For Ohio State Buckeyes standout linebacker Jack Sawyer, the last 48 hours have been a “whirlwind” if you ask him.
On Monday night, he helped the Buckeyes cap a resilient College Football Playoff run with a national championship victory over Notre Dame. And you can expect what happened when the team returned to Columbus, Ohio.
“It’s been a lot of fun,” Sawyer told PK Press Club Digital before his celebratory “change” at Raising Cane’s in Columbus alongside star quarterback teammate Will Howard. “Obviously it was a whirlwind after the game when we first got back to Columbus. Now, maybe it’s even more of a whirlwind, but we had a lot of fun with it and we’re so glad we were able to get the job done for Coach Day and the city of Columbus.”
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Will Howard and Jack Sawyer take a photo with Ohio State fans in front of Raising Cane’s in Columbus, Ohio. (raising the cane)
Sawyer went to Raising Cane’s early Wednesday morning with “already 100 people outside,” all waiting to congratulate the two Buckeyes on their contributions to a championship season.
But while the Buckeyes’ celebrations continue, the end of the season means Sawyer and Howard are poised to become NFL Draft prospects as they aim their transition to professional football.
Sawyer’s draft stock skyrocketed as he put together a tremendous CFP run, including the strip-sack, scoop-and-score against his former Ohio State roommate, Texas quarterback Quinn Ewers, to seal the Buckeyes’ victory in the Cotton Bowl and solidify a spot in the national title game.
OHIO STATE FANS ARRIVE AT OHIO STADIUM TO CELEBRATE 1ST NATIONAL TITLE SINCE 2014
While his on-field drive and work ethic are qualities teams will look at during the scouting process, Sawyer knows his faith will continue to play a big role in what happens next.
“It’s everything to us,” Sawyer said of his faith, bringing Howard on board as well. “It’s a time in our lives when you put God first like that and you really seek to grow with Him and follow His plan. He’s going to open so many doors for you that you would never think you could achieve otherwise.
“For me and Will, and really everyone on the team, our faith has been the most important thing that has kept us going and moving forward after some tough losses this season.”
One of those losses was a massive loss to the Michigan Wolverines, the Buckeyes’ bitter rival that Sawyer naturally calls “Team Up North,” on November 30. It was a loss in Columbus that led to a brawl on the field. between the two teams, where Sawyer was seen ripping a Michigan flag from midfield after the Wolverines wanted to celebrate their victory even more.
At the time, it was a disaster for head coach Ryan Day and the Buckeyes. They didn’t get a shot at the Big Ten title, and many wondered if they had what it took to make this CFP work.
Jack Sawyer poses with a football at the Columbus Raising Cane’s. (raising the cane)
But Ohio State showed what resilience in the face of adversity looks like, especially with a bunch of opponents once again thinking the Buckeyes wouldn’t be able to take their talented team to the title game.
“We knew we had to get to work and fix the things we needed to and attack as hard as we could,” he said. “That’s exactly what we did. Nobody saw the work we were doing behind the scenes.”
For Sawyer personally, he started his next game after losing to Michigan and racked up 1.5 sacks with two passes defensed and five total tackles in the CFP first-round rout of Tennessee. Then he defended two sacks and three passes in the Rose Bowl against Oregon, followed by his 83-yard return for a touchdown against the Longhorns.
“I think it taught me a lot of things about life,” Sawyer said of that title run. “It taught me that not everything will always go the way you want it to, but if you continue to trust God, keep fighting and get up every day swinging, you will eventually come out of this.
“I think that’s something that I’m going to take with me to the next level, and it’s something that I hope teams see in me. Regardless, I’m going to give it my all, continue to fight and continue to grow every day.
Once again, it’s time to celebrate after a long and difficult season for Sawyer, his teammates and his coaches. But the NFL Scouting Combine is fast approaching, and pretty soon, Sawyer will likely hear his name called in April when the NFL Draft begins.
Ohio State Buckeyes defensive end Jack Sawyer (33) celebrates after defeating the Notre Dame Fighting Irish during the CFP National Championship college football game at Mercedes-Benz Stadium. (Mark J. Rebilas-Imagn Images)
Regardless of which team puts his name on his card, he knows he will give it his all to make an impact like he did in Columbus. But he won’t dwell on any milestone to take, as his faith will remain a constant as he contemplates the next major moment in his life.
“All things are possible with God, and I will continue to trust in His plan,” Sawyer concluded. “Like I said, he has blessed us more than we could ever thank him enough.”
