Ohio State will return at least two of its top three cornerbacks next season.
Cameron Brown announced Thursday night on Twitter that he will be back at Ohio State for his fifth-year senior season in 2022.
Buckeye Nation pic.twitter.com/gKeOhFvBWZ
— Cameron Brown (@luh_cam_) December 17, 2021
“I am not done yet,” Brown said in a statement. “There are many more memories to make and games to win with my brothers.”
Brown had been considering entering the 2022 NFL draft, telling reporters earlier Thursday that he was “just trying to focus on Utah.” By the end of the day, however, Brown had decided that he would be back at Ohio State for next season, providing a big boost to the Buckeyes' 2022 secondary – and undoubtedly making many Buckeye fans happy.
Yall really want me too huh ? Lol https://t.co/Pa4SWKLvq4
— Cameron Brown (@luh_cam_) December 16, 2021
Before Brown’s announcement, the Buckeyes appeared poised to potentially lose two of their top three cornerbacks from this past season. Sevyn Banks is a senior (though he does still have an additional year of eligibility) and Brown also went through Senior Day festivities. Brown told reporters on Thursday, however, that he went through Senior Day only because he wanted to have that experience if he did decide to leave after this season.
Brown, who started five games for Ohio State during the regular season, will be in line to start opposite Denzel Burke – who's only a true freshman – if Banks does not return.
Behind them, there remains uncertainty about what the depth chart will look like, especially after Ryan Watts entered the transfer portal earlier this month. Lejond Cavazos, Jordan Hancock and Jakailin Johnson could all be candidates to play bigger roles next season, though, while the Buckeyes signed Jyaire Brown and Ryan Turner on Wednesday.
Ryan Day said Wednesday that the Buckeyes want to have eight scholarship cornerbacks, so it’s still possible they could look to add another cornerback if Banks leaves. Ohio State was also supposed to sign four-star cornerback Terrance Brooks on Wednesday, but he flipped to Texas instead. That said, Brown’s decision to return may at least partially explain why Ohio State backed off its pursuit of LSU transfer cornerback Eli Ricks, who is instead transferring to Alabama.
