Is Ohio State expanding the roles of young defenders Jay Timmons, Khary Wilder, Riley Pettijohn, and T.J. Alford as Big Ten play begins?

Ohio State has spent the first three games of the season learning what its young defensive players can handle.

Jay Timmons has earned a starting role. Khary Wilder has carved out a place in third-down situations. Riley Pettijohn and TJ Alford have shown the athleticism and playmaking abilities that make them two of the most intriguing players in Ohio State’s four-man linebacker rotation.

Their talent has not been difficult to see. But how quickly will that talent translate into expanded roles? Matt Patricia provided some insight into that process Wednesday night.

Jay Timmons and Khary Wilder Are Establishing Defined Roles

The Ohio State defensive staff is giving young players specific responsibilities, allowing them to establish themselves in those areas before adding more to their workload.

“Part of that with some of the young guys that we have is just making their role very specific, even though it may look complex, but just really kind of dialing in, ‘Hey, just do this one job really well,’ and then we’ll build from there,” Patricia said.

Patricia described the process as putting more bricks on top of what a player has already established. Timmons has followed that progression since stepping foot on campus in Columbus.

As a recruit, Timmons told a teammate that he would start as a true freshman. Patricia said Timmons entered Ohio State with the mindset that he was going to earn a job, and his work ethic and competitiveness have allowed him to do that.

When the confidence clicks, the skill set shines, according to Matt Patricia, who spoke on Jay Timmons’ early role.

“Just do this one job really well & then we’ll build from there… now we’re throwing some bricks on top of that.”

Patricia also praised his mindset & work ethic. pic.twitter.com/ONN6oInFmq

— The Silver Bulletin (@tSilverBulletin) September 24, 2026

The next step has been expanding what Timmons is asked to do. “That’s something that he was able to do early, and now we’re kind of throwing some bricks on top of that,” Patricia said. Timmons is already starting, but Ohio State is continuing to add to his responsibilities as his confidence grows and he proves he can handle more.

Khary Wilder is working through a similar process from a different starting point. Ryan Day identified Wilder as a third-down starter, giving Ohio State a way to use his pass-rushing ability while continuing to develop the rest of his game. For Wilder, third down can serve as an entry point into a larger defensive role.

If he continues to handle those responsibilities, more opportunities can follow.

Riley Pettijohn’s Athleticism Creates More Defensive Possibilities

Pettijohn’s path is tied to a different set of traits. Matt Patricia said the freshman has explosive power, speed and quickness, along with an elusiveness that can make him difficult for blockers to handle.

“He just kind of slips and you’re like, ‘How did he do that?’” Patricia said.

Pettijohn’s athleticism gives Ohio State options. He can play in different spots, pursue the football from sideline to sideline, and be used in situations that play to his mobility. His development also comes within a defense that is still working through its communication structure.

Highlighting Riley Pettijohn’s blend of traits, Matt Patricia noted how his unique style creates matchup problems:

🗣️ “Explosive power, speed, quickness… a little bit of elusiveness, maybe gumby-ish, where you’re trying to block him and he just kind of slips.” pic.twitter.com/Z7wEJ3sWtb

— Blake T. Biscardi (@BlakeBiscardi) September 24, 2026

Communication Is Critical for Ohio State’s Young Linebackers

Patricia spent considerable time Wednesday discussing how the Buckeyes are rotating linebackers, changing pairings and working through different communication responsibilities. The linebackers operate in the middle of that structure, receiving information from the safeties and communicating it across the defense.

“Most of the communication starts kind of through the middle,” Patricia said.

Some of Ohio State’s younger players are still learning how to find their voice in those situations. Patricia said they are developing the confidence to make the call, establish authority, and make sure everyone around them hears and understands it. That is another part of Pettijohn’s development as his role continues to grow.

His ability to make plays has given James Laurinaitis reason to keep finding opportunities for him. The next step is becoming more comfortable playing inside the defense, including the pre-snap communication, which matters because Matt Patricia’s defense changes so much post-snap.

TJ Alford is developing within that same linebacker structure. Ohio State has been rotating Alford, Pettijohn, and the rest of the linebacker group while evaluating different combinations. Patricia said the coaching staff has used the opening weeks of the season to test different players in communication roles, and the timing of those responsibilities has kept improving.

The process is particularly important for a defense with several new faces. Ohio State has had to establish new combinations and determine how its younger players respond when the game speeds up. Patricia said the early schedule has given the staff opportunities to see how players handle pressure, communicate with one another, and execute in difficult situations.

Those live repetitions are difficult to replicate in practice.

“You’re adjusting some of whether it’s a pre-snap look or a disguise, timing of the pressure, the blitz pattern,” Patricia said. “Getting those live reps to do it is always the most important thing.”

Big Ten Play Will Showcase Next Steps for Ohio State’s Young Defenders

The first three games gave the Buckeyes room to evaluate those possibilities. Ohio State could rotate personnel, experiment with packages, and see whether what players demonstrated during practice translated to the field. However, Illinois marks the start of Big Ten play, as the data from the first three games will translate into snap counts.

Timmons has already established himself as a starter. Wilder has a defined role on third down. Pettijohn and Alford have continued to earn opportunities with their athleticism and playmaking ability, giving Ohio State multiple options.

The next phase is determining how much more each player can handle. Matt Patricia does not need to turn every young defender into an every-down player immediately. The staff can keep building responsibilities around each player’s strengths while giving them more to manage as they gain experience.

Big Ten play will start showing the set of answers gathered from the first three games. The focus is on how quickly the young Ohio State defenders can take on everything that comes with contributing at a larger level, because the talent and impact are evident.