Ryan Day shares plan to prepare Dawand Jones for 2023 NFL Draft

Ohio State returns 2021 starting offensive lineman Dawand Jones despite some offseason rumors that he could declare for the 2022 NFL Draft. The former three-star recruit has established himself as a very good player but Ryan Day sees even more potential in his future.

During a press conference, Ryan Day discussed the decision-making process for Dawand Jones when the starting lineman opted to return to Ohio State rather than declare for the 2022 NFL Draft.

“There was conversation in the building, I know there was conversation outside the building,” said Day. “You just identify where you think you can go in the draft and then you decided whether that makes sense for you and your future. He wanted to come back and be a first or second rounder, that’s his goal. So he’s been challenged with a set of things that he needs to get done if he wants to get there.”

As Dawand Jones returns for another season on the offensive line at Ohio State, Ryan Day made it clear that his potential could carry him anywhere he wants to go when paired with the proper commitment to the future.

“I don’t think there’s any question, he has the ability, and he has the talent to be one of the better tackles in the country,” said Day. “Now whether he is or not, there’s certain things that he’s going to have to get accomplished here in the offseason and then during next season to get to that point. Consistency is going to be one of them. But he’s done some good things and I think he knows what those things are that he needs to get done.”

More on Dawand Jones

Dawand Jones just finished his third season with the Buckeyes after joining the team as a three-star recruit in 2019. He was the No. 60 offensive tackle in the 2019 class according to On3 Consensus, a complete and equally weighted industry-generated average that utilizes all four major recruiting media companies. He committed to Ohio State over offers from Michigan, Oregon, Texas and others.

A native of Indianapolis, he helped Ben Davis High School to a state championship as a junior in 2017. Jones also excelled on the basketball court, where he averaged 17 points and nine rebounds per game, earning a few Division I offers.

The Buckeyes were statistically the best offensive teams in the country this past season. They finished first in FBS in both total offense and scoring offense. Considered a favorite to make the College Football Playoff for much of the season, Ohio State ultimately missed out because of a loss to Michigan in the final game of the regular season.