Nicholas Petit-Frere has played his final game at Ohio State.
The fourth-year Ohio State left tackle is planning to enter the 2022 NFL draft after this season and will not play in the Rose Bowl. He is one of four Buckeyes opting out of the final game of the season along with Chris Olave, Garrett Wilson and Nicholas Petit-Frere.
A redshirt junior, Petit-Frere could have played as many as two more seasons at Ohio State after the NCAA gave all players a free year of eligibility in 2020. But after two seasons as a starting tackle for the Buckeyes, Petit-Frere decided it would be in his best interest to begin his NFL career next year. And he’ll be sitting out the Rose Bowl to avoid risking an injury that could hurt his draft stock.
An Outland Trophy semifinalist this year, Petit-Frere has been projected to be selected as high as the first round of the 2022 NFL draft.
With Petit-Frere’s departure, Ohio State will have at least two new starting offensive linemen and at least one new starting offensive tackle next season with left guard Thayer Munford also departing from the program. Munford will likely move back to his old position to left tackle to replace Petit-Frere in the Rose Bowl, which should open the door for Matt Jones to start at left guard.
Paris Johnson Jr., who’s been the Buckeyes’ starting right guard this season, is the likely frontrunner to replace Petit-Frere as the starting left tackle next season, but he’s expected to remain at guard for Saturday’s game against Utah.
