CJ Barnett, Jack Sawyer debate Top 4+1 on the Mount Rushmore of Ohio State football
The original task was a Mount Rushmore of Ohio State football players originally from the state of Ohio, but Buckeyes defensive end Jack Sawyer didn’t play by the rules as he and OSU director of player development CJ Barnett assembled their lists. Either way, there were tons of great options to chose from.
And though both Barnett and Sawyer’s respective lists quickly diverged, they started in the same spot, with one man: Archie Griffin. The Columbus native and Buckeye legend is the only person to have won the Heisman Trophy twice.
“Gotta put Archie Griffin up there, right? Two-time Heisman. I actually played with his son, Adam Griffin. So got to put him up there, right,” Barnett said.
Sawyer totally agreed.
“I think for me, like you said, obviously got to start off with Archie. Two Heismans? Can’t beat that, he’s gotta be up there,” Sawyer said.
From there, the lists diverged. Barnett stayed true to the rules of picking homegrown Ohio State players, and named the following trio alongside Griffin: Kurt Coleman (Clayton, Ohio), Anthony Gonzalez (Cleveland) and Braxton Miller (Springfield, Ohio).
For his fifth and final name, a wildcard of sorts, Barnett chose Christian Bryant, a former teammate of his from Cleveland. (Barnett, who played defensive back at Ohio State, is from Clayton.)
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“He was my partner in crime out there. I loved playing with him,” Barnett said.
Sawyer’s non-Griffin trio: Eddie George, Joey Bosa and Chase Young.
George, another star running back at Ohio State, was an obvious pick — albeit outside the intended rules, having been born in Philadelphia and playing high school ball in Virginia. Sawyer also has somewhat of a personal connection to George.
“Me and Lorenzo Styles Jr. obviously were really close growing up. And obviously Coach Styles played with Eddie and so I’ve had a chance to speak with him and talk to him a couple times. Great guy, great person, too. So, Eddie’s gotta be up there,” Sawyer said.
And being a defensive end at Ohio State, picking two of the best in living memory wasn’t a bad way to go with Bosa and Young.
His fifth and wildcard? After a moment of being stumped, Sawyer had his answer.
“I’m going with CJ Barnett. He’s on my Mount Rushmore. One of my favorite Buckeyes to ever play here. One of the best guys. Love having CJ around helping us about,” Sawyer said as Barnett laughed and smiled.