Jack Sawyer calls out 'unfair s***' Ryan Day had said about him at Ohio State

There has been massive amounts of criticism of Ohio State Buckeyes head coach Ryan Day in recent years. That was true both nationally and locally, as the Buckeyes have struggled against Michigan and struggled to get over the hump. That was criticism that Buckeyes star Jack Sawyer heard and took to heart.

The 2024 college football season ended with the Ohio State Buckeyes raising a national championship, extinguishing most of the doubt about Day. Still, the criticism he received has stuck with the program.

Now preparing for the NFL Draft, Sawyer was asked about his former head coach. He’d go to bat for Day, calling out the unfair criticism of the head man in Columbus.

“Coach Day is one of the toughest, most resilient guys I’ve ever been around,” Jack Sawyer said. “That’s the reason why we all love him. It’s the reason I love him so much. No matter what’s going on, no matter all the unfair s*** that’s being said about him — excuse me for cussing — but he’s going to stand in there, stand strong, and take it all on the brunt. Take it head on for us, and take all the blame even if it’s wrongfully deserved.”

Following Ohio State’s national championship run, Day now holds a 70-10 record in his time with the Buckeyes. Still, there was plenty of criticism of Day, especially after Ohio State lost to Michigan in 2024, a fourth straight loss to their rival. At that time, Day and his family came under massive scrutiny, even receiving threats. His wife had also revealed that Day was told to “follow in his father’s footsteps and kill himself.” That was among the threats the family received, which extended to their teenage son. Armed guards were forced to protect the Day family home.

“So, playing for him and seeing the way he’s responded the last few years, especially this year, it just shows everyone across the country what he’s capable of. He’s the best head coach in the country by far, I think in college football, unbiasedly. So, being able to see us have that happen, hear all the things that we heard in Columbus,” Sawyer said.

“And him and his family go through the things that they went through and come out the backside of it, win a national championship, man, it meant the world to me. It meant the world to us and to him and his family. So, Coach Day is one of the toughest guys I’ve been around. That’s one of the biggest things that stands out to me.”

Day went on to be rewarded following the season for his success at Ohio State with a contract extension for seven years and at a total of $87.5 million, or $12.5 million annually.