Donovan Jackson is coming back for another year at Ohio State.
The Buckeyes' multi-year starter at left guard announced Wednesday that he will use his final year of eligibility at Ohio State in 2024 rather than enter the upcoming NFL draft.
There is still more to do. pic.twitter.com/kNHkHdcdu8
— Donovan Jackson (@D_jack78) January 10, 2024
Jackson has started 26 games for Ohio State, all consecutively as he started every game in his sophomore and junior seasons the past two years.
According to Pro Football Focus, Jackson allowed just two sacks and 13 total pressures in 2022 with one sack and 10 total pressures in 2023. He played an integral role in a 2022 offensive line that paved the way for Ohio State to be 13th nationally in yards per carry, ninth in total offense and second in scoring.
Jackson earned first-team All-Big Ten honors from the media and was second-team according to the coaches in 2022, then landed first-team recognition from both sources in 2023.
Out of high school, Jackson was a five-star prospect ranked as the No. 1 interior offensive lineman and No. 19 overall prospect in the 2021 class.
Ohio State will be looking for a new lineman to start opposite Jackson at right guard in 2024 as Matt Jones, who started with Jackson in both 2022 and 2023, has exhausted his eligibility. Candidates include Tegra Tshabola, Enokk Vimahi, Austin Siereveld and Josh Fryar if the team elects to slide him inside from tackle.
Jackson joins a group of Ohio State juniors who have opted to stay for their senior seasons rather than enter the 2024 NFL draft that includes defensive end Jack Sawyer, defensive tackle Tyleik Williams and cornerback Denzel Burke. Notable juniors who have not yet announced their NFL draft decisions include running back TreVeyon Henderson, wide receiver Emeka Egbuka, defensive ends JT Tuimoloau and cornerback Jordan Hancock.
