to 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 clinch the resilient College Football Playoff by winning the national championship Our Lady. And you can guess what happened when the team returned to Columbus, Ohio.
“It was a lot of fun,” Sawyer told Fox News Digital before his ceremonial “shift” at the Rising Canes in Columbus alongside fellow star quarterback Will Howard. “Obviously it was a whirlwind after the game when we first got back to Columbus. Now, it was probably more of a whirlwind, but we enjoyed it a lot and are very happy that 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 outside Raising Cane's restaurant in Columbus, Ohio. (raise cane)
Sawyer arrived at Raising Cane early Wednesday morning with “100 people already outside,” all waiting to praise the two Buckeyes for their contributions to their championship season.
But while the Buckeyes' celebrations continue, the end of the season means both Sawyer and Howard are destined to be NFL Draft Prospectsas they aim to make their move into professional football.
Sawyer's stock skyrocketed as he had a huge performance in the CFP, including a strip-sack and scoop-and-score against his former Ohio State roommate, Texas quarterback Quinn Ewers, to seal a win for the Buckeyes in the Cotton Bowl to cement their spot in the national title game.
Ohio State fans storm Ohio Stadium to celebrate their first national title since 2014
While his mobility on the field, and work ethic off the field, are qualities that teams will look to during the scouting process, Sawyer knows his faith will continue to play a big role in what happens next.
“He's everything to us,” Sawyer said of his faith, which brought Howard into the fold as well. “It's a number in our lives when you put God first in that way and really seek to grow with Him and follow His plan. It will open so many doors for you that you'll never think you can achieve it otherwise.”
“For me and Will, and everyone on the team, our belief has been the biggest thing keeping us up and keeping us moving forward after two tough losses on the season.”
One of those losses was a massive upset by the Michigan Wolverines, the Buckeyes' arch-rival and whom Sawyer naturally refers to as “the team of the north,” on November 30. It was a loss in Columbus that led to a brawl on the field. between the two teams, as Sawyer was seen tearing the Michigan flag away from midfield after the Wolverines wanted to celebrate their win more.
At the time, it was a disaster for coach Ryan Day and the Buckeyes. They couldn't get a shot at a Big Ten title, and many wondered if they had what it took to make a CFP run.
Jack Sawyer poses with Columbus Rising Canes football. (raise cane)
But Ohio State has shown what resilience in the face of adversity looks like, especially with so many naysayers believing the Buckeyes once again won't be able to take their talented team to the title game.
“We knew we had to work and fix the things we needed to fix and attack them as hard as we could,” he said. “And that's exactly what we did. No one saw the work we were doing behind the scenes.”
As for Sawyer personally, he entered his next game after losing to Michigan and had 1.5 sacks with two passes defensed and five total tackles in the loss against Tennessee in the first round of the CFP. Next, he had two sacks and three passes defended 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 about life,” Sawyer said of the title. “He taught me that everything is not always going to go your way, but if you keep trusting God and keep fighting and keep getting up every day, you will eventually come out the other end.
“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, I'm going to give it everything I can, keep fighting and keep growing every day. Every day.”
Once again, this is a time to celebrate after a long, hard season for Sawyer, his teammates and his coaches. But the NFL Scouting Combine is right around the corner, and very 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 beating the Notre Dame Fighting Irish in the College Football Playoff for the CFP National Championship Game at Mercedes-Benz Stadium. (Photos by Mark J. Rebelas-Imagine)
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Whichever team has his name on his card, he knows he will do everything he can to make an impact like he did in Columbus. But he will not stress any step forward, as his faith will remain steadfast as he looks forward to 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 so much more than we can ever thank him enough for.”
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