Michael Citro
Guest
Bold Predictions: Jack Sawyer will reach double digits in sacks
Michael Citro via our friends at Land-Grant Holy Land
Visit their fantastic blog and read the full article (and so much more) here
Photo by Ian Johnson/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images
After a big finish to 2023, the defensive end will level up in his final season in Columbus.
As preseason camp begins this week, Land-Grant Holy Land is diving into its final theme every week of the off-season. This week is all about making predictions that may or may not be reasonable, in fact, some might say they are bold. You can catch up on all of the Theme Week content here and all of our ”Bold Predictions” articles here.
I won’t hold it against anyone for doubting my bold predictions. After all, last year I was hilariously wrong with my special teams' bold prediction. I don’t know what I was thinking. But it didn’t stop there. I was also incorrect in selecting Ohio State defensive end Jack Sawyer to have a breakout year and become a player to watch in 2023.
This year, I’m going to double down on my player to watch piece from back in June, because I think Sawyer is going to have a breakout year. Wait, maybe that’s tripling down? Let’s move on. As a reminder:
However, it’s not just that I think Sawyer will have a breakout year. I’m predicting double-digit sack totals for the Pickerington North product in 2024. This will allow him to etch his name in the pantheon of great Ohio State single-season sack performances alongside greats like Chase Young, Vernon Gholston, and Mike Vrabel.
Only eight Buckeyes have reached that number, with two of the eight — Young and Vrabel — accomplishing the feat twice. So, if I’m correct, Sawyer would post just the 11th double-digit sack season in OSU history. I think that qualifies the prediction as “bold.”
Sawyer’s five sacks in three games to finish 2023 strong may have been an aberration, but we’ll find out early in 2024 if that is the case. I’m no football coach, and I don’t break down film, but to me, he seemed to find a different gear in those games, as if some kind of internal switch had been flipped and the game started to slow down for him. If he can keep that going, it’s not a big jump from his 6.5 sacks of a year ago to 10-plus in 2024.
History shows that Ohio State players who reach 10 sacks have never stopped there. There has been no season of exactly 10 sacks since such records were kept. Every Buckeye who has reached 10 has managed at least 10.5 sacks that season.
I’m not bold enough to predict that Sawyer will threaten Young’s single-season school record of 16.5, or perhaps even reach the 14 of Gholston or 13.5 of Joey Bosa. However, I think the latter is possible if he can pick up where he left off. He may even be able to pad his stats a bit in the early part of the year with Akron, Western Michigan, and Marshall on the schedule.
I think Sawyer could reach an even dozen sacks in 2024, which would tie him for fifth-most in Ohio State history, joining Andy Katzenmoyer (1996) and Mike Vrabel (1994 — although Vrabel beat that with 13 in 1995).
But even if he stops at 10, Sawyer will join elite status. Along with the aforementioned Buckeye legends, only Matt Finkes (11 in 1994), Will Smith (10.5 in 2003), and Jason Simmons (10.5 in 1991) have reached double figures.
I think Sawyer will do it.
Continue reading...
Michael Citro via our friends at Land-Grant Holy Land
Visit their fantastic blog and read the full article (and so much more) here
Photo by Ian Johnson/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images
After a big finish to 2023, the defensive end will level up in his final season in Columbus.
As preseason camp begins this week, Land-Grant Holy Land is diving into its final theme every week of the off-season. This week is all about making predictions that may or may not be reasonable, in fact, some might say they are bold. You can catch up on all of the Theme Week content here and all of our ”Bold Predictions” articles here.
I won’t hold it against anyone for doubting my bold predictions. After all, last year I was hilariously wrong with my special teams' bold prediction. I don’t know what I was thinking. But it didn’t stop there. I was also incorrect in selecting Ohio State defensive end Jack Sawyer to have a breakout year and become a player to watch in 2023.
This year, I’m going to double down on my player to watch piece from back in June, because I think Sawyer is going to have a breakout year. Wait, maybe that’s tripling down? Let’s move on. As a reminder:
However, it’s not just that I think Sawyer will have a breakout year. I’m predicting double-digit sack totals for the Pickerington North product in 2024. This will allow him to etch his name in the pantheon of great Ohio State single-season sack performances alongside greats like Chase Young, Vernon Gholston, and Mike Vrabel.
Only eight Buckeyes have reached that number, with two of the eight — Young and Vrabel — accomplishing the feat twice. So, if I’m correct, Sawyer would post just the 11th double-digit sack season in OSU history. I think that qualifies the prediction as “bold.”
Sawyer’s five sacks in three games to finish 2023 strong may have been an aberration, but we’ll find out early in 2024 if that is the case. I’m no football coach, and I don’t break down film, but to me, he seemed to find a different gear in those games, as if some kind of internal switch had been flipped and the game started to slow down for him. If he can keep that going, it’s not a big jump from his 6.5 sacks of a year ago to 10-plus in 2024.
History shows that Ohio State players who reach 10 sacks have never stopped there. There has been no season of exactly 10 sacks since such records were kept. Every Buckeye who has reached 10 has managed at least 10.5 sacks that season.
I’m not bold enough to predict that Sawyer will threaten Young’s single-season school record of 16.5, or perhaps even reach the 14 of Gholston or 13.5 of Joey Bosa. However, I think the latter is possible if he can pick up where he left off. He may even be able to pad his stats a bit in the early part of the year with Akron, Western Michigan, and Marshall on the schedule.
I think Sawyer could reach an even dozen sacks in 2024, which would tie him for fifth-most in Ohio State history, joining Andy Katzenmoyer (1996) and Mike Vrabel (1994 — although Vrabel beat that with 13 in 1995).
But even if he stops at 10, Sawyer will join elite status. Along with the aforementioned Buckeye legends, only Matt Finkes (11 in 1994), Will Smith (10.5 in 2003), and Jason Simmons (10.5 in 1991) have reached double figures.
I think Sawyer will do it.
Continue reading...