Cody Simon, LB
Super senior linebacker Cody Simon is the heart and soul of the No. 1 scoring defense in college football this season for Ohio State. Simon, a Butkus Award semifinalist, does a little bit of everything for Ohio State's defense, including rushing the passer, defending the run around the line of scrimmage, and dropping back into pass coverage between the numbers.
Simon spearheads Ohio State's No. 5 ranked rushing defense, leading the team with nearly 100 combined tackles on the season. He is the tone-setter for Ohio State's run defense, which just held Oregon to a season-low 23 yards on 28 carries in the quarters of the CFP at the Rose Bowl.
It will be difficult for the Longhorns to establish a steady ground game against an Ohio State run defense that is one of the best in college football.
As a pass rusher, Ohio State likes to send Simon on different delayed and outside blitz plays from the boundary linebacker position. Against Oregon and quarterback Dillon Gabriel, Simon had two sacks and three quarterback pressures, causing constant disruption in the Ducks' offensive efforts to get the chains moving against this stout Ohio State defensive front seven.
Simon will be tasked with disrupting the pocket for Texas quarterback Quinn Ewers in the CFP semis.