Tag: Jack Sawyer

Unpacking Future Packers: No. 75, Ohio State DE Jack Sawyer

Up next in the Unpacking Future Packers draft preview series is Ohio State edge rusher Jack Sawyer.

The Unpacking Future Packers Countdown is a countdown of 100 prospects who could be selected by the Green Bay Packers in the 2025 NFL draft.

This past season, Rashan Gary and Lukas Van Ness combined for 10.5 sacks for the Green Bay Packers. That’s simply not good enough from two former first-round picks. 

The Packers gave defensive line coach Jason Rebrovich his walking papers and replaced him with DeMarcus Covington, who served as the New England Patriots defensive coordinator this past season.

It will be up to Covington to get Gary back on track and hopefully help Van Ness enjoy a breakout campaign in 2025. 

Even if those two take steps in the right direction, the Packers could still use another edge rusher to team with Gary, Van Ness, Kingsley Enagbare and Brenton Cox Jr. 

Jack Sawyer is an edge rusher Brian Gutekunst could target on Day 2 during the 2025 NFL Draft. The Ohio State defensive end checks in at No. 75 in the Unpacking Future Packers Countdown.

A former five-star recruit, Sawyer recorded three sacks during his first season on campus. The following season, Sawyer recorded seven tackles for loss and 4.5 sacks. In 2023, Sawyer recorded 10 tackles for loss and 6.5 sacks.

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This past season, Sawyer played a key role in helping the Buckeyes win the National Championship. He recorded 59 tackles, nine tackles for loss, nine sacks and one interception. During the College Football Player, Sawyer recorded four sacks and had a fumble return for a touchdown during Ohio State’s semifinal victory over Texas. 

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“Sawyer was one of four captains for the Buckeyes this season, but he was also the guy who was instrumental in starting the momentum on getting around 10 teammates to put the NFL on hold and return in 2024 for their senior seasons,” Tony Gerdeman, the lead writer for Buckeye Huddle said. “He is the guy who will keep fighting even after the battle is lost, literally and figuratively. Aside from the emotional and leadership aspects, he was also a guy who was never hurt, could play 60 snaps in a game and would just keep playing. He is football.”

Sawyer is a stout run defender and sets a firm edge. The Buckeye defensive end shows the lateral quickness to infiltrate gaps to make plays behind the line of scrimmage. Sawyer plays with a cranked-up motor and has good pursuit speed as a backside defender to chase down ball carriers. 

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“There have been some people over the years who would tell you he is a better run stopper than pass rusher,” Gerdeman said. “He’s a very smart defender who can set an edge or chase the backside. He keeps his eyes up and doesn’t just lose himself in his pass rush. Sawyer is a very good athlete who can run and chase, or hold up at the point of attack.”

Sawyer has physical hands to wear down offensive linemen. He’s a black belt in hand fighting and utilizes an effective cross shop. He has the power to cave the pocket and finished this past season with a career-high 64 pressures, including 21 during Ohio State’s run to the National Championship in the College Football Playoff. 

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“In his time at Ohio State, Sawyer was often criticized for not getting to the quarterback enough,” Gerdeman said. “He finished his career with 23 sacks (JT Tuimoloau finished with 24), which is tied for eighth-most in OSU history with former first-round picks Will Smith and Eric Kumerow. In terms of how he wins, he showed against Texas his ability to use speed to get around talented tackles. He can bend and turn a corner. He isn’t just a speed rusher, however. He has spent years working on the minute details of hands and feet and all of the stuff that coaches love

Fit with the Packers

The Packers need to add juice to their pass rush and while Sawyer is nowhere near being the most explosive edge rusher in this class. He’s not a twitched-up edge rusher. However, he has a refined pass rush plan that’s predicated on power and relentless motor.

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“If I draft Sawyer, I know that I’m drafting a guy who isn’t going to flake out,” Gerdeman said. “He’s going to be all in at all times. He can be a defensive end in an even front or outside linebacker in an odd front. He could get bigger or smaller depending on what the defense needs. The guy just wants to win and will work to make it happen.”

Adding a player like Sawyer to Green Bay’s defensive end group would give Hafley a player that’s NFL ready. He’s going to bring the same effort on each snap. He’ll help Green Bay’s run defense continue to improve while being a player that could register five to eight sacks during his rookie campaign.

With his skillset, Sawyer could challenge Van Ness for starting reps as a rookie. Regardless if he earns a starting role, a team can never have enough pass rushers and if last year is any indicator, the Packers need to add a pass rusher or two this offseason.

Patriots land two defensive difference-makers in ESPN 2025 mock draft

The Patriots go back-to-back on defense with first two picks in Matt Miller’s latest ESPN 2025 NFL mock draft

ESPN’s Matt Miller put together a two-round 2025 NFL mock draft on Monday, and he had the New England Patriots go defense with both of their draft selections.

The team selected Michigan defensive tackle Mason Graham with the fourth overall pick in the first round and Ohio State edge defender Jack Sawyer in the second round with the 38th overall selection.

Graham was a stalwart defender for Michigan throughout his time in Ann Arbor. He was a unanimous All-American in 2024 and a two-time first-team All-Big Ten selection in 2023 and 2024. He finished his run in Michigan with 108 tackles and nine sacks in 39 games.

Sawyer finished with 144 tackles and 23 sacks in 54 games during his time with the Buckeyes. He was named to the All-Big Ten Second-Team in 2023 and 2024.

Miller made the case for the Patriots to select both players with their first two picks. He called Graham a “fiery, active interior pass rusher with great technique and the burst needed to be a difference-maker at the 3-technique.”

As for Sawyer, Miller views the Ohio State standout defender to be able to “start immediately” as a “reliable three-down player from Day 1.”

Both players would serve as major upgrades to the Patriots’ struggling defense. There’s hope that the issues last season were an anomaly for a unit that typically plays well for the team.

They could surely benefit from the youthful energy and talent Graham and Sawyer would bring.

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49ers tackle 4 key needs in 3-round mock draft

In Athlon Sports’ latest three-round mock draft, the San Francisco 49ers tackle a series of key needs.

Athlon Sports’ Luke Easterling unveiled his latest three-round 2025 NFL mock draft on Thursday morning.

Easterling’s latest mock sees the San Francisco 49ers address a series of key needs.

While former Texas offensive tackle Kelvin Banks has been a trendy projected first-round selection for the 49ers, Easterling forecasts San Francisco to head in a different direction up front with their first-round pick.

Easterling has San Francisco drafting former Alabama guard Tyler Booker with the No. 11 overall selection.

Here’s Easterling’s full list of 49ers picks in his latest mock draft. Plus, a more detailed look at each below:

49ers’ projected draft picks per Easterling

  • First Round (No. 11 overall): Alabama IOL, Tyler Booker
  • Second Round (No. 43 overall): Ohio State EDGE, Jack Sawyer
  • Third Round (No. 75 overall): Virginia Tech CB, Dorian Strong
  • Third Round (No. 99 overall): Ohio State S, Lathan Ransom

Alabama IOL, Tyler Booker

Booker is quite the specimen on the inside. The 6-foot-5, 325 pound mauler was recognized as a first-team All-American by both CBS Sports and USA TODAY Sports for his efforts during the 2024 season.

Booker earned SEC Offensive Lineman of the Week honors three times last season in games against Missouri, LSU and Auburn. Booker’s football IQ is high and he looks like a high-floor selection with upside to morph into a perennial All-Pro staple on the 49ers’ interior.

The New Haven, Conn., product made 37 appearances and started 27 games at Alabama. Booker earned an 86.5 pass blocking grade with the Crimson Tide last season per Pro Football Focus. Booker arrived in Tuscaloosa, Ala., as a four-star signee in the 2022 class per 247Sports.

Ohio State EDGE, Jack Sawyer

Ohio State defensive end Jack Sawyer made one of the biggest plays of the college football season when he stripped the football away from Texas quarterback Quinn Ewers and then scooped it up and raced down the sideline for a game-sealing, 83-yard defensive score in the College Football Playoff semifinals.

Sawyer finished his final season in Columbus with 59 tackles, nine tackles for loss, nine sacks, eight quarterback hurries, six pass breakups, three forced fumbles, three fumble recoveries and one interception. The 6-foot-5, 260 pound defensive end tallied 138 tackles, 25.5 tackles for loss and 20 sacks during his Buckeye career.

Sawyer was Ohio State’s highest-graded defensive player per PFF with an overall defensive grade of 90.5. PFF credited Sawyer with an astounding 64 total pressures last season.

Virginia Tech CB, Dorian Strong

Virginia Tech cornerback Dorian Strong would bring a wealth of playing experience to San Francisco. Strong appeared in 53 games and started 44 over his five years with the Hokies, including 25 starts over the past two seasons.

Strong would also bring a large frame to San Francisco’s secondary. Listed at 6-foot-1, 185 pounds, that height should help covering larger NFL wide receivers on the outside.

Strong totaled 32 tackles, six passes defensed and intercepted a pair of passes last season. The Upper Marlboro, Md., native allowed just 27 receptions on 58 targets during the 2024 season and earned a 73.9 defensive grade from PFF.

Strong earned third-team All-ACC honors in 2023.

Ohio State S, Lathan Ransom

The 49ers use their third-round compensatory pick to go back to that Ohio State well. Ransom garnered an 82.1 defensive grade and a 93.5 run defense grade from PFF last season with the Buckeyes.

Ransom checks in as a 6-foot-1, 210 pound safety. The Tucson, Ariz., product registered 75 tackles, nine tackles for loss, two pass breakups, one interception and one sack last year with the Buckeyes.

The takeaways

San Francisco gets offensive line help that it needs with the top selection of Alabama’s Booker. Booker’s presence should help keep 49ers quarterback Brock Purdy clean as he only surrendered one sack in his three years with the Crimson Tide.

Then, San Francisco turns to the defensive side of the football with its next three selections. The 49ers add Sawyer to help star edge rusher Nick Bosa pressure opposing quarterbacks.

Lastly, the 49ers find potential replacements on the back end for cornerback Charvarius Ward and safety Talanoa Hufanga if the franchise can’t bring back one or both.

Lions attack trenches in latest Draft Wire mock draft

The Lions attack the trenches in the latest Draft Wire mock draft

The Lions had one of the better offensive lines in the NFL last season, as evidenced by two players initially making the Pro Bowl roster and a third being added late, ironically in place of another Lion.

Their defensive line was a solid unit as well, but with free agency coming, the group could stand to continue adding pieces. Same for the offensive line with Kevin Zeitler hitting the open market.

The latest mock draft over at Draft Wire from Curt Popejoy attacks both units in his two-round projections.

First, at No. 28 overall, the Lions go with Ohio State Edge Jack Sawyer. The national championship had a strong season overall, but made his legacy at Ohio State with his fumble return touchdown in the Cotton Bowl semifinal against Texas to secure the Buckeyes’ spot in the National Championship Game.

Sawyer had nine sacks all season. Half of them came in the playoffs — 1.5 vs. Tennessee, two vs. Oregon, one vs. Texas.

With the second-round pick, the Lions go with Alabama offensive lineman Tyler Booker. With Booker, the Lions would be getting a two-year starter at left guard at Alabama. At the very least, he serves as a depth piece to start. If Zeitler leaves in free agency, Booker can compete for a starting job. He may even crack the lineup if Zeitler stays, as Booker could very well beat out Graham Glasgow.

Bengals tabbed as potential fit for Jack Sawyer, who nets Sam Hubbard comp

Could the Bengals replace a veteran with a Buckeyes lookalike?

The Cincinnati Bengals will be in the market for plenty of pass-rush help this offseason. Trey Hendrickson was a star during the 2024 season, winning the sack title with 17.5. Unfortunately, he didn’t have much help outside of that. The rest of the team combined for 18.5 sacks as the Bengals’ 36 total sacks were tied for 25th in the league. Joseph Ossai was the only other Bengal with at least five sacks and only five players had multiple sacks.

One player that could be a potential fit in the middle of the draft is Ohio State’s Jack Sawyer. Sawyer helped make his mark this past season at Ohio State and really put a stamp during the College Football Playoff semifinal against Texas in the Cotton Bowl with his scoop-and-score to seal the 28-14 win, sending the Buckeyes to Monday’s National Championship Game against Notre Dame.

Sawyer is already being tabbed by some as a potential option in the draft for the Bengals.

Brendan Howe of Sportskeeda wrote this about the Bengals needing pass rush and possibly grabbing Sawyer: “ Outside of Trey Hendrickson, the Bengals don’t have much in terms of pass rushers. Hendrickson led the NFL with 17.5 sacks this season. He has one year left on his deal in Cincinnati, and it’s not a certainty the historically frugal franchise will reward him with a new contract. The Bengals might want to prepare for a future without Hendrickson, and adding Jack Sawyer would help bolster their pass rush.”

There’s also a comparison to the Bengals’ Sam Hubbard for Sawyer, from Matt Holder of Bleacher Report.

While Bengals fans may not necessarily want another Sam Hubbard, Sawyer still provides good size and physicality on the edge and would, in a sense, replace Hubbard, who could be a cap casualty this offseason.

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Jack Sawyer swarmed Ryan Day during his ESPN postgame interview to celebrate Ohio State’s CFP title win

This is how you celebrate a national title.

Ohio State finally got over the hump during Ryan Day’s tenure to win a College Football Playoff national championship on Monday night in Atlanta over Notre Dame.

During Day’s postgame interview with ESPN’s Holly Rowe, Buckeyes defensive end Jack Sawyer swarmed Day to give him a big hug and celebrate the title win with his ball coach.

This is a really sweet moment between coach and player, as you can tell the emotions for both are very genuine in such a life-altering moment as winning a national championship.

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The Buckeyes had to fight to get here, and you could tell for Day and Sawyer both how good it felt to share this victory hug with each other.

Feature image courtesy of ESPN. 

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Jack Sawyer calls playing with Ohio State football a “dream come true”

Ohio State football was able to get star defensive end Jack Sawyer back for his senior season, and the star has enjoyed every moment of it.

Jack Sawyer penned an incredible column in The Players’ Tribune on Thursday, showing a brilliant writing ability. In it, he went over just about everything from when he first committed to his life growing up in Ohio.

One thing he made sure to mention was his senior season and just how special that has been.

It surged to a new level when he made arguably the most impressive play in the Cotton Bowl, a fumble return for more than 85 yards that sealed the game for the Ohio State Buckeyes.

That might not be the cap of his year though as the Buckeyes are prepping to take on the Notre Dame Fighting Irish in the College Football Playoff National Championship Game.

That said, one thing is certain, and that is that Sawyer has loved every minute of playing for the Buckeyes.

“It’s been a dream come true for me to play football at this school, and I mean that literally. I dreamed of playing here — and then it came true,” Sawyer wrote.

Sawyer was the No. 1 player from the state in the Class of 2021 and was easily offered, although he’s certainly had to earn playing time. He was the No. 6 player in the class.

Sawyer has shown that ultra-high upside and has thrived this season. In the team’s first-round battle, he had 1.5 tackles for a loss and 1.5 sacks. Against Oregon, he had two of each, and against the Longhorns he had one of both.

One of the most impressive players to come through Columbus, Sawyer bleeds Scarlet and Gray. Let’s just hope he can reach the pinnacle of college football success on Monday.

2025 NFL draft: Titans select Cam Ward in latest two-round mock by The Athletic

The Tennessee Titans are slated to select 1st in the 2025 NFL draft and The Athletic sees them addressing their offense with that pick.

The Tennessee Titans finished their 2024 season with a miserable 3-14 record and have already made some drastic moves in the aftermath by firing general manager Ran Carthon. With the search for his replacement in full swing, fans can fantasize what they are going to do with their No. 1 overall selection in the 2025 NFL draft.

Fans not knowing the general manager allows them to debate this, and there is no consensus on what direction the team should take. Some say quarterback, others say edge, and others say best available player. There is really no clear-cut answer within the fan base.

Unfortunately, that is also the same question that is thrown about concerning the top prospects. Unlike past years, where there was consensus on a group of prospects, after Colorado Buffaloes cornerback/wide receiver Travis Hunter, there is no clear-cut order in the player rankings. That’s not to say there isn’t talent; there is. That just means that the players this year and in what order they are selected will likely be more in line with scheme fit than a consensus draft board.

Then there is the pressure of having the No. 1 pick and how much impact it will have on a team with multiple needs and limited selections. There are so many questions, and that makes this a fun time. This draft will be exciting and polarizing, especially for fans who aren’t embedded inside team facilities to see the big board.

NFL draft expert Dan Brugler of The Athletic recently released his latest two-round mock draft and has the Titans making at least part of the fanbase happy. 

Round 1

1. Tennessee Titans: Cam Ward, QB, Miami

The incoming general manager in Tennessee will inherit a great opportunity — either invest in a quarterback at No. 1 or trade the pick to a quarterback-needy team. Any other outcome would be surprising.

If the Titans opt not to take a QB, the ideal scenario would be to trade back two spots with the Giants. The Titans wouldn’t receive close to what the Bears scored in compensation from the Panthers for the No. 1 pick two years ago, but they would gain additional draft capital and still be in position to take Travis Hunter or Abdul Carter at No. 3.

However, in this mock, the Titans decide Ward is an upgrade over their current quarterback situation. His loose play style won’t be for everyone, but his ability to create explosive plays and the gradual improvements he has shown each year are promising aspects of his profile. Some scouts have compared Ward’s upside to that of Steve McNair, which would be music to the ears of fans in Nashville.

Round 2

35. Tennessee Titans: Jack Sawyer, Edge, Ohio State

 

The Titans need more pressure from their defense and Sawyer is an interesting selection and could make an impact on the edge. A two-year starter, Sawyer flies around, has a high motor and makes plays. He has flashed some explosion off the edge and has some variety as a rusher, but also holds up against the run. Plus he has shown big play ability and is a leader., all elements that would likely endear himself to the fanbase.  

There is no question that Ward and Sawyer would help fill voids on the roster in areas that definitely need upgrades. Is that who you would select for the Titans or would you go a different direction? Let us know your thoughts. 

The Tennessee Titans are slated to select 2nd in the 2025 NFL draft and CBS Sports sees them addressing their offense.

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Ohio State head coach Ryan Day, Will Howard, and Jack Sawyer talk CFP semifinal Cotton Bowl win

Ryan Day, Will Howard, and Jack Sawyer were understandably ecstatic after the Cotton Bowl win. #GoBucks

It wasn’t as easy as the two weeks prior in the College Football Playoff, but. Ohio State made enough plays to win a tough battle against the Texas Longhorns in a CFP semifinal Cotton Bowl on Friday night.

It was a nip and tuck affair that went into the fourth quarter until the OSU defense again made a goal-line stand, turned the game around with one play, and then salted things away for a 28-14 victory in Dallas.

Ohio State head coach Ryan Day, as well as quarterback Will Howard and defensive end, Jack Sawyer, met with the media after the game to field questions and provide reaction to what happened on the field. We have the entire press conference thanks to the WBNS 10TV YouTube channel.

In it, you can hear the trio give credit to Texas, discuss the resiliency of this OSU team, and more.

Ohio State will now prepare to take on Notre Dame in the CFP Championship Game in Atlanta on January 20. We’ll have plenty leading up to the game so come back and soak it all in over the next ten days or so.

Contact/Follow us @BuckeyesWire on X (formerly Twitter) and like our page on Facebook to follow ongoing coverage of Ohio State news, notes and opinion. Follow Phil Harrison on X.

WATCH: Jack Sawyer send Ohio State to the national championship with scoop and score

Buckeye legend forever #GoBucks

Ohio State is off to the College Football Playoff National Championship game to face Notre Dame. But it wasn’t easy. Clinging to a seven-point lead, the defense was asked again to make yet another stop. Texas drove down the field fairly quickly and then two pass interference calls put the Longhorns on the one-yard line with a first and goal.

The defense did what it’s done so many times this year. The Buckeyes would stuff a first-down run and string out another for a loss. Eventually, Quinn Ewers faced a fourth down to tie the game from the eight-yard line. Enter Jack Sawyer who came off the edge to hit Ewers, knocking the ball loose where Sawyer would scoop it up and rumble 83 yards to secure the Buckeye victory.

Watch the play below that will go down in Ohio State lore.

 

Ohio State will face Notre Dame for the National Championship on January 20.

Contact/Follow us @BuckeyesWire on X (formerly Twitter) and like our page on Facebook to follow ongoing coverage of Ohio State news, notes, and opinion.