Three days after offensive guard Wyatt Davis elected to opt out of the upcoming college football season, Ohio State cornerback Shaun Wade did the same, announcing Monday in a statement on Twitter that he would be entering the 2021 NFL Draft and will not play for the Buckeyes this season.
Thank you Buckeye Nation!
Forever a Buckeye! pic.twitter.com/VFjKukLpLV
— Shaun Wade (@shaunwade24) September 14, 2020
“Being a student-athlete at The Ohio State University has been the greatest experience of my life. It has given me the chance to excel on the football field, earn my college degree, and it has helped me become the man that I am today. For that, I am forever grateful,” Wade said in the statement. “After much prayer and consideration, I have decided to declare for the 2021 NFL Draft. Given the circumstances and uncertainty surrounding the 2020 season, I know in my heart that the best decision for my future is to begin preparing for the next chapter in my life.”
Wade finished the 2019 season with 25 tackles (16 solo), four tackles for loss, two sacks, a forced fumble, eight pass breakups and an interception. His efforts made him a third-team All-Big Ten member despite also sharing a secondary with a pair of first round picks in Damon Arnette and Jeff Okudah.
Following his redshirt sophomore season, Wade elected to return to the Buckeyes in 2020 and was rewarded by becoming a preseason All-American and a team captain.
Wade’s departure means that no starting member of the secondary will be back for Ohio State from 2019, as safety Jordan Fuller also was drafted in the sixth round by the Los Angeles Rams.
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