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Linebacker Tommy Eichenberg is returning to Ohio State for a fifth season, an announcement that marks a significant boost for the Buckeyes' defense. "After a lot of consideration and thought, I've decided to return for a final season at Ohio State," Eichenberg wrote in a post on Instagram on Thursday. "Back to work. Go Bucks."

As a breakout star last fall, Eichenberg was the centerpiece of the improvement the Buckeyes showed on that side of the ball in their first season under defensive coordinator Jim Knowles. He made 120 tackles, a total that ranked among the most of all players within the Football Bowl Subdivision. In the Big Ten, only Iowa's Jack Campbell, who was the recipient of the Butkus Award as the nation's top linebacker, finished with more tackles. - The Columbus Dispatch

(DS#4 ILB) rSr/2024

ILB Tommy Eichenberg, Ohio State
News Source: The Columbus Dispatch
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01/12/23 - Matthew Jones, rSr/2024, Ohio State, 6-4, 316 (DS#17 OG) + More +

Ohio State football will have two starters back on its 2023 offensive line, thanks to Matt Jones' decision to extend his career. Jones announced Wednesday he will put of the NFL Draft and return to the Buckeyes for a sixth season. The returning starter at right guard joins left guard Donovan Jackson as holdovers for this fall as Ohio State prepares to replace tackles Paris Johnson Jr. and Dawand Jones and center Luke Wypler.

"Although i have dreams and aspirations to play in the NFL, my college chapter does not close here," Jones wrote on Twitter. With that being said, I will be returning to the Ohio State University for the 2023 season. It's God's plan and the brotherhood. I have unfinished business to take care of." Matt Jones emerged in 2021 as a utility man of sorts, filling in at multiple interior spots on the offensive line. He secured the starting right guard job last spring and turned in a second-team All-Big Ten season. Had Matt Jones not returned, OSU would have looked for new starters at four offensive line positions. Attempts to add more bodies through the transfer portal have fallen short. Starting experience among the returning reserve group is extremely limited. - Cleveland Plain Dealer

(DS#17 OG) rSr/2024

OG Matthew Jones, Ohio State
News Source: Cleveland Plain Dealer
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01/12/23 - Dawand Jones, Sr/2023, Ohio State, 6-8, 374 (DS#5 OT) + More +

Dawand Jones came to Ohio State football as a project, an offensive lineman with the heart and mobility of a basketball player and the body of a small mountain. He leaves the Buckeyes as a down-ballot All-American and likely an early round NFL Draft pick. As expected, Jones announced Wednesday that he will conclude his college career by entering April's draft. Jones was ranked No. 1,043 in the 247Sports national composite for the 2019 class. Pushing 380 pounds at the time, the 6-foot-8 talent from Indianapolis had outgrown his basketball dreams while developing into a college prospect late in his high school career. - Cleveland Plain Dealer

(DS#5 OT) Sr/2023

OT Dawand Jones, Ohio State
News Source: Cleveland Plain Dealer
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01/12/23 - *Luke Wypler, rSo/2023, Ohio State, 6-3, 303 (DS#2 C) + More +

Luke Wypler was a someone unexpected answer to Ohio State football's center needs in 2021 and emerged as a leading voice in 2022. In 2023, the New Jersey native will be in the NFL. Wypler announced Tuesday night he will enter his name in April's draft and forego his remaining college eligibility. Wypler spent the past two seasons as OSU's starting center. He took over late in preseason camp when presumptive starter Harry Miller stepped away from football. He started the next 26 games and emerged as one of the best centers in the Big Ten.

Ohio State's last three starting centers have all been relatively high NFL Draft picks. Pat Elflein was a third-round pick of the Minnesota Vikings in 2017. Billy Price went in the first round to the Cincinnati Bengals in 2018. The Green Bay Packers took Josh Myers in the second round in 2021. Preceding them, Corey Linsley was a fifth-round choice of the Packers in 2014 and went on to become the NFL's highest-paid center. Wypler followed their examples with the Buckeyes, and will attempt to do the same in the pros. - Cleveland Plain Dealer

(DS#2 C) rSo/2023

C *Luke Wypler, Ohio State
News Source: Cleveland Plain Dealer
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01/11/23 - *Paris Johnson Jr., rJr/2023, Ohio State, 6-6, 313 (DS#1 OT) + More +

Paris Johnson Jr. came to Ohio State football with immense promise, and in his third season, finally put everything on the field. The Cincinnati native's lone season at left tackle resulted in consensus All-America honors and a tough act to follow for the programs' returning offensive linemen. Johnson now heads off to the NFL, announcing Tuesday on Twitter that he will enter April's draft. He is widely expected to be a first-round selection, perhaps among the top 15 picks.

"It has always been a dream of mine since I committed to The Ohio State University to leave with both my degree and a Buckeye tree," Johnson wrote of the ceremonial trees planted for All-Americans. "I am grateful for the opportunity to accomplish both in three years. "After having several conversations with my coaches and family, I want to accomplish the first dream of mine since I was five years old, which is to declare for the 2023 NFL Draft." The 6-foot-6, 310-pound Johnson came in as OSU's most touted offensive line recruit since Orlando Pace in 2020. He was the No. 9 overall prospect in the 2020 class and the No. 1 offensive tackle. When Urban Meyer stepped away at the end of the 2018 season, Johnson reopened his recruitment, and Ryan Day had to close the commitment again. - Cleveland Plain Dealer

(DS#1 OT) rJr/2023

OT *Paris Johnson Jr., Ohio State
News Source: Cleveland Plain Dealer
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01/10/23 - Cade Stover, rSr/2024, Ohio State, 6-4, 247 (DS#4 TE) + More +

Ohio State tight end Cade Stover will return to the Buckeyes for the 2023 season. The fourth-year player from Mansfield caught 36 passes this season, the most by an Ohio State tight end since Rickey Dudley in 1995. He injured his back in the first quarter after his only reception of the College Football Playoff semifinal against Georgia. The injury required a trip to the hospital, though Stover traveled home with the team the next day. A former Ohio Mr. Football at Lexington High School, Stover bounced between offense and defense for the Buckeyes until this year. He played linebacker in last year's Rose Bowl win over Utah when the Buckeyes were short-handed at that position. - Columbus Dispatch

(DS#4 TE) rSr/2024

TE Cade Stover, Ohio State
News Source: Columbus Dispatch
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01/08/23 - Tristan Gebbia, rSr/2024, Ohio State, 6-1, 210 (DS#999 QB) + More +

Oregon State quarterback Tristan Gebbia has had a change of mind regarding his football future, as the sixth-year senior put his name in the transfer portal Tuesday. Gebbia was thought to have finished his career when he played two series in OSU's Las Vegas Bowl win over Florida on Dec. 17. Gebbia told The Oregonian/OregonLive in November that he planned to pursue a football coaching career. Gebbia heads to the transfer portal as a grad transfer.

Gebbia is eligible for a seventh year if he obtains a medical redshirt. It's not known if Gebbia already has a medical redshirt or if he's currently in the process. Gebbia has a case for a medical redshirt as he missed the entire 2021 season due to a hamstring injury. Gebbia started his college career in 2017 at Nebraska, then transferred to OSU in 2018. Gebbia made his Beavers starting debut in 2019 against Oregon, throwing for 243 yards in a 24-10 loss. - The Oregonian

(DS#999 QB) rSr/2024

QB Tristan Gebbia, Ohio State
News Source: The Oregonian
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01/06/23 - Miyan Williams, rJr/2024, Ohio State, 5-09, 229 (DS#20 RB) + More +

When healthy, Miyan Williams formed half of an effective Ohio State football running back duo in 2022. Williams didn't explicitly announce he will be back with the Buckeyes for a fourth season in 2023. But posts on Twitter and Instagram both said "Unfinished business," hinting that the Cincinnati native will remain at OSU rather than pursue early entry into the NFL Draft. Williams then confirmed to the Columbus Dispatch that those posts did mean he will be back in Columbus this fall.

Williams' Instagram post also included the hashtag #ForGranny. That is presumably a reference to Tryphena Williams, his grandmother who died in early September. Williams attended her funeral on the Thursday prior to the Big Ten opener against Wisconsin, then rushed for 101 yards and two touchdowns on only 11 carries. He posted an even bigger performance a week later, totaling 189 yards and five touchdowns on 21 carries in a rout of Rutgers. Williams also topped 100 yards in victories over Northwestern and Indiana. Yet he battled through a season-long series of injuries to his hand, ankle and knee. He also came down with a stomach bug prior to the Peach Bowl playoff semifinal against Georgia, which limited his playing time. - Cleveland Plain Dealer

(DS#20 RB) rJr/2024

RB Miyan Williams, Ohio State
News Source: Cleveland Plain Dealer
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01/04/23 - Tommy Eichenberg, rSr/2024, Ohio State, 6-2, 233 (DS#4 ILB) + More +

In the aftermath of the loss in the Peach Bowl, Tommy Eichenberg said he remained undecided about his future. His stock took a significant leap after breaking out in Jim Knowles' defense, showing great instincts to swarm ballcarriers. His 120 tackles were the most by an Ohio State player since 2014. But Eichenberg was only a junior in eligibility this past fall, allowing him to return as a redshirt senior if his draft grade isn't to his liking. A return would be a major lift to the defense. - Columbus Dispatch

(DS#4 ILB) rSr/2024

ILB Tommy Eichenberg, Ohio State
News Source: Columbus Dispatch
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01/02/23 - Marvin Harrison Jr., Jr/2024, Ohio State, 6-3, 209 (DS#1 WR) + More +

Sitting at his locker, one of the first inside the entrance to Ohio State football's locker room at Mercedes-Benz Stadium, Marvin Harrison Jr. showed no signs of trauma or distress. About 90 minutes earlier, the All-America receiver lay crumpled underneath a goal post. He elevated to catch a pass in the back of the end zone, and Georgia defensive back Javon Bullard laid a hit on him. Harrison said he never lost consciousness. However, after evaluation, OSU's medical staff placed him in concussion protocol and took his helmet away. While he said he wanted to return to the game, he understood why he could not finish the Buckeyes' 42-41 loss.

"I did my best, you know - I want to be out there with my team," Harrison said. "I respect the trainer's decision. At the end of the day they're just looking out for my health. But yeah, I definitely tried to fight." Harrison said he had experienced concussions prior to his Ohio State career. He said Saturday's experience "kind of was a similar situation." Yet he also said he felt good enough to return to the game. According to Ohio State athletics' policy on concussions and head trauma, athletes are to be removed from practice or competition when they experience concussion-like symptoms. They cannot return to participation that day if the concussion is confirmed. If concussion is confirmed, athletes undergo evaluation by the athletic trainer or team physician, including "symptom assessment, SCAT5 evaluation, and clinical evaluation for cervical spine trauma, fractures and/or intracranial bleeding." - Cleveland Plain Dealer

(DS#1 WR) Jr/2024

WR Marvin Harrison Jr., Ohio State
News Source: Cleveland Plain Dealer
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12/16/22 - Ethan Onianwa, rSr/2026, Ohio State, 6-6, 331 (DS#11 OT) + More +

2022 CONFERENCE USA ALL-FRESHMAN TEAM: OL: Ethan Onianwa, Rice,...Shea Baker was named to the second team while Jack Bradley, Ekenna Enechuckwu, Jordan Dunbar, Josh Pearcy, Bradley Rozner, Trey Schuman and Clay Servin earned honorable mention recognition. In addition, Ethan Onianwa was named to the C-USA All-Freshman team. Onianwa took over as the starter at right tackle when the Owls faced USC in the 2022 opener and is third on the team with 788 snaps. - Rice Football

(DS#11 OT) rSr/2026

OT Ethan Onianwa, Ohio State
News Source: Rice Football
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12/15/22 - CJ Donaldson, Sr/2026, Ohio State, 6-1, 232 (DS#14 RB) + More +

2022 ALL-BIG 12 FOOTBALL HONORABLE MENTION: C.J. Donaldson (ONoY, OFoY),...West Virginia's honorable mention choices were linebacker Jasir Cox, running back CJ Donaldson, wide receiver Sam James, defensive tackle Jordan Jefferson, linebacker Lee Kpogba and offensive tackle Wyatt Milum. - West Virginia Football

(DS#14 RB) Sr/2026

RB CJ Donaldson, Ohio State
News Source: West Virginia Football
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12/15/22 - Steele Chambers, rSr/2024, Ohio State, 6-1, 226 (DS#15 OLB) + More +

Ohio State linebacker Steele Chambers said Wednesday he will return for a fifth season rather than enter next spring's NFL draft. "I'm coming back," Chambers said. "I'll be chilling here." A redshirt junior who began his career playing running back before switching to the defensive side of the ball last season, said he wants to have more experience at linebacker. His return would give him a third season under his belt at the position, continuing his development. His 69 tackles are the second-most among the Buckeyes, trailing only Tommy Eichenberg, who makes up the other half of their starting linebacker tandem and finished with 112 tackles during the regular season. - Columbus Dispatch

(DS#15 OLB) rSr/2024

OLB Steele Chambers, Ohio State
News Source: Columbus Dispatch
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12/14/22 - *Jaxon Smith-Njigba, Jr/2023, Ohio State, 6-1, 196 (DS#1 WR) + More +

Ohio State football coach Ryan Day said Jaxon Smith-Njigba's decision to shut down for the season helped bring the star receiver "peace" after a once-promising season ruined by injury. Ohio State announced last Monday that Smith-Njigba would not play in the Peach Bowl against Georgia and would begin rehabbing in preparation of April's NFL Draft. The preseason All-American suffered a hamstring injury on opening night against Notre Dame that limited him to only two more games. During the season, Smith-Njigba was the subject of weekly speculation as to whether he could return.

After his decision to forgo his remaining eligibility, speculation about the true extent of the injury also surfaced. Day said all of that noise took its toll on the receiver. "In a day and age where you're not going to go out there and give a lot of detail about what the injury is, and so many people questioning and asking for him - that wasn't easy for him, either," Day said. "We knew he wasn't going to be able to play this next month. It was ruled out by the doctors. They made the decision. Just felt like it was time to put it to bed so he could get a little peace, because it was hard for him this season." For much of the season, Day spoke with optimism about Smith-Njigba's potential return to play down the stretch. That optimism continued even when the receiver experienced setbacks after returning to play against Toledo on Sept. 17 and Notre Dame on Oct. 22. - Cleveland Plain Dealer

(DS#1 WR) Jr/2023

WR *Jaxon Smith-Njigba, Ohio State
News Source: Cleveland Plain Dealer
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12/09/22 - Tommy Eichenberg, rSr/2024, Ohio State, 6-2, 233 (DS#4 ILB) + More +

2022 WALTER CAMP SECOND TEAM ALL-AMERICAN: LB Tommy Eichenberg, Ohio State,...Eichenberg, a finalist for the Lott IMPACT Trophy, has led the team in tackles all season and currently ranks third in the Big Ten with 112 total stops. His 72 solo tackles are first and his 12.0 TFLs rank sixth. Eichenberg is a fourth-year player from Cleveland. He was named first-team on both the coaches and media ballots. - Ohio State Football

(DS#4 ILB) rSr/2024

ILB Tommy Eichenberg, Ohio State
News Source: Ohio State Football
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