For the majority of the 2024 season, Kayden McDonald would be the first defensive tackle off the bench Larry Johnson and Ohio State would turn to.
The Georgia product put together a productive sophomore season, recording 19 tackles, 1.5 tackles for loss, a quarterback hit and a pass breakup despite seeing limited snaps across 16 games.
“I would say I’ve learned the scheme better, learned how to do my job better and just worked hard every day,” McDonald told Eleven Warriors in January of his progress this season. “I learned to just be patient with it.