GLENDALE, Ariz. — What will be one of the most-watched storylines of the immediate future of Ohio State's football team added another layer on Saturday.
Three stars on Urban Meyer's team — Malik Hooker, Raekwon McMillan and Curtis Samuel — all said in the locker room following their team's 31-0 loss to Clemson in the Fiesta Bowl that they have not made decisions on their futures. All are projected draft picks in April and have until Jan. 16 to file paperwork should their hearts desire.
“I’m not leaning no way. I’m not even thinking about it at all,” Samuel said. “I’m just going to enjoy the seniors that are here and thank those guys for how hard they played and hopefully I did enough for them on their way out. That’s really it.”
Hooker is projected by CBS Sports as the first free safety to come off the board should he elect to turn pro. The redshirt sophomore played like it in the loss to Clemson, making an incredible interception of Deshaun Watson in the end zone and recording seven tackles. A unanimous All-American, Hooker finished 2016 with seven interceptions and returned three of them for touchdowns, his first year as a starter.
McMillan is a two-year starter and the heart and soul of Ohio State's defense. He led the Buckeyes with 15 tackles (12 solo) in the loss, sacked Watson once and also had two tackles for loss. With linebacker coach and defensive coordinator Luke Fickell heading to Cincinnati to be the head coach of the Bearcats, it seems unlikely the true junior will be back in Columbus in 2017. He is a projected early round pick.
Samuel is the only player in college football this season with more than 700 receiving and 700 rushing yards. The dynamic H-back and true junior ran six times for 66 yards against the Tigers, with 64 coming on one play in the fourth quarter. He also caught nine passes for 43 yards, both team highs.
Sam Hubbard announced after the game he plans to return to Ohio State for his redshirt junior season next year. Billy Price did too, with a move to center.
