Skip to main content
ohio-state logo

Scarlet Sunrise: Jack Sawyer believes a lot of third-year Buckeyes 'are on the same page' after Cotton Bowl loss

IMG_7408by:Andy Backstrom•01/01/24•

andybackstrom

Jack Sawyer by Kyle Robertson/Columbus Dispatch / USA TODAY NETWORK
Ohio State defensive end Jack Sawyer celebrates one of his three sacks during the Cotton Bowl. (Kyle Robertson/Columbus Dispatch / USA TODAY NETWORK)

Good morning, Ohio State fans, and welcome to the Scarlet Sunrise. Football will always be our focus, but every day we’ll cover news, notes and analysis from across Buckeyes sports. Join us each morning to get caught up on everything you missed in the world of Buckeyes football, recruiting, basketball and more in Scarlet Sunrise.

Jack Sawyer believes a lot of third-year Buckeyes ‘are on the same page’ after Cotton Bowl loss

For Ohio State, the Cotton Bowl was supposed to be about washing out the bad taste of the Michigan loss and building momentum for the 2024 season.

And, for some NFL Draft-eligible Buckeyes, it served as an opportunity to end the 2023 season — and maybe even their Ohio State careers — on the right note.

None of that happened.

The 14-3 setback to Missouri raised several questions, but perhaps none more important than “What does this mean for the Buckeyes’ third-year players who are weighing potential NFL futures?”

Ohio State defensive end Jack Sawyer was asked a question of that ilk postgame. Sawyer matched the program bowl record with three sacks in the loss, but he didn’t care about his standout performance. He was just upset the Buckeyes couldn’t send their seniors out with a win.

“I think a lot of us all are on the same page about, you know, we don’t want to end our Ohio State careers like this [with] two tough losses,” Sawyer said. “We all love it here. We love Coach Day. We love the staff. And sometimes unfortunate things happen, and you don’t get the outcome you want.

“I think that’s gonna play a big factor in our decisions.”

Sawyer is among a large group of juniors deciding between running things back at Ohio State for one more season or heading to the NFL.

That group includes defensive end J.T. Tuimoloau, defensive tackle Tyleik Williams, left guard Donovan Jackson, cornerbacks Denzel Burke and Jordan Hancock, running back TreVeyon Henderson and wide receiver Emeka Egbuka.

Defensive tackle Mike Hall Jr. already declared for the draft, and all signs point to wideout Marvin Harrison Jr. doing the same thing after he opted out of the Cotton Bowl.

From Sawyers’ comment, though, it seems as if Ohio State could be getting a handful of significant returners for 2024, even after a miserable finish to a once-promising 2023 campaign.

Ohio State first-year wideouts Bryson Rodgers, Noah Rogers enter transfer portal

Ohio State true freshman wide receivers Bryson Rodgers and Noah Rogers both entered the transfer portal Sunday night.

Both early enrolled last January and spent just one season with the Buckeyes. Rodgers accounted for six total offensive snaps across two games, and Rogers accounted for 14 total offensives snaps across four games.

Just like last year, half of the Ohio State wide receivers signed in the previous four-wideout class have hit the portal after just one year with the program.

Last time, it was Caleb Burton and Kaleb Brown, who ended up at Auburn and Iowa, respectively. This time around, it’s Bryson Rodgers and Noah Rogers.

For more on Rodgers, go here.

For more on Rogers, go here.

Catching up on Cotton Bowl content?

Ohio State flopped offensively in the Cotton Bowl, scoring 20 points or fewer for just the fifth time since Ryan Day joined the program in 2017 — but the third time this season.

There weren’t too many bright spots in a 14-3 defeat to Missouri, but the top-10 New Year’s Six showdown in AT&T Stadium did feature a strong performance by the Buckeyes’ defense.

Lettermen Row had full coverage of the disappointing conclusion to the 2023 season, which included the short-lived starting debut of Devin Brown and the first real meaningful snaps for fellow quarterback Lincoln Kienholz.

Get up to speed here…

Counting down

Buckeyes vs. Michigan: 334 days

Are you a Lettermen Row member yet?

Are you ready to get all your latest Ohio State news in one place? Become a member of Lettermen Row today. With your Lettermen Row/On3+ membership, you’ll not only have access to everything that’s happening with the Buckeyes, but you’ll also be able to peruse other fan sites within the network to hear just how rivals are feeling about Ohio State, as well. Make sure to follow along on X, Instagram and on Youtube for all the latest Buckeyes news you need to know.

You may also like