Ohio State Buckeyes starting quarterback Kyle McCord took a lot of blame for the team’s struggles on the offensive side of the ball this season as well as the team’s third-consecutive loss to the Michigan Wolverines when he threw two crucial interceptions. But as he leaves the program, his former teammates are defending him.
During an interview session this week, a few Ohio State players defended Kyle McCord from criticism he received from fans and the media throughout the season.
Wide receiver Emeka Egbuka pointed out that McCord led Ohio State to an 11-1 season and helped Marvin Harrison Jr. win the Biletnikoff Award.
“People can say what they want about Kyle, we went 11-1, we had a great season,” Egbuka said according to Eleven Warriors. “Unfortunately we lost to the team up north. But you can’t really discredit the things that he did. We had a Biletnikoff winner, you can’t just have that with a terrible quarterback. So there’s not too much to be said about the quarterback play. I think it’s always going to be top-tier at Ohio State.”
Defensive end Jack Sawyer pushed back against the notion that McCord should be blamed for the loss against Michigan.
“Me and Kyle are really close on and off the field, and we’ve developed a friendship that’s gonna last a lifetime. And I really felt bad for him, how he was treated after those games,” Sawyer said. “And I don’t think it was fair. I understand that at Ohio State, the quarterback’s expected to win games. And I don’t think at all it was his fault that we lost that game in Ann Arbor. So I think it was unfair, definitely. I love Kyle to death, and I wish him nothing but the best. And I just think it was unfortunate the way he ended his career here.”
McCord may be leaving, but it’s clear his teammates still have his back.
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