The Ohio State Buckeyes didn’t quite reach their goals this season, losing to the rival Michigan Wolverines once again, failing to win a Big Ten Championship, and falling to the Georgia Bulldogs in the College Football Playoff. And as Ohio State looks to bounce back next season, they’ll be doing it without one of its top players.
On Tuesday afternoon, Ohio State starting left tackle Paris Johnson Jr. officially announced that he will be leaving school early and entering the 2023 NFL Draft this spring.
Thank you Buckeye Nation.. ❤️ pic.twitter.com/81aIjLhGxq
— Paris Johnson Jr. (@ParisJohnsonJr) January 10, 2023
“Thank you Buckeye Nation,” Johnson said in a Tweet.
While this is certainly a big blow for the Buckeyes, it’s also to be expected. Paris Johnson Jr. has been regarded as one of the top offensive linemen in the country all season and is essentially a lock to be a first-round pick with many mock drafts projecting him as a top-10 pick and potentially the No. 1 tackle in the draft.
Ohio State did get some good news this week, however, as starting tight end Cade Stover and hybrid wide receiver and running back Xavier Johnson both announced that they will be returning to Ohio State next season, giving the Buckeyes a boost as they once again look to compete for a national title.
