COLUMBUS, Ohio (WCMH) — An expanded college football playoff means potentially more games for Ohio State to play. And more games means a need for more depth.

Good thing the Buckeyes return a lot of experience.

“It’s a chance to play 17 games. We’ve never done that before,” defensive line coach Larry Johnson said Tuesday. “We have to go into this season, we have to rotate and we have to do it early in the season to get a chance to get to the back end of the season in order to do what we want to do.”

Among the players who are back for Ohio State are senior defensive ends Jack Sawyer and JT Tuimoloau. Both were expected to declare for the NFL draft. Instead, they look to help the Buckeyes reach their goals of beating Michigan and winning a national championship.

“Those are all great goals for those guys to chase. I think that’s one of the reasons why they came back. You’re a third year player, you go into the NFL, you might think you’re ready. But when you got four years under your belt, you got your toolbox ready to go, you got a chance to elevate your game, you walk into that next level,” Johnson said. “You can see the difference in those guys and that’s the positive of what’s happening right now.”

Their return also allows rising juniors Kenyatta Jackson Jr. and Caden Curry to step up this spring. Curry played in ten games last season and recorded eight tackles, three for a loss, and one sack. Jackson played in 11 games and registered three solo tackles and a sack.

“They all want to be part of something special. I think that’s what separates us from who we are,” Johnson said. “They just want to play ball and be the best player possible. And accepted their roles. And their role this year is different. It could be a very long season. We’re going to need those guys. I think they embraced that when they came back. That’s the good thing about them.”

Johnson said he wants to see the younger guys come in and play 25-30 reps a game and expects that to happen early in the season. And it’s why he’s had them practice against the first-team offense.

“That’s the plan. Get those guys ready for the long haul. So they got to play early and they got to play often. That’s the plan. That’s why we’re getting them ready,” Johnson said. “”They got to get better and the only way they get better is going against the best. So we’ll prep those guys for that.”