Ohio
How Ohio State’s 2024 stars have formally become legends in the Buckeyes’ football facility
COLUMBUS, Ohio — Quarterback Will Howard remembers walking through the Woody Hayes Athletic Center when he first joined Ohio State football last year.
With each step, he was surrounded by history. A photo of C. J. Stroud here. A picture of Archie Griffin there.
“I’m walking through and seeing legends on the walls,” Howard said.
As he recollected on that memory Wednesday while back in Columbus for OSU’s pro day, he spoke with a newfound realization.
His face was on the walls now.
His smile now looks over the indoor practice field on a banner commemorating the Cotton Bowl win vs. Texas.
A photo of him gripping a rose between his teeth after a Rose Bowl win sits on another banner.
When you win a national title, you become part of the history inside those walls.
“It’s surreal,” Howard said. “It’s cool. It’s what we worked for. We talked about (wanting) to be remembered.”
Jack Sawyer’s scoop-and-score vs. Texas is the most-celebrated play from Ohio State football’s title run.Getty Images
The path to glory wasn’t easy, particularly for defensive end Jack Sawyer.
The local product was the first player to commit to coach Ryan Day. He developed into an NFL prospect, but it came with difficult losses — highlighted by an 0-4 record against Michigan.
But it ended in jubilation, with Sawyer’s scoop-and-score vs. Texas serving as the play in OSU’s run.
“It’s a dream come true,” Sawyer said. “It’s been a long four years here. The ups and downs — I wouldn’t trade any of it for the world. Being able to come back now and see that we left something here, it feels good.”
Ohio State had 17 players taking part in pro day, serving as a reminder of how much of the 2024 roster will be gone when a new season begins in August.
It’s why leaders from the 2025 squad, including defensive end Caden Curry, have asked for some memorabilia of the championship run to be removed. They don’t want the complacency to seep into the building.
The idea makes sense, but it’ll be difficult to get approval from the previous class.
“Screw that,” offensive lineman Donovan Jackson said. “Leave it up.”