There’s a gambit reporters sometimes use with players who have decisions to make on whether to enter the NFL draft or return for another year.
They’ll ask about the outlook of next year’s team or the look of a certain future opponent, and after the answer, say, “So you’ll be playing?”
Usually such a quandary is brushed off with a laugh and a “we’ll see.” But a bit extra came out after that when someone first asked Jack Sawyer if he was excited that Ohio State will face Akron in 2024 then hit him with an “Are you gonna play in that game?”
“I don’t know, we’ll see,” Sawyer said. “More than likely, yeah. Probably.”
He’s not alone in weighing his draft decision, particularly among his teammates from the junior class – even if everyone else isn’t as open about their leanings.
JT Tuimoloau, Tyleik Williams and Mike Hall all have choices to make, and that's just along the defensive line. Cornerbacks Denzel Burke and Jordan Hancock, running back TreVeyon Henderson, offensive guard Donovan Jackson and wide receiver Emeka Egbuka are also third-years with draft decisions to make.
“I talk to them a lot. Pretty frequently,” Sawyer said. “I think that once we got down to the bowl we were pretty focused on Missouri, but we definitely do all talk about it a little bit.”
One of the biggest draws for not just Sawyer but everyone to return is unobtained goals.
He and the junior class don’t have a single win over Michigan or a Big Ten Championship. For a 2021 recruiting crop with the talent to slot in at No. 2 in the 247Sports composite team rankings, there are a lot of goals left unfulfilled as of now.
“That’s the big thing, especially for me, man,” Burke, who appears to be a lock to be at least a day-two pick, said. “I want to be a top-10 pick, and not only that, but to have something to show for it down the road. To be able to show my kids and my family when I was at Ohio State, we won something.”
That Michigan squad is a source of inspiration for Sawyer and company.
The Wolverines have been able to keep bona fide NFL prospects like defensive end Aidan Hutchinson and running back Blake Corum around for their senior seasons, resulting in veteran teams that helped them knock off the Buckeyes three straight times for the first time since 1995-97.
“I think that when you’ve got a bunch of guys that could have gone to the NFL and they all come back and they’ve got 50-some seniors on their roster and everybody’s experienced and all their top players are coming back I think it helps the team win,” Sawyer said. “So it’s definitely something we’ve talked about.”
Another big draw for Sawyer is an additional year of development under defensive line coach Larry Johnson.
“It plays a huge part with all of us,” Sawyer said. “With him coming back it really helps if we do all decide to come back. We wouldn’t want to play for any other D-line coach. We all came in here and we all love Coach Johnson. We all love playing for him.”
If Ohio State does return a lot of its pieces that have the potential to go pro on the defensive side, Sawyer sees another big leap from the Buckeyes under defensive coordinator Jim Knowles. The Silver Bullets went from the No. 24 scoring and No. 14 total defense in 2022 to No. 2 in scoring and No. 3 in total in 2023, including the nation’s No. 1 pass defense.
“You saw what happens when you build off the first year into the second year, how big of a jump you can take,” Sawyer said. “I still think, personally, we have another big jump to take next year if we all decide to come back.”
Announcements from Sawyer and many others don’t sound like they’ll come until after the Cotton Bowl. Sawyer and Burke confirmed as much for themselves on Tuesday. But there’s a serious pull to stay in Columbus for Sawyer and his peers whenever it is time to finalize their choice.
“I think everyone’s gotta make the decision that’s best for them when you’re talking about your career and the NFL,” Sawyer said. “It’s an opportunity we’ve all been working for our whole lives. Understanding that, but then also understanding that by coming back we could really improve our draft stock. … I do think that we’re trying to make it a collective group effort.”
