Jack Sawyer hints at potential return to Buckeyes, waiting to make final announcement
ARLINGTON, Texas — Jack Sawyer might have let an ultimate decision slip.
The junior defensive end was jokingly asked Tuesday inside AT&T Stadium ahead of the season-ending Cotton Bowl if he was excited to play — and if he would be playing — Akron in next year’s season opener. And he answered honestly.
“More than likely,” he said. “Probably.”
That’s not a definitive answer from the Central Ohio native and Buckeyes star defensive end. But after plenty of speculation about what the future holds for Sawyer during the last month and change, he is finally showing his cards a bit — and admitting that he’s leaning toward a return to Ohio State for his senior season.
As for that final answer? Sawyer is going to hold off on any sort of announcement. He’s letting the Cotton Bowl take center stage right now, especially in the week of buildup toward the showdown between the No. 7 Buckeyes and No. 9 Missouri Tigers, who went 10-2 in the SEC.
He’s not ready for any final words yet.
“I don’t know,” he said. “You know, I’m not going to get into any specifics right now about that. But you know, I’m just excited about this game and and playing this game with the guys that we came in with and competing one last time.”
Sawyer has been good at keeping the main thing the main thing during the last month. He has also been very vocal about what the Cotton Bowl means to the Ohio State program, calling the notion that it’s just a meaningless exhibition game ‘bullshit’ and talking about how he was happy that the Buckeyes haven’t had any opt-outs on the defensive side of the ball.
Now he’s backing that up by putting off his public decision and deflecting any questions about his future.
“I think that’s one of the big things is, you know, we’re all focused in on this game and nothing else,” Sawyer said. “And you know, we’re playing a great team, get an opportunity to come out here and finish the season the right way. And I think that’s the big thing is not to make any distractions, whether they’re going to go or not. And so this was all of our focus is on this game against Missouri.”
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Sawyer isn’t alone. As of Tuesday afternoon, no Ohio State players had said whether they were staying for another season or leaving for the NFL. No Buckeyes have even decided to announce publicly that they’re not playing in the Cotton Bowl on Friday night.
They’re keeping the Cotton Bowl the center focus and letting the individual decisions come after that, one way or another.
And even if they’re excited to face Akron at the beginning of next season for Ohio State, the Buckeyes are focused on Missouri.
The decisions after that, at least for Jack Sawyer, may already be made. But don’t expect a public answer until after Friday.
