Sources: Buckeyes hire Ash, Johnson
COLUMBUS, Ohio -- Ohio State once again has a full coaching staff, and its beleaguered defense has two fresh faces to get started on the overhaul on that side of the ball.
The Buckeyes reached deals Tuesday with Arkansas defensive coordinator Chris Ash and Penn State defensive line coach Larry Johnson Sr., sources told ESPN's Joe Schad on Tuesday.
Ash is expected to fill the co-defensive coordinator and secondary coach role vacated by Everett Withers when he took over as the coach at James Madison. Johnson will replace defensive line coach Mike Vrabel, who was hired by the NFL's Houston Texans.
Ohio State has not publicly confirmed the hires, which was first reported by SI.com.
The coaching vacancies were the Buckeyes' first since Urban Meyer finalized his first coaching staff prior to the 2012 season.
Ash will be expected to reshape a unit that struggled mightily against the pass this season, finishing No. 110 in the nation in yardage allowed through the air and contributing to a close call against Michigan and a current two-game losing streak for the Buckeyes as they gave up 1,133 passing yards in the final three games of the season.
Ash spent just one season at rebuilding Arkansas, but he had established himself as one of the top defensive coaches in the Big Ten while serving at Wisconsin, helping it reach three Rose Bowls and ranking No. 13 in the nation in total defense in 2012.
Johnson, meanwhile, will inherit a young, talented group that led the Big Ten in sacks last season. The longtime Penn State assistant was the last holdover from Joe Paterno's staff after being hired by the program in 1996 and was a candidate for the head coaching job prior to James Franklin being hired.
Ohio State/Big Ten reporter
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