We are a little over a month away from the college football season starting and what better way than to evaluate athletes who are on the rise. This segment will feature The Ohio State University’s edge rusher Jack Sawyer.

Ohio State has produced so many dominant edge rushers over the years. From the Bosa’s to Chase Young, the University in recent memory know how to get the best out of their pass rushers. Entering his senior season, Sawyer looks to improve upon a six and a half sack season from a season ago and in his last three years at Ohio State, he has improved his statistical performance.

Sawyer in 2023 captured 48 total tackles (24 solo, 24 assisted), 6.5 sacks, two forced fumbles, and two pass deflections. The Pickerington, Ohio native standing at 6-foot-4-inches 265 pounds, is bound to breakout.

Pro Football Focus wrote an article titled: ‘College Football: Top 10 returning edge defenders for the 2024 season’ in which author Max Chadwick discussed Sawyer and ranked him at number three on the list. He mentioned how the youthful 22-year-old is the “most well–rounded edge defender in the nation this past year.”

Sawyer was arguably the most well-rounded edge defender in the nation this past year. He was the only FBS edge to earn 85.0-plus grades both as a pass rusher and as a run defender. Among returning Power Five edge defenders, only Tennessee’s James Pearce Jr. was more valuable in 2023, according to PFF’s wins above average metric.

Sawyer’s game is centered on his power profile at 6-foot-4 and 265 pounds. If the former top-five recruit can add more pass-rushing moves to his arsenal in his senior season, he can climb even further up this list.

The big body of Sawyers and just how dominant he plays on the football field, will certainly help Ohio State’s defense that has improved on paper this offseason. The addition of former Alabama defensive back Caleb Downs, a 2023 SEC Freshman of the Year, will boost the secondary.

Sawyer’s Collegiate Statistics: 

2021: 13 Total Tackles (9 Solo, 4 Assisted), 3 Sacks, 1 FF, 1 Pass Deflection

2022: 24 Total Tackles (10 Solo, 14 Assisted), 4.5 Sacks, 0 FF, 1 Pass Deflection

2023: 48 Total Tackles (24 Solo, 24 Assisted), 6.5 Sacks, 2 FF, 2 Pass Deflections

2024: TBD

The statistics above show a player who has improved his production each year. In 2024, expect Sawyer to get close to double-digit sacks, which will only improve his future draft stock.

Sawyer’s growth and development along with upping his sack total, will give the secondary more opportunities to intercept the football and apply pressure to the opposing quarterbacks they face. The Finance Major is bound for a big season in 2024 and is a college football player to watch.