While it looked like the Buckeyes might have to replace its entire starting defense outside of Caleb Downs (who can’t declare for the NFL until after the 2025 season) the Buckeyes got some good news on Friday, first with the return of linebacker Sonny Styles and now with the announced return of Davison Igbinosun.
The senior-to-be still had eligibility left but decided to put off NFL dreams to run it back at Ohio State after a busy 2024 campaign that culminated with a National Championship.
Igbinosun, or IGB, had 45 tackles on the season along with two interceptions, nine passes defended and a fumble recovery. But IGB also had the dubious honor of being the most penalized cornerback in college football, a title that no player wants to hold an something that would take a lot of explaining to NFL front office personnel.
Igbinosun stated that he is coming back to Ohio State to, “be a first-round pick” in the NFL in an interview with Pete Thamel of ESPN.
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He will see his fellow defensive backs of Jordan Hancock, Denzel Burke and Lathan Ransom all leave for the NFL after finishing up their Ohio State careers.
IGB started his college career at Ole Miss before transferring to Ohio State a couple of seasons ago. In two years with the Buckeyes, he has been an honorable mention All-Big Ten performer as a starter with the Buckeyes.
As stated earlier, the Buckeyes now will have three of 11 starting positions coming back on defense with two in the secondary and one in the linebacker room.
It is not as if Ohio State is short in talent, with secondary players like Jermaine Mathews, Malik Hartford and a crop of young talent including Jaylen McClain, Devin Sanchez and Faheem Delane all ready to take that next step.
IGB will instantly become the “old man” on the defense however, older than both Sonny Styles and Caleb Downs. The Buckeyes will rely heavily upon IGB’s experience, and this will be good for Davison on a personal level as well as the secondary room was so deep, sometimes it was difficult to stand out from the pack.
The Buckeyes will come together as a team one final time in public for the 2024 season on Sunday as the team is honored at Ohio Stadium at 12pm in a celebration of the season. There will be speakers and the presentation of a slew of championship hardware for fans to take in. It will be a free event to attend along with free parking.
Nothing will be free for opposing players going against IGB this upcoming season however, it is a contract year, and the talented Buckeye is coming back for a reason.
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