Ohio State football: Ryan Day gushes about Jack Sawyer’s dominant spring game showing

Jack Sawyer, Ohio State Buckeyes. (USA Today)
Jack Sawyer, Ohio State Buckeyes. (USA Today) /
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Ryan Day knows his Ohio State football team’s future is bright with defensive end Jack Sawyer.

Jack Sawyer has been a phenomenal addition to the Ohio State football program this spring, and his head coach Ryan Day fully understands what a transcendent talent he has at defensive end.

Sawyer was one of the first three true freshmen Buckeyes to have their black stripe removed this spring, along with running back TreVeyon Henderson and wide receiver Marvin Harrison Jr. If that was not enough, you need to see the highlights from Sawyer’s four-sack performance in the Buckeyes’ spring game. He projects as the next superstar pass rusher for Coach Day in Columbus.

“Off to a great start, for sure,” said Day. “He’s earning more and more reps, he’s working his way up the depth chart. I think across the board, our [defensive] line was solid this year. We have some good depth. Jack in particular came in with a lot of confidence, and he’s made a lot of plays.

“What you saw today was pretty much most every practice out there. If he can keep building, getting stronger and keep building, then hopefully he’s going to have an impact and be able to participate early in the season.”

“We have a couple big games early on, so the more depth we have the better off we’re going to be.”

Jack Sawyer already living up to hype for Ohio State football

Sawyer was the No. 1 player from Ohio in the 2021 recruit class. The 247Sports Composite has the 6-foot-5, 248-pound defensive end as the No. 3 strong-side defensive end in the country and the No. 4 overall player in his class. Though Sawyer did not play his senior season of high school in nearby Pickerington, he surely made up for lost time by making an immediate impact this spring.

Because Ohio State will almost certainly be one of the five best teams in the country again this year, a lot of eyes will be on the talented true freshman. Though Day says he will be working his way up the depth chart, his talent is too undeniable to keep off the field for very long. It would not be shocking if he ends up being all-conference even an All-American in his true freshman season.

It is still incredibly early, but Sawyer looks to be the real deal for the Buckeyes through this spring.

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