Scarlet Sunrise: Tommy Eichenberg's Cotton Bowl status still 'up in the air'

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Ohio State LB Tommy Eichenberg’s Cotton Bowl status is still ‘up in the air’

Ask any Ohio State player who the toughest guy on the team is, and you’ll get the same answer: Tommy Eichenberg. The linebacker’s grit and tenacity are a big reason why he’s a two-time Buckeyes captain.

But Eichenberg’s status for the Cotton Bowl is still “up in the air,” according to Ohio State defensive coordinator Jim Knowles.

The fifth-year defensive stalwart, MIKE linebacker and “quarterback of the defense” suffered an arm injury at Rutgers in Week 10 and missed the following two games against Michigan State and Minnesota. He returned for the regular season finale at Michigan yet wore a brace on his left arm and recorded his second-lowest Pro Football Focus defensive grade (48.1) of the season, missing two tackles and allowing a season-high 55 receiving yards on three receptions.

That’s not a good representation of Eichenberg’s season nor his Ohio State career. In fact, despite his two-game absence and his struggles at Michigan, he became the first Buckeyes player to win the Butkus-Fitzgerald Linebacker of the Year, an annual award debuted in 2011 that honors the best Big Ten linebacker.

Eichenberg clocked out of the regular season with 80 total tackles, including 40 solo tackles, a sack and a forced fumble.

The St. Ignatius High School product from Cleveland emerged as a second-team All-American, first-team All-Big Ten honoree and Lott IMPACT Trophy finalist in 2022. He notably boosted his tackling and coverage skills, accounting for 77 solo tackles — the fifth most nationally — and allowing just 7.0 yards per reception, which, according to PFF, was 8.8 fewer yards per reception than he gave up the year before.

Eichenberg posted four double-digit-tackle performances last year, not to mention his two-sack game against Notre Dame to start the season. He was first on the team with 12 TFLs and recorded a pick-six versus Iowa. Eichenberg even played with a pair of injured hands late in the season.

Eichenberg, at one point nicknamed “Tommy two thumbs” for playing through those hand injuries with a pair of casts, has done his best to push through another injury in 2023, a season in which he’s turned in three double-digit tackling outings.

If he doesn’t play Friday in the Cotton Bowl against No. 9 Missouri, Cody Simon will likely start in his place, and it’s not because Eichenberg’s opting out. After all, Knowles confirmed Tuesday that he’s not expecting any opt-outs for the top-10 matchup on that side of the ball.

“You love to see a bunch of guys who believe in ‘the brotherhood,'” Knowles said. “They believe in how far our defense has come, and they want to finish the job. No matter what their future is, they keep playing because they care about their brothers and they care about the Silver Bullets.

“And that’s kind of an old school mentality these days, but it’s great to see.”

Eichenberg hasn’t publicly announced his 2024 plans yet. Neither has fellow veteran linebacker and roommate Steele Chambers. Except, Knowles mentioned Tuesday that both Eichenberg and Chambers will be gone next season. Eichenberg already accepted an invitation to the upcoming Reese’s Senior Bowl, and he’s currently ranked by ESPN NFL Draft analyst Mel Kiper Jr. as the No. 8 draft-eligible, off-ball linebacker prospect for the 2024 draft.

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• Young linebacker flashing in bowl practice, giving glimpses of future defense

Three Buckeyes defenders generating buzz during Cotton Bowl prep

Bowl practice is the perfect time for players to grow and even earn snaps for the postseason. Last year, safety Sonny Styles did just that, seeing the field early and often as a true freshman in the Peach Bowl College Football Playoff semifinal against Georgia.

After speaking with some of the biggest Buckeyes defensive stars, Lettermen Row compiled a list of three Ohio State defenders who are generating buzz in the lead-up to the Cotton Bowl.

Find out who those three are here.

Denzel Burke, Jack Sawyer hint at potential return for 2024

Neither of them said it. Both hinted at it.

Ohio State cornerback Denzel Burke and defensive end Jack Sawyer haven’t publicly announced their 2024 plans yet. But Burke declared that, whenever he leaves the Buckeyes, he wants to be a top-10 pick and that he wants to be able to tell his family someday that “we won something” during his Ohio State career. The Buckeyes haven’t beaten Michigan or won a Big Ten Championship game in his three years with the program.

Sawyer, also part of Ohio State’s stacked 2021 recruiting class, hasn’t achieved those feats either. Whereas Burke put a date on his decision — Jan. 10 — Sawyer just said that people will know soon about what’s next for the EDGE prospect. He may have tipped his hand, though, by indicating that he’s “more than likely” to come back next season.

For the full story on Burke, go here.

For the full story on Sawyer, head on over here.

Counting down

Buckeyes vs. Michigan: 339 days

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