Ohio State linebacker Tommy Eichenberg returning for 2023 season
COLUMBUS — Ohio State linebacker Tommy Eichenberg, a second-team All-American and defensive leader for the Buckeyes in 2022, isn’t making the jump to the NFL just yet. Eichenberg announced Thursday that he’s coming back to Ohio State for a fifth year.
To say Eichenberg had a breakthrough season would be an understatement. Eichenberg piled up more solo tackles (77) in 2022 than he had total tackles (64) in 2021.
He was all over the field, even when he was playing with casts on both of his hands the final weeks of the regular season. Eichenberg was actually at his best following the bye week, starting with a pick-six against Iowa that opened up what was initially a low-scoring battle with the Hawkeyes. The Cleveland native turned in four games with 13 or more tackles, and three of them occurred after the off week.
Eichenberg fortified the second level of defensive coordinator Jim Knowles’ 4-2-5 system with fellow linebacker and roommate Steele Chambers, who is also running it back for next season.
Eichenberg gave Knowles a lift in the pass rush, too. He finished third on the team with 23 pressures generated, according to Pro Football Focus. He got home for 2.5 sacks and, per Sports Reference, tallied a team-high 12 tackles for loss.
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No Buckeyes player notched a higher PFF defensive grade (86.7) than Eichenberg in 2022. He cut his missed tackle rate down from 14.3% last season to 9.8% this time around. And, even though he gave up 32 receptions on 37 targets, he conceded just nine yards per catch, according to PFF.
Eichenberg eclipsed the 450-snap barrier for the first time this season and emerged as one of the country’s top linebackers.
ESPN NFL Draft analyst Mel Kiper Jr. ranked Eichenberg the No. 9 inside linebacker in the 2023 class. But Eichenberg will now be gunning for an even higher placement in the 2024 class.
And, of course, a national title.
