Scarlet Sunrise: Dawand Jones shows out during first day of Senior Bowl practice
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Former Buckeyes RT Dawand Jones shows out during first day of Senior Bowl practice
Former Ohio State right tackle Dawand Jones is continuing to turn heads at the Reese’s Senior Bowl in Mobile, Alabama. First it was because of his size.
Jones, a first-team All-American for the Buckeyes this past season, checked in at 6-foot-8, 375 pounds. Most notably, however, he recorded the longest wingspan in the pre-draft all-star game’s history. As Senior Bowl Executive Director Jim Nagy pointed out, Jones’ wingspan of 89.5 inches is equivalent to a normal wingspan of a person who stands 7-foot-5.
But Tuesday marked the first day of Senior Bowl practice, and Jones showed out there, too. The day’s highly-anticipated matchup in the trenches featured Jones and Notre Dame pass rusher Isaiah Foskey, who is listed at 6-foot-5, 262 pounds and piled up 11 sacks for the Fighting Irish this past season.
Jones got the better of Foskey throughout the afternoon.
Jones was a clear winner Tuesday. He impressed in run blocking drills as well. As you can see below, Jones drove Army EDGE Andre Carter II out of bounds, drawing praise from Pittsburgh Steelers head coach Mike Tomlin. In the clip below that, you can see Jones simply throwing Oregon EDGE DJ Johnson to the ground.
Jones allowed only five pressures in 2022, the fewest given up by a tackle with 300-plus pass blocking snaps this past season, according to Pro Football Focus. Plus, Jones’ PFF run blocking grade of 85.0 was 17th nationally among all tackles.
He made up arguably the best offensive tackle tandem in college football, alongside projected top-10 pick Paris Johnson Jr.
So how much can Jones’ draft stock rise at the Senior Bowl? Here’s what NFL Draft experts from The Athletic say…
Dane Brugler: “Coming into the week, Jones was the No. 1 prospect I couldn’t wait to see in person, and I’m eager to watch how pass rushers adjust to him throughout the week. Although he might not be an ideal fit for every scheme (some teams have fourth-round grades on him), he could be a riser on a few boards. He played with improved patience, balance and strike timing over the last year, and that was clear Tuesday.”
Nick Baumgardner: “He’s quick enough even at 6-8, 375 to corner some edge defenders — the key word there being ‘some.’ Which brings us to the second part of this conversation, and that’s whether the test Jones gets from the defensive linemen this week will be enough for scouts to bump him up. There’s a stiffness to Jones’ game. He’s massive, which means he’s going to tire easier. Sometimes, he’ll bend at the waist. Will his length be effective against the NFL’s most explosive cornering ends? That’s still a question for Jones, and it’s probably going to be one after this week, too. All that said, though, he looked terrific Tuesday.”
Ohio State lands commitment from Ole Miss transfer cornerback Davison Igbinosun
Ohio State added its fifth transfer of the cycle Tuesday, as former Ole Miss cornerback Davison Igbinosun committed to the Buckeyes. Igbinosun started 10 games as a true freshman for the Rebels this past season and has three years of eligibility remaining.
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The 6-foot-2, 185-pound DB picked Ohio State over Tennessee, Michigan and Texas A&M.
“I’ve been an Ohio State fan my entire life and everything worked out in my favor to get there,” Igbinosun told On3 on why he chose the Buckeyes. “They have a history of producing first-round cornerbacks, and I want to be next. Another huge reason is their receiving core, they’re the best wideouts in college football, and competing against the best every day will only make me better.”
Igbinosun was the top-rated Class of 2022 prospect out of New Jersey, according to On3. The former four star allowed 25 receptions, including three touchdowns, on 40 targets this past season at Ole Miss, per PFF.
Igbinosun’s potential and SEC experience made him a coveted corner in the portal.
READ: Analyzing impact as Davison Igbinosun commits to Ohio State
The Tim May Show: Buckeyes expecting quiet February signing period
The Tim May Show is back again, and this time the 40-year Buckeyes reporter is joined by Lettermen Row recruiting analyst Matt Parker to talk about why it will be a quiet February signing period for Ohio State. Head coach Ryan Day and his staff signed their entire 2023 recruiting class, which On3 ranks fourth nationally, in December.
Tim and Matt discuss how limited activity in February is becoming the norm in college football, noting how the transfer portal has changed the recruiting timeline.
Don’t miss the episode. It’s a perfect way to get up to speed with Buckeyes recruiting.
Counting down
Buckeyes vs. Indiana: 213 days
Buckeyes vs. Michigan: 297 days
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