Michael Citro
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Cody Simon a worthy recipient of Ohio State’s ‘Block O’ jersey
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 Rich Graessle/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images
The veteran linebacker has proven his leadership over the years, and will don the school’s Block O jersey in 2024.
Senior linebacker Cody Simon is the latest player to earn the right to wear Ohio State’s Block O jersey — a tradition inspired by and dedicated to the late college and pro football hall of famer Bill Willis, whose No. 99 is retired by the Buckeyes. Simon joins previous recipients Jonathon Cooper (2020), Thayer Munford (2021), Kamyrn Babb (2022), and Xavier Johnson (2023).
He’ll turn in his No. 30 and start wearing No. 0 on Saturdays.
The jersey is given annually to players exhibiting Willis’ character, toughness, and leadership. That’s what makes Simon a worthy recipient of the honor, and only the second non-Ohioan to earn the Block O jersey.
Now in his fifth season in Columbus, the Jersey City, NJ native has already received his degree at Ohio State and is now in graduate school. He earned his degree in finance in 2023 and was a Big Ten Distinguished Scholar, an OSU Scholar-Athlete and a member of the Academic All-Big Ten Conference team. It was his fourth time as an OSU Scholar-Athlete, and his third time receiving Academic All-Big Ten honors.
Simon has been a steady contributor throughout his Ohio State career, but he is expected to step up to a new level in 2024. Not only will he be the new starting Mike linebacker, replacing 2023 starter Tommy Eichenberg, but he was named one of four OSU team captains for 2024 on Saturday.
During the pandemic-marred 2020 season, Simon managed to get on the field for six games as a freshman linebacker and special teamer, including appearances in the two College Football Playoff games against Clemson and Alabama. Simon managed four tackles in limited action that year.
Making a big jump his sophomore year, Simon finished fourth on the Buckeyes in tackles (54), including eight in one game at Nebraska and seven each against three of the four ‘M’ schools: Minnesota, Maryland, and Michigan. Simon also had his first career interception against Akron, returning it 24 yards.
He finished the season with a sack, 2.5 tackles for loss, a pass breakup, and three quarterback hurries. Unfortunately, an injury prevented Simon from participating in Ohio State’s Rose Bowl victory over Utah and kept him out of 2022 spring practice.
Simon slipped to seventh on the team in tackles in 2022, finishing with 32. He recorded 5.5 tackles for loss, two sacks, a forced fumble, and a quarterback hurry in his third season. His biggest performances in 2022 were a pair of six-tackle performances against Arkansas State and Iowa.
In 2023, Simon climbed back to fourth on the team in tackles (57). He did not record a sack, but tallied three tackles for loss and two pass breakups. His 57 tackles, 24 solos and 33 assists were all career highs, and he had big games against Rutgers and Purdue, recording nine and eight tackles, respectively.
Now as a captain and the recipient of the Block O jersey, more will be expected of Simon in 2024. A promising career that seemed on a high trajectory his senior year when he started 10 games is back on track. With the support of his teammates and coaches — Ohio State linebackers coach James Laurinitis recently called him the unquestioned leader of the group — Simon is poised for a statement season in his final year in Columbus.
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 Rich Graessle/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images
The veteran linebacker has proven his leadership over the years, and will don the school’s Block O jersey in 2024.
Senior linebacker Cody Simon is the latest player to earn the right to wear Ohio State’s Block O jersey — a tradition inspired by and dedicated to the late college and pro football hall of famer Bill Willis, whose No. 99 is retired by the Buckeyes. Simon joins previous recipients Jonathon Cooper (2020), Thayer Munford (2021), Kamyrn Babb (2022), and Xavier Johnson (2023).
He’ll turn in his No. 30 and start wearing No. 0 on Saturdays.
The jersey is given annually to players exhibiting Willis’ character, toughness, and leadership. That’s what makes Simon a worthy recipient of the honor, and only the second non-Ohioan to earn the Block O jersey.
Now in his fifth season in Columbus, the Jersey City, NJ native has already received his degree at Ohio State and is now in graduate school. He earned his degree in finance in 2023 and was a Big Ten Distinguished Scholar, an OSU Scholar-Athlete and a member of the Academic All-Big Ten Conference team. It was his fourth time as an OSU Scholar-Athlete, and his third time receiving Academic All-Big Ten honors.
Simon has been a steady contributor throughout his Ohio State career, but he is expected to step up to a new level in 2024. Not only will he be the new starting Mike linebacker, replacing 2023 starter Tommy Eichenberg, but he was named one of four OSU team captains for 2024 on Saturday.
During the pandemic-marred 2020 season, Simon managed to get on the field for six games as a freshman linebacker and special teamer, including appearances in the two College Football Playoff games against Clemson and Alabama. Simon managed four tackles in limited action that year.
Making a big jump his sophomore year, Simon finished fourth on the Buckeyes in tackles (54), including eight in one game at Nebraska and seven each against three of the four ‘M’ schools: Minnesota, Maryland, and Michigan. Simon also had his first career interception against Akron, returning it 24 yards.
He finished the season with a sack, 2.5 tackles for loss, a pass breakup, and three quarterback hurries. Unfortunately, an injury prevented Simon from participating in Ohio State’s Rose Bowl victory over Utah and kept him out of 2022 spring practice.
Simon slipped to seventh on the team in tackles in 2022, finishing with 32. He recorded 5.5 tackles for loss, two sacks, a forced fumble, and a quarterback hurry in his third season. His biggest performances in 2022 were a pair of six-tackle performances against Arkansas State and Iowa.
In 2023, Simon climbed back to fourth on the team in tackles (57). He did not record a sack, but tallied three tackles for loss and two pass breakups. His 57 tackles, 24 solos and 33 assists were all career highs, and he had big games against Rutgers and Purdue, recording nine and eight tackles, respectively.
Now as a captain and the recipient of the Block O jersey, more will be expected of Simon in 2024. A promising career that seemed on a high trajectory his senior year when he started 10 games is back on track. With the support of his teammates and coaches — Ohio State linebackers coach James Laurinitis recently called him the unquestioned leader of the group — Simon is poised for a statement season in his final year in Columbus.
Continue reading...