Redshirt sophomore defensive tackle Dre'Mont Jones certainly would interest NFL teams, but at least one teammate thinks he'll stay at Ohio State for 2018. (Marvin Fong, The Plain Dealer)
COLUMBUS, Ohio -- Ohio State football daily nuggets: Three things you need to know about the Buckeyes today.
By Doug Lesmerises, cleveland.com
1. Among Ohio State's logical candidates to leave early for the NFL, redshirt sophomore defensive tackle Dre'Mont Jones falls behind players like Denzel Ward, Sam Hubbard and Jerome Baker.
But the size, speed and skills that Jones has shown in two seasons on the inside of the Buckeyes defensive line makes it reasonable to assume he might be leaving for the pros. When you're good, you're often gone. In a mock draft from November, for instance, draft analyst Matt Miller of Bleacher Report had Jones as a first-round pick in the 2018 NFL Draft, as the No. 26 overall pick.
That's what we're talking about here.
So when Bill Landis, Tim Bielik and I made our predictions before Senior Day about which underclassmen might be playing their final home game, all of us predicted Jones to head to the NFL.
But an important teammate of Jones disagrees with us.
Sophomore defensive end Nick Bosa on Friday was talking about the future of the Ohio State defensive line, and he was talking about Jones being part of it in 2018. He was talking about it in a way that made it seem like he might know something.
In talking about the line next year, Bosa initially mentioned "Dre'Mont hopefully coming back."
A few questions later, Bosa expanded on that when I asked if the defensive ends next year could be better than this year.
"Dre'Mont is going to finally get some third-down reps in the nickel package and he’s one of the best pass rushers I’ve ever seen in practice, so people haven’t really haven’t seen that aspect of his game. He’s fun to watch, so it’s going to be fun," Bosa said.
That was a pretty specific idea of what Jones might do next year. Bosa, Chase Young and Jonathon Cooper will be the top three defensive ends. This year on clear third-down passing situations, the Buckeyes typically put four defensive ends on the field and took Jones and the other tackle out of the game. Now, Bosa has an idea about the third-down defensive line plans, and where Jones fits in them for 2018.
That doesn't sound like something he just pulled out of thin air.
So do you think Jones will be back?
"Yeah," Bosa said.
Why?
"Just, I don't know," Bosa said. "Just because he hasn’t been able to showcase his pass rush yet. And when he does the nation is going to be, like ... All right, we’re taking him."
A year ago, Tyquan Lewis had a chance to go pro and came back for his senior season. Among the reasons for his return, according to defensive line coach Larry Johnson, was a desire to improve his pass rush moves in a way that would further entice the NFL.
Even with what Jones has done, it's certainly possible that he could improve his draft stock with another season of working on and showcasing those moves.
If that happens, that would be very good news for Bosa and the rest of the Ohio State defensive line.
J.T. Barrett explains how his right knee is doing since having it scoped on Nov. 26.
2. J.T. Barrett played a full Big Ten Championship game six days after having his right knee scoped on Nov. 26. After that win over Wisconsin, Barrett explained that the normal recovery time for that surgery is three or four weeks.
Now he's finally reaching that point. This Sunday, Dec. 17, is finally three weeks since he had the surgery the day after the Michigan game. Barrett said on Friday he's fine, and while initially concerned a bit that there may have been fallout, like extra swelling, from playing so soon after the surgery, there hasn't been any.
"No setbacks, restrictions. Nothing like that," Barrett said. "It has looked pretty good. It's been getting better. If anything, I have some scar tissue that needs to break down, but that’s about it."
Barrett said he's been a full participant in bowl practices so far. The day after the Big Ten Championship, Barrett left no doubt that he'd be playing in the Cotton Bowl. Friday, as he often does in every football situation he has faced, Barrett said he was never really worried. He figured things would work out with his knee.
"I’m not surprised. Going into it, I just prayed about it and I just let God handle it and didn’t really worry about it too much and just put in the work in order to try and put myself in the position to play," Barrett said. "After I prayed about it, I didn’t worry about it."
Jalyn Holmes is the only Buckeye to accept a Senior Bowl invite so far. (Associated Press)
3. Eighty players have so far accepted invites to the Senior Bowl, the most prestigious college football postseason All-Star game.
Ten of those players are from the Big Ten, including Michigan defensive tackle Maurice Hurst, Iowa running back Akrum Wadley and Wisconsin tight end Troy Fumagalli.
Only one Buckeye is on that list so far, although players like Tyquan Lewis, Billy Price and Jamarco Jones are logical candidates for the game as well. Not all invited players go, but each Monday new announcements are released by the game, so more Buckeyes may make their intentions known soon.
So far, it's just defensive end Jalyn Holmes, and he's someone who could put on a show there.
"It was a no-brainer for me," Holmes said of playing in the game. "It's another chance to play on a stage and showcase my talents to NFL scouts. I'm blessed to be in that situation. When I got the invite, I accepted the same day."
Watch Holmes while he's there. He's the type of player who might not be well-known to the average college football but who will get NFL evaluators talking.
"Ever since I was little, I told my mom and dad I was going to play in the NFL," Holmes said. "I remember watching Senior Bowls since I was little. Now that I’m part of it, it's a dream come true."
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