Scarlet Sunrise: Five Ohio State football players receive degrees at summer commencement

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Five Ohio State football players receive degrees at summer commencement

Five Ohio State football players, two current and three former, earned their degrees at summer commencement Sunday.

The two current players who just graduated are sixth-year safety Josh Proctor and redshirt junior tight end Gee Scott Jr. They both received degrees in human development and family science.

Proctor is a “super senior and is hoping to truly break through at safety this season. He’s been a part of three Big Ten championship teams and three Buckeyes squads that have made the College Football Playoff. Proctor, once the No. 80 overall prospect in the 2018 class, started to come on for the Buckeyes down the stretch of the 2020 season.

But, the next year, he suffered a season-ending leg injury two games in. And, in 2022, he lost his starting spot in the opener, except he still managed to finish with a career-high 21 total tackles in his first go around with Jim Knowles as defensive coordinator. The hard-hitting, 6-foot-2, 205-pound safety took the majority of first-team reps at “adjuster” (free safety) during this spring season yet was practicing with the second team on the first day of training camp. Proctor has recorded 65 tackles, eight passes defended, two interceptions and one fumble recovery in his Buckeyes career.

Congrats to Gee & Josh on graduating 📚📝🌰 pic.twitter.com/Gy4k22TctD

— Ohio State Football (@OhioStateFB) August 6, 2023

Meanwhile, Scott is going on his fourth year at Ohio State. The former wide receiver standout at Eastside Catholic High School in Seattle has appeared in 24 games for the Buckeyes, has 10 career receptions to his name and scored his first Ohio State touchdown last season at Michigan State.

Scott played 141 offensive snaps in 2022 — 72 more than he totaled his first two years with the program, per Pro Football Focus — and mixed in at TE2. For the second straight year, the 6-foot-3, 240-pound Scott reeled in five catches. He has a lot of room to grow as a blocker, but his receiving ability has helped him contribute to a playmaking Ohio State tight end room, which is headlined right now by Cade Stover.

Ohio State now has nine players who have graduated on its 2023 roster. Proctor and Scott join linebacker Steele Chambers (finance degree), offensive lineman Victor Cutler Jr. (kinesiology degree from Louisiana Monroe), linebacker Tommy Eichenberg (real estate degree), wide receiver Xavier Johnson (communications degree), offensive lineman Matthew Jones (human development and family science degree), defensive tackle Jaden McKenzie (human development and family science degree) and linebacker Kourt Williams II (communications degree).

Also graduating Sunday were three program alums: kicker Noah Ruggles, tight end/fullback Mitch Rossi and defensive back Lloyd McFarquhar. They each earned master’s degrees.

Healthy TreVeyon Henderson thrilled to be back on field for Buckeyes

Ohio State running back TreVeyon Henderson is back to full strength, and he’s returned to action with a new mindset that radiates positivity.

After a setback-ridden sophomore season, which saw him fracture a sesamoid bone in his foot Week 3 and try to play through the pain of that injury, Henderson has his change of direction back.

His faith has helped him reframe last season and enter the 2023 campaign with a reflective outlook.

“I learned how to be a leader and be there for my teammates,” Henderson said. “I couldn’t play on the field, but the best thing I could do is lead those guys during practice and in the game, just try to lead those guys the best I can.”

For the full story, go here.

Revisiting Ohio State safety options, potential board reset and new targets

Ohio State missed on five-star Buford (Ga.) safety KJ Bolden, who committed to Florida State over the Buckeyes as well as Georgia, Auburn and Alabama.

Bolden is the top safety in the 2024 class, according to the On3 Industry Ranking. Ohio State was making a strong push for him.

But now that he’s decided to take his talents elsewhere, what do the Buckeyes do?

They have four-star West Orange (N.J.) Seton Hall Prep safety Jaylen McClain in the fold. Lettermen Row examines who could join him this cycle.

Check it out here.

Counting down

Buckeyes vs. Indiana: 26 days
Buckeyes vs. Michigan: 111 days

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