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For Ohio State Buckeyes standout linebacker Jack Sawyer, the last 48 hours have been quite 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 Our Lady. And you can expect what happened when the team returned to Columbus, Ohio.
“It’s been a lot of fun,” Sawyer told Fox News Digital before his celebratory “shift” at Raising Cane’s in Columbus alongside fellow star quarterback Will Howard. “Obviously, it’s been 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 and we’re really glad we were able to get the job done.” for Coach’s Day and the city of Columbus.”
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Will Howard and Jack Sawyer take a photo with Ohio State fans outside Raising Cane’s in Columbus, Ohio. (Raising the cane)
Sawyer arrived at Raising Cane early Wednesday morning with “already 100 people outside,” all of whom were waiting to praise the two Buckeyes for their contributions to a championship season.
But while the Buckeyes’ celebrations continue, the end of the season means that both Sawyer and Howard will become NFL Draft Outlookas they aim for their transition to professional football.
Sawyer’s draft stock skyrocketed when he had a tremendous CFP run, including the sack, scoop and score against his former Ohio State roommate, Texas quarterback Quinn Ewers, to seal the victory for the Buckeyes in the Cotton Bowl and solidify a spot in the national title game.
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While his motor on the field and his work ethic off it are qualities that teams will look at during the scouting process, Sawyer knows his faith will continue to play a big role in what happens next.
“It means everything to us,” Sawyer said of his faith, bringing Howard into the fold as well. “It’s a number in our lives when you put God first like that and really seek to grow with him and follow his plan. He will open so many doors for you that you would never think you could achieve any other way.
“For me and Will, and really everyone on the team, our faith has been the biggest thing that has kept us going and moving forward after a couple of tough losses this season.”
One of those losses was a major upset to the Michigan Wolverines, the Buckeyes’ bitter rival who Sawyer naturally refers to as the “Team of the North,” on Nov. 30. It was a loss in Columbus that sparked a fight on the field. between the two teams, where Sawyer was seen tearing down a Michigan flag from midfield after the Wolverines wanted to further celebrate their victory.
At the time, it was a disaster for head coach Ryan Day and the Buckeyes. They failed to get a shot at the Big Ten title and many wondered if they had what it took to make that CFP title.
Jack Sawyer poses with football at Columbus Raising Cane’s. (Raising the cane)
But Ohio State showed what resilience in the face of adversity looks like, especially with plenty of naysayers who believe the Buckeyes once again couldn’t lead their talented team to the title game.
“We knew we had to get to work and fix the things we needed to fix and attack it 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 came into his next game after losing to Michigan and racked up 1.5 sacks with two passes defended and five total tackles in the rout of Tennessee in the first round of the CFP. He then had two sacks and three passes defended in the Rose Bowl against Oregon, followed by his 83-yard touchdown return against the Longhorns.
“I think it’s taught me a lot about life,” Sawyer said of this title run. “It has taught me that not everything is always going to go the way you want, but if you continue to trust in God, fight and get up every day, you will eventually come out on the other side.
“I think that’s something I’m going to take with me to the next level, and it’s something I hope teams see in me. No matter what happens, I’m going to give it my all, keep fighting and keep growing every day.” day.”
Once again, it’s time to celebrate after a long, tough season for Sawyer, his teammates and his coaches. But the NFL Scouting Combine is right around the corner, and 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 in the CFP National Championship college football game at Mercedes-Benz Stadium. (Mark J. Rebilas-Imagn Images)
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Whichever team writes his name on his card, he knows they will give it their all to make an impact like the one he had in Columbus. But he won’t emphasize any steps forward, as his faith will remain a constant as he looks toward the next important moment in his life.
“Everything is possible with God and I will continue to trust in his plan,” Sawyer concluded. “Like I said, you blessed us more than we could ever thank you enough.”
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