10 most important college football players returning to school over entering draft

Top 10 college football players returning to school over entering draft

No. 2: Tommy Eichenberg, Ohio State LB

Tommy Eichenberg captained the Ohio State defense in 2022, leading by example with 120 tackles, 12 tackles for loss including 2.5 sacks, three pass defenses and an interception which he returned for a touchdown.

His excellent campaign had him set up as one of the top linebacker prospects going into the 2023 NFL Draft. However, the middle linebacker had unfinished business on his mind and is coming back to the Buckeyes.

Ohio State limited opposing teams to 21 points per game last year. But the defense gave up more than 40 points in the two most important games of the year: 45 to Michigan in the battle for the Big Ten and 42 to Georgia in the College Football playoff.

The disappointment of those performances will undoubtedly fuel the entire Buckeyes defense through the offseason. They’ll have their captain beating the drum on that.

Losing Eichenberg would have meant starting from scratch at one of the most important positions on the field. Getting him back should be huge for a defense licking its wounds and looking to come back with a vengeance in 2023.