Ohio State's Ryan Day has confirmed a suspicion that a former five-star player has made a position switch

It is hard to get on the field as a freshman at a place like Ohio State. Normally, it takes a really special freshman to come along and have significant playing time. Wide receiver Jeremiah Smith is a perfect example.

Smith isn’t the only freshman who folks should be excited about. Another former five-star freshman has been playing a bit lately and has made a position change that no one is talking about.

Eddrick Houston was one of Ohio State’s biggest gets in the class of 2024. Now, the defensive lineman has moved from defensive end to defensive tackle, per Ryan Day. 

"I think he's got a very bright future ahead of him, I think he's a very good football player,” Coach Day said of Houston on Tuesday. “He's gotta keep learning. He has the size, the strength, (and) the toughness to play inside."

Houston is listed at 6-foot-3 and 270 pounds. The talented freshman out of Buford, Georgia, has been lining up at the 3-tech, where he could remain. Houston is at least going to remain a defensive tackle for the short term, and it very well could end up long-term.

So far this season, Houston has appeared in six games and made one tackle. The big guy has batted two passes at the line of scrimmage. Having burned his redshirt already, he is clearly a player that defensive line coach Larry Johnson trusts to have out on the field right now.

Houston combines with Kayden McDonald to be Ohio State’s interior depth at this moment. The Buckeyes play Tyleik Williams and Ty Hamilton a ton, but both McDonald and Houston have made impacts. Houston played six snaps against Penn State, which was the fourth most for a defensive tackle in that game.

After this season, there is a real chance that Houston will slide into a starting spot for the Buckeyes. Ohio State’s entire defensive line is surely heading to the NFL and it will open a ton of opportunities.

Houston has the size and the play style to be a good pass-rusher from the interior. It will be interesting to see if the Buckeyes keep him there for the long run.