Ohio State's 2021 defensive line just got a massive boost.
All-American defensive tackle Haskell Garrett announced Tuesday that he will use his additional year of eligibility and stay at Ohio State for the 2021 season, putting his NFL aspirations on hold for one more year.
— Haskell Garrett (@HASKELL_808) January 19, 2021
Under normal circumstances, Garrett would have exhausted his collegiate eligibility as a senior this season. Thanks to the NCAA granting all athletes an additional year of eligibility, though, seniors had the choice to continue playing collegiately for one more season, and Garrett decided to take advantage of that opportunity.
While Garrett certainly put himself in a position to be selected in the NFL draft with his dominant play this year, he'll go into 2021 as one of college football's best returning defensive linemen and is poised to be the leader of the Buckeyes' defensive front with Jonathon Cooper and Tommy Togiai leaving for the NFL.
Other than Cooper and Togiai, though, all of Ohio State's defensive linemen who saw regular playing time this season are expected back next season, including Zach Harrison, Tyler Friday, Tyreke Smith and Javontae Jean-Baptiste at defensive end and Jerron Cage, Antwuan Jackson and Taron Vincent at defensive tackle, with Jackson also announcing Tuesday he would return to Ohio State for his additional year of eligibility.
Garrett is the fourth senior to announce he will return to Ohio State for an additional year of eligibility, also joining left tackle Thayer Munford and defensive back Marcus Williamson.
