Life has a beautiful way of coming full circle.
More than 21 years after the tragic death of his uncle, Ohio State defensive end Jayson Gwinn, 2025 three-star quarterback prospect Jaystin Gwinn has committed to the Buckeyes as a preferred walk-on.
I know you looking down on me Unc proud of me #COMMITTED #GoBucks #OH @OhioStateFB
— Jaystin Gwinn (@jaystingwinn_) February 3, 2025
RIP~Jayson Gwinn #49 pic.twitter.com/BlzY9bk1qs
Gwinn is considered the nation's 1,865th overall prospect per the 247Sports composite and the 104th-ranked quarterback in the 2025 class. A native of Westerville, Ohio, he chose to walk-on at Ohio State rather than take up one of his handful of scholarship offers including Kentucky, Akron and Kent State. He played five games for Westerville Central High School in 2024, completing 51.5% of his passes for 624 yards and three touchdowns.
His uncle, Jayson Gwinn, was primed for a role in the Buckeyes' early-1990s defense before his life and career were cut tragically short. Gwinn was killed in a car accident near the Woody Hayes Athletic Center on Dec. 12, 1993. He was only 20 years old. Earlier that season, as a redshirt freshman, he tied Ohio State's single-game tackles for loss record with five against Indiana.
Jaystin’s father, Anthony, was a defensive back for the Buckeyes from 1993-96.
Now Jaystin Gwinn, named for Jayson by Anthony, gets a chance to honor his uncle's legacy and forge his own career at Ohio State two decades later.
