Ohio State's 2021 Captains are set.
The Buckeyes will have six captains for the 2021 football season as Ohio State announced on Friday evening that Thayer Munford, Chris Olave, Zach Harrison, Haskell Garrett, Teradja Mitchell and Kamryn Babb have been chosen to lead the team this season.
All six players chosen will serve as a captain for the first time this season as none of last season's captains are returning this season.
Munford is one of the team's seven super seniors. Despite favorable NFL Draft grades last season, he decided to return to Ohio State for another season to earn his degree – fulfilling a promise to his mother. He's a preseason All-American according to multiple outlets and will be considered one of the top returning offensive linemen in the country this season, wherever he lines up on the Buckeye line.
Buckeye Captain - @TMunford75 #GoBucks pic.twitter.com/7NRl9pu1gd
— Ohio State Football (@OhioStateFB) August 20, 2021
Olave, like Munford, returned to Ohio State for another season despite favorable NFL draft projections to get his body more NFL-ready, complete his degree and compete for a national championship. Olave is also a preseason All-American by most outlets and is widely considered the top returning receiver in the country.
Buckeye Captain - @chrisolave_ #Zone6 pic.twitter.com/R3BYZFKOFo
— Ohio State Football (@OhioStateFB) August 20, 2021
A five-star prospect coming out of high school, Harrison has grown into one of Ohio State's top pass-rushers on the field and has the most sacks and tackles for loss of any defensive end on the roster. Harrison has also become one of the team's most notable leaders in the locker room, as well, even representing the Buckeyes at Big Ten Media Day alongside Munford and Jeremy Ruckert.
Buckeye Captain - @zacharrison_ #R2X pic.twitter.com/TY30nz3eRn
— Ohio State Football (@OhioStateFB) August 20, 2021
Garrett overcame plenty of adversity ahead of last season, suffering a gunshot wound in the face just a few weeks before the start of the season. He bounced back uncannily quickly and emerged as one of the top defensive tackles in the country and a leader in the locker room and on the field. He could have entered the NFL draft after last season, but he returns to help lead the Buckeyes for another season.
Buckeye Captain - @HaskellGarrett_ #R2X pic.twitter.com/sNjFEmRjKu
— Ohio State Football (@OhioStateFB) August 20, 2021
A top-50 prospect coming out of high school, Mitchell has not yet had the opportunity to make a significant impact for the Buckeyes, playing behind a veteran group of linebackers his entire Ohio State career. But with the team's top-four linebackers gone from last season, his patience appears to have paid off as the Buckeyes will need him to make a significant impact both on the field and as a leader given that he's the most experienced player in a young linebackers room.
Buckeye Captain - @teeraaw__ #H2 pic.twitter.com/SLyiIpx3TF
— Ohio State Football (@OhioStateFB) August 20, 2021
Babb arrived at Ohio State as a top-100 prospect but has never been able to make much of an impact for the Buckeyes as he's suffered three season-ending knee injuries dating back to high school. Still, that hasn't stopped him from making an impact on the team in the locker room, and he'll continue to do that this season – even though he's recovering from yet another injury – as he's been tabbed one of Ohio State's six captains.
Buckeye Captain - @kamm_o #Zone6 pic.twitter.com/UzAlx4ea7p
— Ohio State Football (@OhioStateFB) August 20, 2021
Ohio State will officially begin its season in under two weeks when the Buckeyes travel to Minnesota to take on the Golden Gophers on Sept. 2.
