Haskell Garrett is opting out of playing one final game as a Buckeye.
The fifth-year senior Ohio State defensive tackle will not play in the Rose Bowl, Ryan Day announced on Monday, bringing the defensive tackle's Buckeye career to an end one game early.
ALL GLORY TO GOD BUCKEYE 4L pic.twitter.com/TrGTg918Gg
— Haskell Garrett (@HaskellGarrett_) December 28, 2021
Garrett joins Garrett Wilson, Chris Olave and Nicholas Petit-Frere as the four Buckeye players opting of the Rose Bowl.
Garrett, who was named a team captain after choosing to use his additional year of eligibility and return to the Buckeyes for one more season, battled a nagging injury for much of the 2021 season. While he did not miss any games during the regular season, the injury limited him at times as he started only one of Ohio State’s final five games.
While Garrett fought through that injury throughout the regular season, he opted to sit out the Rose Bowl in order to get healthy before the 2022 NFL draft, in which he is projected to be a middle-round pick after earning All-American honors in 2020 and All-Big Ten honors in 2021.
Garrett finishes his Ohio State career with 62 total tackles, 13.5 tackles for loss and two defensive touchdowns – one on an interception against Michigan State in 2020 and one on a fumble recovery against Minnesota in 2021.
With Garrett out, Taron Vincent is likely to start at the 3-technique defensive tackle position on Saturday against Utah while Tyleik Williams could also be in line for increased playing time.
