FINISH THE JOB. Ohio State’s 2021 recruiting class is one of the most talented classes to ever come through Columbus.
After a heartbreaking end to 2023, JT Tuimoloau, Jack Sawyer, Donovan Jackson, Emeka Egbuka, TreVeyon Henderson, Jordan Hancock, Tyleik Williams and Denzel Burke reloaded the clip (their term, not mine – some commenters have made it very clear that it should be “magazine” and not “clip”) for the 2024 season.
Why?
Because one of Ohio State’s most talented classes ever is also one of its least decorated.
This week, those eight Buckeyes shared what led them to return to Ohio State for a fourth season. They all could have turned pro. They all could have been drafted. They all could have made millions. Instead, they are all back in Columbus to accomplish three specific goals (and earn a more-than-fair wage, I am sure): Beat Michigan (and receive a pair of Gold Pants), win a Big Ten championship and win the College Football Playoff.
“We need to leave outta here with something,” Hancock said on Thursday.
In addition to Hancock, here is what Tuimoloau, Sawyer, Jackson, Egbuka, Henderson, Williams and Burke said about their decisions to run it back with the Buckeyes:
In Ohio State’s two spring practices, Styles has worked exclusively with the linebackers in periods open to the media. According to Knowles, the reps are not an experiment or test run. Instead, they are proof of a “permanent” switch for Styles, who will now line up at the same position his father, Lorenzo Styles Sr., played for the Buckeyes from 1992-95.
Knowles believes there are a couple of reasons Styles’ move will be positive for Ohio State and the former five-star recruit.
I found Knowles’ first reason hilarious.
“Anytime you make a move, you want it to be right for the player, the defense and the team. I think that (Styles’ move) fit up naturally,” he said. “Sonny had to fight to stay lean as a DB. Now, he gets to eat.”
