Scarlet Sunrise: Ohio State completes reload, majority of 2021 class back for final ride

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Ohio State completes reload, majority of 2021 class back for final ride

Ohio State has officially reloaded the clip: 11 draft-eligible Buckeyes players have decided to put the NFL Draft on pause and return to Columbus for the 2024 season.

TreVeyon Henderson was the final piece of the puzzle. The dynamic Ohio State running back announced that his faith has led him back to Ohio State for another year, a year in which he’ll be joined by former Ole Miss standout Quinshon Judkins.

Ohio State now has arguably the best backfield tandem in the country. The Buckeyes might have the best defensive end pairing in the nation as well with both J.T. Tuimoloau and Jack Sawyer coming back. Tuimoloau was the last of eight draft-eligible defenders to reveal his return.

Similar to how Henderson was ranked as the fourth-best back among 2024 prospects, according to ESPN’s Mel Kiper Jr., Tuimoloau was considered by Kiper as the second-best defensive end. Henderson and Tuimoloau could have, and probably would have, been selected in the first two rounds of the draft. In Tuimoloau’s case, he might have been a first-round pick.

They’re betting on themselves that they’ll be in the same or better draft position this time next year. And they’re doing so with their nine other teammates who are also running things back under head coach Ryan Day at the Woody Hayes Athletic Center rather than turning pro in 2024.

Here’s the complete list of draft-eligible Ohio State returners:

• DE Jack Sawyer
• DT Tyleik Williams
• DT Ty Hamilton
• DE J.T. Tuimoloau
• LB Cody Simon
• CB Denzel Burke
• CB Jordan Hancock
• S Lathan Ransom
• OG Donovan Jackson
• WR Emeka Egbuka
• RB TreVeyon Henderson

Of those 11 returners, eight are from the Buckeyes’ 2021 recruiting class, which clocked out second in the nation three years ago. The star-studded class has yet to win a game against Michigan or a Big Ten title or a College Football Playoff game.

“My class was outstanding,” Hancock said last month. “A lot of future players that are gonna play on Sunday. We kind of want something to show for it when we all graduate, and we’re just stuck in between.”

One way to get unstuck is by returning to Ohio State and accomplishing those team goals. At the time, Hancock called the choice third-year Buckeyes players had to make between returning to Ohio State and declaring for the NFL a “group decision.”

That’s what it’s looked like.

Superstar wideout Marvin Harrison Jr. and defensive tackle Mike Hall Jr. — both members of that 2021 recruiting class — did declare for the NFL Draft. And they seem to have their teammates’ support in doing so.

But, for the eight standouts coming back in that class — and the three other draft-eligible players mentioned above — the draft has been put on the backburner.

Their decisions to return, combined with Ohio State transfer portal mining for a new quarterback, running back and offensive lineman, make the Buckeyes an even bigger national title contender than they usually are.

What TreVeyon Henderson, J.T. Tuimoloau returning means for Buckeyes

TreVeyon Henderson is coming back to make up one half of arguably the best running back tandem in college football. He’ll be joined by former Ole Miss star Quinshon Judkins, who the Buckeyes reeled in from the transfer portal. Henderson is coming off a strong junior season, in which he bounced back from an injury-riddled 2022 and recorded more than 1,000 yards from scrimmage with 926 yards and 11 touchdowns on the ground, plus 19 receptions and 229 receiving yards. Henderson missed three games in the middle of the season but returned to jolt the Buckeyes’ offense, as a runner and as a receiver.

READ: What TreVeyon Henderson returning means for Ohio State

Defensive ends J.T. Tuimoloau and Jack Sawyer feed off each other, and they’ll both be back for 2024. Tuimoloau is coming off the best year of his career. He finished 2023 with the most total tackles (38), sacks (5.0) and, per PFF, pressures generated (37) as well as defensive snaps (677) of his three years at Ohio State. Tuimoloau once again proved to be a difference maker for the Buckeyes in 2023. He made back-to-back stops that set the stage for Ohio State’s game-winning drive at Notre Dame. He also dialed up a sack and fourth down pass deflection in the fourth quarter against Penn State to help deliver another top-10 win.

READ: What J.T. Tuimoloau returning for senior season means to Buckeyes

Dominic Kirks decommits from Washington, set for Ohio State official visit

Following the departure of former Washington head coach Kalen DeBoer to Alabama, 2024 four-star Painesville (Ohio) Riverside defensive lineman Dominic Kirks decommitted from the Huskies.

After careful consideration, I will be humbly de-committing from The University of Washington. @AllenTrieu @SWiltfong247 @ChadSimmons_ @Rivals_Clint

— Dominic “DK” Kirks ✞ (@Domkirks) January 13, 2024

Kirks already had an official visit scheduled at Ohio State, but now that visit is even more significant.

For the full story, go here.

Counting down

Buckeyes vs. Akron: 231 days
Buckeyes vs. Michigan: 322 days

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