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COLUMBUS, Ohio – The Ohio State stars leaving early for the NFL perform every winter, but the biggest news this time around could be who’s decided to stay.
After expected announcements from quarterback Justin Fields, cornerback Shaun Wade, and other early social media departures following the loss to Alabama in the CFP National Championship game, the Buckeyes got a huge “stay” in Chris Olave, the first receiver last season who, as a junior, was eligible for the draft.
Making the announcement via Twitter this week, Olave said: “There are so many great memories but we are not done yet.”
In addition to Olave, starting offensive tackle Thayer Munford and defensive tackle Haskell Garrett have said they will also be back, both enjoying an additional year of eligibility granted to all players by the NCAA due to the COVID pandemic. -19.
Tight end Jeremy Ruckert and defensive end Tyreke Smith have also decided to return for their senior seasons instead of making the draft. Defensive tackle Antwuan Jackson and cornerback Marcus Williamson have said they will also benefit from the extra year of eligibility.
Seniors have until March 1 to declare whether they want to stay an additional year.
“I think it’s amazing,” Day said on Friday. “For these guys who have decided to come back, what a great opportunity for them. It just shows the maturity. They still have some unfinished business here at Ohio State, they want to maximize themselves as players here at college but also in the NFL.
“And I think that’s what a lot of them figured out, is it’s one thing to be able to play in the NFL, it’s another thing to be ready when you’re there,” did he declare. “There are so many people out there who just want to run in the NFL and start making money, and that’s great. But at the end of the day you have to play and you have to produce.”
Garrett was a senior who emerged as a team manager and performed well despite being shot in the face as he tried to break up an altercation on the streets in August. He and Smith give the Ohio State defensive line some solid anchors for 2021, especially with defensive tackle Tommy Togiai opting for the NFL.
“2020 has been a crazy year,” Garrett said, making the announcement via an Instagram video. “Not only have I been through trials and tribulations, but our team has.”
Olave’s return is a seismic boost for the Buckeyes, who will enter a new quarterback for the first time since the 2018 season. Olave will once again team up with Garrett Wilson to form one of the most successful receiving duos. more dynamic in college football. In the pandemic-cut short 2020 season, Olave made 50 catches for 729 yards and seven touchdowns, with Wilson just behind him with 43 for 723 yards and six touchdowns.
Munford’s return, with Nicholas Petit-Frere, will give the offensive line two returning starters, supported by other players who had significant playing time in 2020. Ohio State loses center Josh Myers and All- guard. American Wyatt Davis, two pillars who have chosen for the NFL. They leave important gaps to be filled.
Running back Trey Sermon, who played three terrific games before being injured in the start of the 52-24 loss to Alabama, was a graduate transfer and has announced he will enter the NFL Draft. But Master Teague III, who started the season as a running back, will return in the fourth junior year.
Much of the pre-season focus will be on quarterbacks, with testing starting in the spring, if the pandemic permits. The competition will feature strong pro-style quarterbacks CJ Stroud and Jack Miller III, two of the nation’s top readiness signal callers Ohio State has hooked in the 2020 recruiting class. Kyle McCord, a five-star rookie 2021, similar in size and skills to the others, is also expected to compete for the job immediately as an early recruit.
Because the 2020 season was cut short and there wasn’t a lot of cleanup duty to do, neither Stroud nor Miller had much playing time. Day didn’t even take a good look at them as practice Spring 2020 only lasted a week before it had to be abandoned as the pandemic worsened.
“I wish we were further ahead,” Day said. “I wish they had more play reps. You don’t really know what you’ve got in a quarterback until he plays in a game. We’re going to have to find ways this spring between CJ, Jack and Kyle to give game situations to figure out exactly what we have.
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