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When you win a national championship, the pressure isn't over-it just shifts. You stop chasing greatness and start defending it. That's where Ohio State and Ryan Day find themselves this spring, retooling a defense that was the backbone of their title run.
Most of the spotlight has fallen on the quarterback competition between Lincoln Kienholz and Julian Sayin, but behind the scenes, a more urgent need was quietly addressed-replacing edge rushers Jack Sawyer and J.T. Tuimoloau. Their departure meant more than just numbers on a stat sheet; it meant losing leadership, grit, and big-play presence.
So while Day didn't flash the panic signal publicly, the move to bring in former North Carolina edge rusher Beau Atkinson says everything.
Atkinson isn't just a depth piece-he's the guy. With 11 sacks and 17 tackles for loss across two seasons at UNC, he arrives in Columbus with experience, production, and a nasty streak off the edge. "We think it's a great addition to the room," Day said Tuesday. "Somebody who has experience, has some real size." He's listed at 6'5", 260 pounds and plays like someone who's already lived through Power Five wars.
Beau Atkinson brings more than stats-he brings stability to a rebuilding defensive front
His film backs it up. As On3's J.D. PicKell put it, "He's out here sacking quarterbacks with one arm. Freak show off the edge." And with CJ Hicks returning at linebacker, Ohio State's front seven might be nastier than expected, even without last year's headliners.
The timing couldn't be better. The offense is in transition, with the quarterback job still wide open. Sayin showed flashes during the spring game, but Kienholz has been steady. "I felt like Lincoln going into the spring game was ahead of Julian, and then Julian performed better," Day itted. It's a race that might go all the way into August.
That uncertainty makes a reliable rush even more important. And with receivers Jeremiah Smith and Carnell Tate ready to explode, the Buckeyes just need to make sure opposing QBs stay uncomfortable. Atkinson helps ensure that. For a team trying to repeat, he's exactly the kind of player who keeps the foundation solid.
And sometimes, that's the key to staying on top.