Brett Ludwiczak
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Donovan Jackson enters his senior season as the leader of the Ohio State offensive line
Brett Ludwiczak via our friends at Land-Grant Holy Land
Visit their fantastic blog and read the full article (and so much more) here
Photo by Zach Bolinger/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images
The stellar offensive lineman has started all 26 games over the past two seasons at left guard for the Buckeyes.
Every day from now until the start of the season, Land-Grant Holy Land is highlighting Ohio State football players that you should be watching this season. Check out all of our ”Player to Watch” articles to get ready for the season opener against Akron.
Ohio State’s offensive line is loaded with veteran talent. Returning starters Josh Fryar and Josh Simmons are expected to be the starters at the tackle positions, while Alabama transfer Seth McLaughlin will man the center position for the Buckeyes this year, pushing last year’s starter Carson Hinzmann into a battle at right guard with Tegra Tshabola.
There is no question who will be starting at left guard, as Donovan Jackson is returning for his senior season after starting all 26 games over the last two years at the position, allowing just three sacks during that span.
Coming out of high school, Jackson was not only rated as the top guard in the country, he was also the top recruit coming out of Texas in the class of 2021. The big man has lived up to the hype over his first three years at Ohio State, appearing in 39 games since the start of the 2021 season.
The last two seasons Jackson has been recognized for his outstanding play by being named first team All-Big Ten in 2022 and 2023. Jackson has also been a model of consistency for Ohio State, as he has been on the field for over 800 plays from scrimmage in each of the last two seasons.
Following the loss to Missouri in the Cotton Bowl to end the 2023 season, Jackson had to decide if he was going to declare for the 2024 NFL Draft. While Jackson would certainly be picked in the first two days of the draft, he decided to return to Columbus for one more season to take care of unfinished business.
Even though Ohio State has won a lot of games since Jackson arrived on campus, the Buckeyes haven’t won the games they have wanted to win. Not only will Jackson and his teammates be trying to snap a three-game losing streak to Michigan, they’ll also be looking to win their first Big Ten title since 2020.
Since Ohio State was the first team to win a four-team College Football Playoff, it would be fitting if the Buckeyes could win the first CFP to include 12 teams.
/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_asset/file/25562311/1745402461.jpg "COLLEGE FOOTBALL: OCT 14 Ohio State at Purdue")
Photo by Joe Robbins/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images
Jackson is in the mix as one of the best offensive linemen in college football this year, as evidenced by the guard being placed on the Outland Trophy preseason watchlist. Four Ohio State linemen have won the award previously, with the last being Orlando Pace back in 1996. Prior to Pace, the other Buckeye winners of the award were Jim Parker, Jim Stillwagon, and John Hicks.
Jackson and the other four Ohio State offensive linemen are also going to be a serious contender for the Joe Moore Award, which is given annually to the best offensive line unit in the country.
Not only should Jackson excel this year in college football, there is optimism for him being a starter at the next level. Numerous 2025 NFL mock drafts have Jackson as a first round pick, and if he isn’t taken in the first round in April, he’s almost assured to come off the board on the draft’s second day.
Since 2006, Ohio State has had four offensive linemen taken in the first round of the draft, with Paris Johnson Jr. being the last Buckeye lineman taken in the first round when the Arizona Cardinals selected him in 2023. Since 2006, Ohio State has seen 19 offensive linemen drafted overall.
Along with being a national title contender this year, Jackson should have a lot of fun on the field this year because Ohio State figures to run the football a lot with TreVeyon Henderson and Quinshon Judkins. Offensive linemen always love to run block since they get to explode off the line to try and create holes for their running backs, where when they are pass blocking they have to sit back and wait for contact from the defense.
At 320 pounds, many of the opponents lining up across from Jackson are going to be in for a long game, especially considering how much new offensive coordinator Chip Kelly loves to run the football.
Here’s to hoping Jackson can go through the season without allowing a sack. He has come close over the past two seasons, and there is no question that he has the talent to achieve the feat. The only thing that might be working against him is the amount of games Ohio State might have to play to win a national title.
I’m sure Jackson will gladly trade in a sackless season for a win over Michigan and a national championship.
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Brett Ludwiczak via our friends at Land-Grant Holy Land
Visit their fantastic blog and read the full article (and so much more) here
Photo by Zach Bolinger/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images
The stellar offensive lineman has started all 26 games over the past two seasons at left guard for the Buckeyes.
Every day from now until the start of the season, Land-Grant Holy Land is highlighting Ohio State football players that you should be watching this season. Check out all of our ”Player to Watch” articles to get ready for the season opener against Akron.
Ohio State’s offensive line is loaded with veteran talent. Returning starters Josh Fryar and Josh Simmons are expected to be the starters at the tackle positions, while Alabama transfer Seth McLaughlin will man the center position for the Buckeyes this year, pushing last year’s starter Carson Hinzmann into a battle at right guard with Tegra Tshabola.
There is no question who will be starting at left guard, as Donovan Jackson is returning for his senior season after starting all 26 games over the last two years at the position, allowing just three sacks during that span.
Coming out of high school, Jackson was not only rated as the top guard in the country, he was also the top recruit coming out of Texas in the class of 2021. The big man has lived up to the hype over his first three years at Ohio State, appearing in 39 games since the start of the 2021 season.
The last two seasons Jackson has been recognized for his outstanding play by being named first team All-Big Ten in 2022 and 2023. Jackson has also been a model of consistency for Ohio State, as he has been on the field for over 800 plays from scrimmage in each of the last two seasons.
Following the loss to Missouri in the Cotton Bowl to end the 2023 season, Jackson had to decide if he was going to declare for the 2024 NFL Draft. While Jackson would certainly be picked in the first two days of the draft, he decided to return to Columbus for one more season to take care of unfinished business.
Even though Ohio State has won a lot of games since Jackson arrived on campus, the Buckeyes haven’t won the games they have wanted to win. Not only will Jackson and his teammates be trying to snap a three-game losing streak to Michigan, they’ll also be looking to win their first Big Ten title since 2020.
Since Ohio State was the first team to win a four-team College Football Playoff, it would be fitting if the Buckeyes could win the first CFP to include 12 teams.
Jackson is in the mix as one of the best offensive linemen in college football this year, as evidenced by the guard being placed on the Outland Trophy preseason watchlist. Four Ohio State linemen have won the award previously, with the last being Orlando Pace back in 1996. Prior to Pace, the other Buckeye winners of the award were Jim Parker, Jim Stillwagon, and John Hicks.
Jackson and the other four Ohio State offensive linemen are also going to be a serious contender for the Joe Moore Award, which is given annually to the best offensive line unit in the country.
Not only should Jackson excel this year in college football, there is optimism for him being a starter at the next level. Numerous 2025 NFL mock drafts have Jackson as a first round pick, and if he isn’t taken in the first round in April, he’s almost assured to come off the board on the draft’s second day.
Since 2006, Ohio State has had four offensive linemen taken in the first round of the draft, with Paris Johnson Jr. being the last Buckeye lineman taken in the first round when the Arizona Cardinals selected him in 2023. Since 2006, Ohio State has seen 19 offensive linemen drafted overall.
Along with being a national title contender this year, Jackson should have a lot of fun on the field this year because Ohio State figures to run the football a lot with TreVeyon Henderson and Quinshon Judkins. Offensive linemen always love to run block since they get to explode off the line to try and create holes for their running backs, where when they are pass blocking they have to sit back and wait for contact from the defense.
At 320 pounds, many of the opponents lining up across from Jackson are going to be in for a long game, especially considering how much new offensive coordinator Chip Kelly loves to run the football.
Here’s to hoping Jackson can go through the season without allowing a sack. He has come close over the past two seasons, and there is no question that he has the talent to achieve the feat. The only thing that might be working against him is the amount of games Ohio State might have to play to win a national title.
I’m sure Jackson will gladly trade in a sackless season for a win over Michigan and a national championship.
Continue reading...