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This week in Ohio State football was full of recognition.
The Buckeyes did not play a game, nor did they do any interviews, but they still managed to make plenty of headlines.
Of course, that is no longer unusual (some sort of news seems to bubble up constantly 52 weeks a year now), but in this case it was mostly about highlighting who had the best seasons — and got noticed for it.
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Ohio State tied the program record with 7 first-team All-Americans
Senior linebacker Sonny Styles joined the group Wednesday when his name was on the list from The Sporting News.
That seems a little ironic since he was one of the few big names returning on defense, but they all get trees in the Buckeye Grove outside Ohio Stadium no matter what order they were announced.
Styles joined safety Caleb Downs, defensive linemen Kayden McDonald and Caden Curry and fellow linebacker Arvell Reese as first-team All-Americans on defense while receiver Jeremiah Smith and center Carson Hinzman represent the offense.
Ohio State has had 12 first-team All-American linebackers, but never two in the same year.
The selection of Reese and Styles also ends an 11-year drought that seems remarkable as Ryan Shazier was the last Buckeye LB to be so honored.
Also remarkable: Ohio State had not had an All-American defensive lineman since Haskell Garrett in 2020. He was also the last defensive tackle.
Curry is the first Ohio State DE to make the first team since Chase Young in 2019 while Hinzman is Ohio State’s 16th All-American center, including two in a row after Seth McLaughlin was a consensus pick last season and the eighth of this century.
Meanwhile, Downs is the first OSU All-American safety since… Downs last season, and the same can be said of Smith at receiver.
Ohio State also had seven first-team All-Americans in 1974 when Heisman Trophy winning running back Archie Griffin headlined a group that also included CB Neal Colzie, DT Pete Cusick, DE Van Ness DeCree, C Steve Myers, OT Kurt Schumacher and P Tom Skladany.
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The best of the best
Downs, McDonald and Smith made all five of the major All-America teams (AFCA, AP, Walter Camp, TSN and Football Writers Association of America), making them all unanimous All-Americans.
Downs also earned that distinction last season, making him the sixth two-time unanimous first-team All-American for Ohio State, an illustrious group that includes WR Marvin Harrison Jr. (2022-23), OT Orlando Pace (1995-96), RB Archie Griffin (1974-75), FB Bob Ferguson (1960-61) and RB Hopalong Cassady (1954-55).
McDonald is Ohio State’s second unanimous first-team All-American nose guard, joining Hall of Famer Jim Stillwagon in 1970. Now THAT is impressive, as was McDonald’s reaction to being named Big Ten Defensive Lineman of the Year earlier this month.
Meanwhile, Smith joins Harrison as Ohio State’s second unanimous All-American receiver.
Reese made three of the All-America teams (AP, AFCA and Walter Camp), making him the first consensus All-American linebacker for the Buckeyes since his current position coach, James Laurinaitis, in 2008.
Overall, Ohio State has has 41 unanimous All-Americans and 99 consensus All-Americans all time.
But that’s not all
Others also earned national postseason recognition, including running back Bo Jackson.
He made the Freshman All-America team for The Athletic and On3 while redshirt freshman quarterback Julian sayin joined him on The Athletic’s squad.
Not surprisingly, Griffin is a fan of both, as captured by ElevenWarriors when the two-time Heisman winner spoke on ESPN’s awards show I have never watched.
“Julian Sayin has done a terrific job there as a young quarterback. I like him. I like our running back, Bo Jackson, who’s doing an outstanding job. As a matter of fact, I can tell you that I like all those backs in the backfield that Ohio State has, and I’m looking forward to seeing what they do from this point on because they still have a chance to do a great job and maybe even win another national championship. Who knows?”
Sayin made the second-team All-America list for the American Football Coaches Association and Walter Camp while receiver Carnell Tate made the second team for the AFCA, Sporting News and the Associated Press and left guard Luke Montgomery made the second team for the AFCA.
OK, actual football is back tonight
The playoff begins tonight with No. 8 Oklahoma playing host to No. 9 Alabama in a first-round game in Norman. That game will be on ESPN/ABC at 8 p.m.
A triple-header follows Saturday with No. 7 Texas A&M playing host to No. 10 Miami (Fla.) at noon on ESPN/ABC.
Next you can watch Tulane at Mississippi at 3:30 p.m. on TNT with Oregon hosting James Madison at 7:30 p.m. on TNT.
Of course, the TAMU-Miami game is the one of most interest to Ohio State fans as the Buckeyes will take on the winner in the Cotton Bowl on Dec. 31.
If you’re wondering what else is to watch this weekend, Steve Helwagen of Bucknuts has you covered with his weekly viewing guide.
As for the Aggies and the Hurricanes, should Ohio State fans be rooting for one over the other?
I’ll have my view Saturday morning, so watch those inboxes!
Until then, thanks for reading, and please share this newsletter if you know anyone who might like it.
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