be in the lead.
"I see more seriousness now," head coach Ryan Day said of Young's changed mentality. "I think he knows how to be a leader."
Since losing Nick Bosa and Dre'Mont Jones on the Buckeye defensive line to the 2019 NFL Draft, Young has earned the lion's share of national attention among the Ohio State defense ahead of his third year.
Young was named All-Big Ten second team for his efforts, but he has been named to the Sporting News preseason All-America first team and the Bednarik Award preseason watch list – an honor given to the country's best defensive player.
But it is not only Ohio State coaches and national media that think. He's taking it on himself.
"I'm just trying to lead the guys and be more vocal," Young said. "Lead by example because people follow by how you play."
Despite his individual accolades, Young's leadership is already being displayed in his willingness to talk about the talent of his teammates, and he will become a nationally recognized.
"This year we have a lot of sleepers that a lot of people have not heard about across the country," Young said. "Tyreke Smith, he's going to be a wicked guy coming off the edge. People do not know about him. Tommy Togiai is another guy who is going to be big for us. Inside is where I really think we are really deep right now, especially at the nose tackle. "
The team has been selected by the teammates as the vocal leader of the team and the "sleepers" up front. He was voted one of seven team captains Monday.
"Pregame, all that stuff, Chase has tried to take the lead on that. He's our vocal guy on that, "senior safety Jordan Fuller said.
Defensive line coach Larry Johnson has coached four of the Big Ten Defensive Player of the Year winners and will look to Young to become the next.
Young said Johnson's plans to give him more plays than in 2018. After playing 82 snaps in the Rose Bowl against Washington, Young said he feels optimistic in how effective he can be with a larger role.
Though many think Young is a polished player, he believes he has a lot of room for improvement. When asked what he could do, Young had more than a few aspects of his game in mind.
"Oh, everything," said Young. "Playing the run, playing the pass, my hands, my hips, just the regular fundamentals of being a great D-end."
The defense has a lot to prove the 2019 season after finishing No. 72 in the NCAA in total defense this past year. Given the slew of coaching changes on the defensive side of the ball, it seems the reset button has been pressed.
"We definitely do not dwell on last season," Young said.
With more stability and fewer headlines, Young said a positive attitude.
"I saw it [in fall camp] with the DB's, the linebackers, the D-line. We were all fired up, "Young said. "I feel like the DB's, their confidence is through the roof right now. We had a coaching change. So, we are in the past, we are just facing forward and trying to get to where we want to be. "
Ohio State has had a Bednarik award winner, but this may be the year that Young introduced to Columbus.
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