One of the worst parts of the sports we love are injuries. However, they are the nature of the game, and with the proper recover athletes are back quickly.
We're updating the recoveries of a few future Buckeyes who have been saddled with injuries:
Jack Sawyer, 2021 five-star defensive end
Five-star defensive end Jack Sawyer, a 2021 commit, suffered a torn left MCL in the last game of his junior year while being the ultimate team player by playing quarterback for Pickerington North. Now two months removed from surgery, Sawyer is off crutches with the help of an extensive recovery routine and a good-sized knee brace. As a matter of fact, Sawyer was able to do some weight lifting this past week, putting up some good weight in both the deadlift and squat. While Sawyer is still quite a few steps away from being fully recovered, he is working tirelessly to be 100 percent by at least the beginning of his senior season.
Kyle McCord, 2021 four-star quarterback
Future Ohio State quarterback Kyle McCord, a four-star prospect in 2021, tweaked his knee in the latter half of his junior year at Philadelphia's St. Joseph's Preparatory School which caused him to miss all of the playoffs. Earlier this week, McCord told Eleven Warriors that he is fully healthy and cleared for competition. McCord was even able to participate in Under Armour's Future 50 last week during their All-American game festivities. While McCord's injury was not as serious as Sawyer's, it still caused some angst amongst Buckeye fans that can be quashed.
Grant Toutant, 2020 three-star offensive lineman
In early October, three-star 2020 offensive lineman Grant Toutant tore his labrum promptly ending his senior season and high school career. Now three months removed from his surgery in Columbus, he returned to Ohio's capital last week and was cleared to work out. The next step for Toutant will be getting strength and motion back to pre-injury levels. Luckily for him, he will enroll in June and continue to work back with the Ohio State training staff. In the meantime, Toutant will lift and improve motion while finishing his senior year of high school.
Jaxon Smith-Njigba, 2020 four-star wide receiver
The most recent of injuries happened to recent early enrollee Jaxon Smith-Njigba, a four-star early enrollee, who injured his ankle in San Antonio while practicing for the All-American Bowl. Luckily for Smith-Njigba, he moved to Columbus for college in the following days, which means he gets to rehab with Ohio State strength and conditioning coach Mickey Marotti. At the bowl, he told Eleven Warriors his ankle was swollen, not fractured, meaning he won't need a long-term recovery.
