Caden Curry path to a starting position was blocked by Jack Sawyer and J.T. Tuimoloau. He’s now making the most of his opportunity. (Press Pros Feature Photos by Brian Bayless)
Caden Curry’s game-changing plays and his motor from snap to whistle have helped Ohio State’s defense make strong early impressions under new defensive coordinator Matt Patricia.
Columbus, OH – Had they known to ask, Ohio State center Carson Hinzman could’ve warned them.
He would have told Ohio University center Nick Marinaro and left guard Davion Weatherspoon, both experienced graduate students, that Caden Curry – seemingly out of position – was coming through them for the quarterback. And he was coming fast.
Like a zero-to-60 fast Tesla Cybertruck in 2.6 seconds. Curry’s motor runs just as hot.
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“He gets off the ball before you do,” said Hinzman, who has experienced the Curry motor in practice. “He’s taking your lunch if you’re not careful.”
Late in the second quarter two weeks ago, Curry, a 260-pound senior defensive end, lined up as a tackle in front of Marinaro when the Bobcats were backed up to their 17-yard line on third-and-18. Buckeyes defensive line coach Larry Johnson had deployed his rushmen package of ends and linebackers for the obvious passing situation.
After Marinaro snapped the football, Curry treated him like a blocking sled. Weatherspoon didn’t have anyone rushing at him, so he tried to help Marinaro. But Curry was already doing 60. And in an instant, all three of them were at the feet of quarterback Nick Poulos.
Marinaro was pancaked. Curry fell over Marinaro and tackled Poulos to the ground for the eight-yard sack. Weatherspoon fell helplessly on the pile.
The play – though not nearly as consequential – was reminiscent of Joey Bosa’s walk-off sack in overtime when he shoved a running back into the quarterback. On that play nine years ago, the Buckeyes defeated Penn State. Curry didn’t seem as impressed by the play as others when he was asked about it after practice Wednesday.
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“It’s just about winning the one on ones,” he said. “Like, you can’t expect it just to happen.”
Nothing in Curry’s four seasons at Ohio State has just happened. Certainly not as expected.
Curry, like many others in his recruiting class, had to wait until this season to become starters when so many players returned last year to win a national championship. Curry played, but his path to starting was blocked by Jack Sawyer and J.T. Tuimoloau.
“I’m close to my defensive line. The brothers and the connections I’ve made definitely made me not want to go anywhere else.”
“The same ups and downs every player here has to go through because you’re playing at one of the best football teams in the nation,” Curry said. “You got to go through freshman process, you got to go through not starting when you want to.”
Curry also batted down a pass in the Ohio victory and was credited with a quarterback hurry. He’s tied for third on the team with 14 tackles, leads the team with three tackles for loss and is tied with linebacker Arvell Reese for the team lead in sacks with two.
Head coach Ryan Day is impressed with the way Curry persevered to take advantage of his opportunity.
“Caden, to me, is a great example for some of the younger players of when it doesn’t always go exactly the way you think it might,” Day said. “He’s had his ups, and he’s had his downs, but he’s come out the back end stronger for it.”
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The defensive line starters are new this season. As a group they have five sacks and are the front line of a defense holding opponents to 3.1 yards per carry. Curry, fellow ends Kenyatta Jackson and Beau Atkinson, plus tackles Kayden McDonald, Eddrick Houston and Tywone Malone, are getting it done so far. And Curry is making the most plays.
“It’s great to see him playing the way he is right now,” Day said. “If we’re going to reach our goals this year and get to where we need to be, we need Caden to be the playmaker he is right now for us.”
What can’t be overlooked is that Curry, McDonald, Jackson and Malone stayed. They didn’t look for more playing time in the transfer portal. Curry, as much as anyone, could have found a starting role elsewhere much sooner.
But there was too much keeping Curry at Ohio State.
“Honestly, the coaches here – Coach Day, Coach Johnson … when Matt Patricia came in, he definitely got me to stay,” Curry said. “I’m close to my defensive line. The brothers and the connections I’ve made definitely made me not want to go anywhere else.”
Patricia’s defense puts players like Curry in multiple positions, giving them matchups and opportunities to make plays. Curry will get chances to make plays Saturday against Washington quarterback Demond Williams.
Patricia compared Williams to NFL quarterback Kyler Murray. Williams is fast and slippery as a runner and accurate as a passer. Curry and his teammates will work to keep Williams contained and hope to eliminate explosive plays.
“We all are such great athletes, and we’re all such great football players that it doesn’t really matter where we line up, we’re going to go out there and play the game,” Curry said.
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Day is not surprised by Curry’s emergence. He saw what was to come when he finally got to watch Curry play defense and offense in high school in Greenwood, Indiana.
“When he was in high school, I remember hearing so many stories about what a great player he was,” Day said. “And now you’re seeing all that come to fruition.”
It all starts with the motor, his push to finish every play at full speed. Curry learned it from his dad who coached him when he was young and wouldn’t let him take a play off.
“That’s just how I played the game all my life,” Curry said. “It’s kind of that switch I have, and it’s kind of my identity.”
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