On Friday, a federal court in Denver ruled that all high school class of 2022 athletes who exhausted their fourth season of college eligibility this spring are eligible for a fifth season this coming year. We have already seen players selected in the NBA Draft return to college, as well as undrafted players who have played in the NBA G-League come back and play college basketball. Now we might see some undrafted college football players who have gone through an NFL training camp and failed to secure
a contract come back and play another year of college football.
While there are some restrictions as to who will be able to come back and finish out their college eligibility, today we aren’t going to be quite as picky when it comes to choices. What we want to know is what Ohio State player from last year would you want back for their fifth season of college athletics? There are no restrictions on what sport your answer can pertain to; it just has to be a fourth-year senior who played for the Buckeyes last year who you thought had suited up for Ohio State for the last time.
To make our question even more interesting, we are going to forego any of the conventional rules when it comes to who would be eligible to return to college for a fifth year. Even if a fourth-year Buckeye senior was drafted in the first round of the NBA or NFL Draft, if you wanted them back in Columbus for another year, then we’ll allow it. Since it seems like the rules of who can return to college and who can’t are being made up on the fly, we might as well give our readers with some spicy opinions some leeway.
Today’s question: Which Ohio State senior from last year would you welcome back for a fifth season?
We’d love to hear your choices. Either respond to us on Twitter at @Landgrant33 or leave your choice in the comments.
Brett’s answer: Bruce Thornton
After spending four seasons at Ohio State and barely making the NCAA Tournament as a senior, I wouldn’t blame Bruce Thornton for wanting to stay in the NBA. Thornton was drafted with the first pick of the second round of June’s NBA Draft by the New York Knicks, who then traded Thornton to the Houston Rockets. Not only will Thornton be playing with former Buckeye Jae’Sean Tate in Houston, but other teammates of Thornton will also be Kevin Durant, Alperen Sengun, and Amen Thompson. Not a bad landing spot to start your NBA career.
Despite a strong showing in the NBA Summer League, it’s likely Thornton won’t see a ton of time on the floor during the season, as Houston has Reed Sheppard, Marcus Smart, Fred Van Vleet, and a number of others at guard. Along with seeing more playing time if he returned to Columbus for one more season, Thornton might receive an NIL package that could rival what his salary in the NBA would be.
Another reason Thornton returning to Ohio State would be appealing if it were possible is because he could be the missing piece on a team that could make a deep run in the NCAA Tournament. Thornton and John Mobley Jr. would be one of the best backcourt combinations in the country, and would be complemented by Amare Bynum and super freshman Anthony Thompson in the frontcourt. The experience of Thornton, Mobley, and Bynum to go along with the potential of a five-star recruit in Thompson would make the Buckeyes a favorite in the Big Ten.
The icing on the cake for Thornton would be that he would be able to add to his career scoring total. In what was his final home game, Thornton set the Ohio State career scoring record, finishing with 2,164 career points. Thornton became just the second player in Big Ten history to record 2,000 points, 500 rebounds, and 500 assists during their college career. In a time when it’s hard to keep track of where players are playing because of the transfer portal, Thornton was a fixture for the Buckeyes for four years. If possible, it would be amazing to see him get one more year at Ohio State.
Matt’s answer: Davison Igbinosun
At the elite levels of college football, you have to have confidence just to step onto the field. However, of all of the players on the roster, no one needs a bit of ego more than a No. 1 cornerback. A corner is put out on an island, tasked with guarding the most athletic player on the opposing offense. While you might have help over the top, if you fail, more often than not, it’s going to be bad for your team. And by the nature of the position, on the occasions when you don’t come out on top, everyone in the stadium and watching on TV is going to see it clear as day.
To survive on the outside, especially at Ohio State, you need to believe that every incompletion was your doing, every catch was a fluke, and every receiver lining up across from you is about to have the longest three hours of his life. That is why I would absolutely welcome Davison Igbinosun back for a fifth season of college football and a fourth with the Buckeyes.
Igbinosun has never lacked swagger. He talks, celebrates, gets in receivers’ faces, and carries himself like he expects to win every snap. Occasionally, that attitude has rubbed opponents — and probably some opposing fan bases — the wrong way. But that is exactly the mentality you must have to be a No. 1 cornerback in the best conference in football.
The biggest issue earlier in Igbinosun’s Ohio State career was that his aggression too often crossed the line into penalties. He was physical, but not always controlled. On nearly every ball thrown his way, he was in practically perfect position, but all too often, he would be a bit too handsy, drawing an official’s flag.
However, over the past two seasons, he has shown real growth in that area, virtually eliminating what had once been the single most frustrating part of his game. And what made the evolution even more satisfying to watch was the fact that, in doing so, he never once lost the edge that made him so effective in the first place; IGB simply learned how to use his natural athleticism and aggression without constantly putting the defense in bad situations.
Admittedly, Ohio State should be in good shape at cornerback even with Igbinosun now suiting up for the New York Giants. Jermaine Mathews Jr. will return as an established starter, and I believe Devin Sanchez will be ready to step into a major role. The talent is there.
But this is also a uniquely difficult schedule, and when facing the best teams in the country, talent alone is not always enough. There will be road environments, veteran quarterbacks, elite receivers, and moments when the defense needs someone who has already been punched in the face a few times and knows how to respond.
Igbinosun has played in those games. He has handled the criticism, worked on one of his biggest weaknesses, and maintained the confidence required to play one of the sport’s most unforgiving positions.
The Buckeyes will continue to have the BIA secondary without him, but if he were to somehow magically return to the team, they would have an even deeper, tougher, and more experienced unit heading into their daunting regular season schedule; and, heck, a little extra trash talk never hurt anybody.
