Scarlet Sunrise: Ohio State linebacker Tommy Eichenberg accepts Senior Bowl invite
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Ohio State linebacker Tommy Eichenberg accepts Senior Bowl invite
Fifth-year linebacker Tommy Eichenberg became the first Ohio State player this year to accept an invitation from the Reese’s Senior Bowl.
The pre-draft all-star game announced that Eichenberg’s bound for the Feb. 3 showcase in Mobile, Alabama, teasing that he will in fact declare for the NFL Draft rather than use a sixth year of eligibility.
ESPN NFL Draft analyst Mel Kiper Jr. currently ranks Eichenberg as the fourth-best linebacker among 2024 NFL Draft prospects.
Eichenberg was named the Big Ten’s Butkus-Fitzgerald Linebacker of the Year last week, in addition to earning first-team All-Big Ten honors for the second year in a row.
The Cleveland native once again leads Ohio State in total tackles (80) despite missing two games with a left arm injury in Week 11 and Week 12. His 40 solo tackles are also tops on the team. Eichenberg tacked on 2.5 tackles for loss, one sack and, according to Pro Football Focus, 11 pressures generated.
That follows a breakout junior season in which he ranked fifth nationally with 77 solo tackles, not to mention his 2.5 sacks, 12.0 TFLs and his game-changing pick-six against Iowa.
Eichenberg further established himself as the quarterback of the Ohio State defense in the second year under coordinator Jim Knowles.
Ohio State head coach Ryan Day believes that maturation will help Eichenberg in the draft process, which the two-time Buckeyes captain is expected to enter after playing against Missouri in the Cotton Bowl.
“Tommy really took the next step here this year, really helped himself I think coming back for his senior year,” Day said Sunday on a Cotton Bowl teleconference. “I think a lot of it had to do with his ability to diagnose plays, get the defense into checks, tie the front end to the back end, and then just show up, play really hard.
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“I think Tommy’s one of the best linebackers in the country and has an opportunity to really play himself even in this last game into one of the top drafted linebackers coming out this year in the draft.”
Day added: “As a captain, he’s been a great leader for us, and his production speaks for itself.”
Marvin Harrison Jr. named Heisman Trophy finalist
You can add “Heisman Trophy finalist” to the laundry list of Marvin Harrison Jr.’s accomplishments. The superstar Ohio State wide receiver is headed to New York City, as he’s in the running for the most prestigious award in college football.
Also in the mix are veteran quarterbacks Jayden Daniels (LSU), Bo Nix (Oregon) and Michael Penix Jr. (Washington), all of whom have been around at least five seasons and transferred to their current school.
This year, Harrison became the first Buckeyes wideout to post two 1,000-yard receiving seasons in program history. He also set the school record for most career 100-yard receiving games (15).
For more on Harrison’s honor, head on over here.
Transfer tracker: Breaking down Buckeyes moves, philosophy in transfer portal
Having trouble keeping track of all of Ohio State’s transfer portal departures?
Lettermen Row has you covered.
The Buckeyes have already seen 12 of their players hit the portal — including starting quarterback Kyle McCord and starting wide receiver Julian Fleming — and there could be more on the way soon.
Follow along here to stay up to date.
Counting down
Buckeyes vs. Michigan: 361 days
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