Ohio State football: Wyatt Davis declares for the NFL Draft

Potential first-round pick Wyatt Davis has opted out of the season and the Ohio State offensive lineman has decided to prepare for the NFL Draft. 

The Big Ten has come under fire for deciding not to play this season. That decision has led redshirt junior and 2019 All-American guard Wyatt Davis to declare for the NFL Draft.

If Davis had declared at the end of last season, he would have been a first-round pick. Wyatt came back for a specific reason. Wyatt wanted an opportunity to win a national championship. “I came back to win a national championship and to not have that chance now hurts,” Wyatt told Spencer Holbrook of Lettermen Row.

Why is Wyatt Davis deciding to leave Ohio State now?

Wyatt went on in the interview, citing the lack of communication by the Big Ten administrative office as a key reason he’s decided to move on to the NFL. “With the season just getting pushed back and pushed back and no communication from the commissioner, my family and I just thought it was in our best interest to take the next step,” Davis told Lettermen Row.

Lack of communication and transparency seems to be a vital issue in what’s currently happening in the Big Ten. Penn State head coach James Franklin and Ohio State head coach Ryan Day –Wyatt’s head coach– have had issues with the lack of communication from Big Ten headquarters.

There has been little clarity about when the Big Ten is going to have a season. In August, university presidents decided to cancel the fall football season. Though there has been some talk of a spring season, nothing has been made concrete. Playing in the spring is a non-starter for players who are locks to be early-round draftees in the NFL.

Though Davis is the first Buckeye to declare for the NFL Draft, he might not be the last. If there is no decision concerning the fate of this season, early-round draftees like quarterback Justin Fields, wide receiver Chris Olave and cornerback Shaun Wade could declare sooner rather than later.