Fatherhood plays huge role in return to Ohio State for Jerron Cage
COLUMBUS — There are plenty of reasons Jerron Cage should have returned to Ohio State.
Originally in the Class of 2017, Cage has seen ups and downs with the Buckeyes. He has played behind a number of big-time players and he knows that. He, like many others, has struggled with injury issues at times and the Covid year of 2020 threw a colossal wrench into everyone’s best-laid plans.
Cage has waited his turn, patiently. He’s eager for a chance to make an impact for Larry Johnson and the Rushmen. Now, entering year six with the Buckeyes, Cage has an even more important reason to stick around: the impact he can make on his son.
It’s been almost two years since Jerron Cage, Jr. was born. One more year of sacrificing at Ohio State for a chance to permanently change his sons future is worth it for the Buckeyes defensive tackle.
“I owe this to my son,” Cage told Lettermen Row. “Since he was born, he was the light. That’s my light. Everything changed. It’s not for me, it’s for him. Staying another year isn’t for me, it’s for him.
“Yes, it’s to put me in a better spot for [potentially playing in the NFL] but that’s so I can take care of him the best way I can. That’s my only goal.”
To hit that goal and make a difference in his son’s life, Jerron Cage has to be difference maker at Ohio State this season. He’s the veteran in a room full of veterans and he must be consistent. That was a challenge in 2021 coming off of the Covid year.
“I struggled at the beginning of the year last year,” Cage said. “But I came back and started making more plays and you were seeing me more. But talking the coaches, they gave me the mindset to just keep going.”
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That message resonated with the 6-foot-2, 310-pound Cincinnati native. He knows his path at Ohio State hasn’t been like anyone else’s. On Thursday, multiple prospects from Winton Wood High School — Cage’s alma mater — were at Ohio State visiting the Buckeyes. Cage’s advice for them was simple: just keep going.
“The best thing I could tell people is that everyone’s path is different,” he said. “You’re doing your thing in high school, but college is different.”
And college has been different for Cage. He entered Ohio State alongside J.K. Dobbins, Chase Young, Baron Browning and Jeff Okudah among others. He’ll leave the Buckeyes program as the last member of the 2017 recruiting class with his son by his side. That’s the prospect that matters the most from here.
“I just want to make sure he has a great life,” Cage said. “No struggles. I don’t want him to go through that stuff I went through.”
There’s no doubt that Jerron Cage has big reasons to return to Ohio State for his sixth season.
His littlest reason, Jerron Jr., is certainly the biggest.
