The Michigan Wolverines are facing an NCAA investigation for allegations related to sign-stealing, and now one former Ohio State Buckeyes star is speaking out on the situation.
Tom Withers of the Associated Press spoke with former Ohio State offensive tackle Dawand Jones, who is now with the Cleveland Browns, about the scandal. Jones revealed that Ohio State suspected Michigan had their sideline signals and made some changes, but said that they “couldn’t change everything.”
“Spoke to former Ohio State tackle Dawand Jones — now with Browns — about the Michigan sign stealing scandal. He said Buckeyes suspected Wolverines had their sideline signs last year and made some changes but couldn’t change everything,” Withers said in a post on X, the social media website that was formerly known as Twitter.
Spoke to former Ohio State tackle Dawand Jones — now with Browns — about the Michigan sign stealing scandal.
He said Buckeyes suspected Wolverines had their sideline signs last year and made some changes but couldn’t change everything.
— Tom Withers (@twithersAP) October 25, 2023
Jones indicated to Withers that despite changes Ohio State made to its signals ahead of the game against Michigan, it was apparent that Michigan still knew Ohio State’s calls, which Jones said was “a little demoralizing.”
Dawand Jones said seeing Michigan's players lined up pre-snap while knowing what was coming was "a little demoralizing."
— Tom Withers (@twithersAP) October 25, 2023
But more than anything, Jones said that he was simply “sad” to hear about the Michigan cheating scandal.
One more from Browns tackle Dawand Jones on alleged Michigan sign stealing:
"It’s just sad to see it. We’re kids at the end of the day, and you don’t want to cheat a kid out of a chance to showcase their skills on a national level. It’s just sad to see that.”— Tom Withers (@twithersAP) October 25, 2023
“It’s just sad to see it. We’re kids at the end of the day, and you don’t want to cheat a kid out of a chance to showcase their skills on a national level. It’s just sad to see that,” Jones said.
It’s not clear what the NCAA will determine from its investigation or what punishment Michigan will receive – if any.