Ohio State’s top breakout candidate makes honest admission that shows how far he’s come to get to this point in Columbus

The Ohio State Buckeyes are going to have a solid number of players step up from being relatively unknown to becoming key contributors this season.

Along the defensive line in particular, there will be plenty of new faces as the Buckeyes look to replace last year’s departing unit.

When it comes to rushing off the edge, one fourth-year defensive end is poised for a breakout season. Kenyatta Jackson appears ready not only to elevate his own game but also to take on a leadership role.

“I’m going to be honest: I did not want to be the leader of this room at first,” Jackson admitted recently. “In the winter, you know, it was tough. I don’t tell anybody this, but there would be times, there would be days where (director of sports performance Mickey Marotti) and the other coaches would be hard on the D-line. And it would be tough. And I would go home and shed tears, like, real talk.

“It hit me where I had to be the guy. I had to be one of those leaders in the room. So it was kind of scary. But I stuck with it. The (coaches) helped me along with it. And we’re here now.”