Middle linebacker Cody Simon waited for his chance to start, and for his patience he’s the leader Ohio State’s defense needed this season.
Arlington, TX – Cody Simon will put on his scarlet jersey and gray pants Friday for another Ohio State football game Friday. His mission: Play another game of extraordinary football.
That Simon is still a Buckeye in the transfer portal era is extraordinary.
When players toil in the background for four seasons waiting for their chance to start, they look for greener grass. But not Simon. Not even when no one promised him the job of starting middle linebacker.
“I knew that my time would come, and I’d be ready to take my take my shot when it comes,” Simon said Wednesday. “I’m happy that I was able to do that, and I’m still trying to play better every game.”
Simon understands college football is more about money than ever before in the NIL age. Loyalty sometimes means nothing. But love for team trumped every reason why Simon could have left Ohio State for an opportunity to start sooner.
“I love everything about Ohio State, I love Coach Day,” he said. “That’s one thing about our team – we all ride for him. I wanted to stay with that. And I built so many long-lasting friendships with these guys. I didn’t really want to change up and go anywhere else.”
Last year Simon played as much as backups play at Ohio State behind Tommy Eichenberger and Steele Chambers. This year he became the starter, leader and heart and soul of the defense.
“He could have been a starter,” defensive coordinator Jim Knowles said. “He was as good as Tommy and Steele and moved around. Never complained, never said a word. He’s really an old school guy when it comes to being a football player.”
Simon’s decision to stay is an important reason why Ohio State’s defense gives up only 12.1 points a game, the fewest in the country. He leads the team with 97 tackles, has seven sacks and has produced more and more as the season progressed.
“He goes out and there plays fast, but he also spends a lot of hours in the film room just diagnosing plays so he can play fast on Saturdays,” defensive back Jordan Hancock said. “He plays one step ahead of everybody.”
Simon has been a spokesman for the defense all season and was one of four players chosen to speak when the Buckeyes arrived in Dallas on Wednesday evening. They face Texas at 7:30 Friday night in the College Football Playoff semifinals and Cotton Bowl. The reward for another victory would be a national championship appointment on January 20 in Atlanta against Notre Dame.
“We’re in the playoffs, it’s a big bowl game, but it’s another game on the schedule for us,” Simon said. “It’s not really a big bowl vacation for us. It’s just another trip.”
Simon is one of the leaders who has kept the Buckeyes focused. The ability to lead was the reason he was chosen to wear the Block O jersey this season.
“It was an ultimate honor, and gracefulness from my teammates,” Simon said. “I try to hold myself to the highest standard, and I feel like they believe in me. It made me think that I have to do even more now, because there’s such high responsibility to have that block O.”
Simon is surrounded by experienced teammates who also stayed when they could have left for the NFL. Hancock, however, has followed a similar path to the field by getting a few starts before becoming a full-time starter this year. He says Simon is the most trustworthy player on the field.
“He does everything right in school, off the field, so that’s why we can play behind him,” Hancock said. “That’s why he wears the block O. That’s why he’s a leader and a captain.”
Simon’s role makes him Knowles’ coach on the field. The calls go through Simon, and they have developed a strong working and personal relationship.
“You come across young men every now and that has not only talent, but he has a demeanor about him of leadership and calm during the storm,” Knowles said. “If something goes wrong, he takes responsibility. He’s really everything you want to see in a leader.”
Knowles was hired to fix Ohio State’s defense after Simon was already a Buckeye. The defense has improved in each of Knowles’ three seasons. Now it is considered the best defense in the country.
Simon says Knowles’ success is more than drawing up schemes. He coaches the defense hard, and they like it.
“He expects the best from you but always loves you up to allow you to compete the best,” Simon said. “It’s kind of complicated, but he wants us to make plays, and the only way he does that is by being hard on us. Sometimes it might get old, but when it’s game day, all that hard coaching comes out as big plays. So I’m just thankful that he is the way he is.”
Everything about this long season has been tough. The Buckeyes’ expectations were to win every game and the national championship. However, they endured tough losses at Oregon and at home to Michigan. Now they are making good on second chances with two playoff wins.
The Buckeyes are playing like the best team in the country because they are making big plays in all phases, and Simon has been in the middle of that with hard hits and sacks.
“Football is meant to be a fun sport,” he said. “We’re meant to go out there and make plays and have fun and really be brothers with each other. The only time you really make plays is when you’re having fun, and you’re not having fun if you’re not making plays.”
Simon’s leadership extends off the field. He won’t name names, but he has been asked by others about transferring or staying. He is as helpful as he can be, but he knows everyone’s situation is different.
“I can’t sit here and say I’m the perfect guy because I stayed and made that decision,” he said. “I hope guys understand that sometimes the grass isn’t always greener. While there’s always great stories, there’s always some people you don’t really hear about who aren’t as successful. I’m not going to tell anyone to stay or go because it’s their own life.”
Simon graduated last December. He’s taking extra classes now, but he didn’t start graduate school. This season was too important to not get as much of his attention as possible.
It’s why he stayed.
“I love Columbus,” he said. “I love the people here. I love the coaches.”