Former Ohio State defensive end Jack Sawyer was selected by the Pittsburgh Steelers on Saturday with the No. 123 overall pick in the fourth round.
After a prolific high school career at Pickerington North led to him being a five-star prospect, Sawyer lived up to the lofty expectations bestowed upon him at Ohio State. In his first two years at Ohio State, Sawyer combined for 37 tackles, including 10 for loss, and 7.5 sacks. It was during the second half of his junior season, though, that Sawyer became a star player. In the last three games of the 2023 season, Sawyer recorded 16 tackles, including 7.5 for loss and five sacks.
Sawyer struggled to carry that momentum into the beginning of his senior season, as he only recorded one sack in the team’s first four games, but just like the previous season, Sawyer peaked at the perfect time.
In a win over eventual-playoff team Indiana, Sawyer tallied 1.5 sacks one week before coming up with a clutch goal-line interception against Michigan.
Sawyer was truly at his best in the playoffs, when he went for 4.5 sacks in four games. His biggest play came in the Buckeyes’ 28-14 win over Texas in the Cotton Bowl, when he had a strip-sack of former Ohio State quarterback Quinn Ewers and then returned the ball to the end zone for a game-sealing 83-yard touchdown.
Sawyer, a team captain in his senior season, became a fan favorite in Columbus for his heroism in big moments and will likely retain the attention of many Buckeye fans during his professional football career.
He now joins a Steelers defensive line that also includes former Buckeye Cameron Heyward as well as All-Pro defensive end T.J. Watt.
