6042 - 260 lbs - 0968 hand - 3168 arm - 7718 wing
Sr.
Age 23.0
HS RECRUITING: 5*
B2B Quick Take:
I generally dislike taking EDGE players who haven't tested, since testing highly correlates at this position. But even using the eye test, he seems to be a player who benefits from effort more than elite talent compared to elite EDGE rushers. However, extremely productive in terms of splash plays and big plays plus excellent leadership qualities, which I'm sure they love. I don't think he pops on tape in terms of traits like bend biut there is a heaviness and some power to be had, but he's a good football player who does make plays and is consistent and dependable vs. the run and gap discipline. I would say floor is good STs player and maybe he'll turn out to be more athletic in the NFL context than he seems now and continue his ability to find the football and make more plays than we'd think.. It's said that the Steelers rely heavily on ther coordinators in round 2 and 3; without a 2nd this year, this feels like rd 2 was the OC and Round 3 the DC. You could see a coach liking him more than scouts.[/b]
NFL Comparisons: Sam Hubbard.
Prospect did not work out at Combine nor pro day.
RAS N/A
Consensus Ranking: 61 (high 38, low 194)
Selected: 123
SFBoard Draft: 50
B2B Rank: 94
B2B Position Rank: 17th
NFL.com: 6.32 (overall 52nd, PR 11th)
Draftbuzz: 85.9. OVR 57, PR 12th)
Emory Hunt: 77 (PR 3rd 4-3 DE)
2024
Production:
- Screenshot 2025-04-26 at 1.47.43 PM.png (98.34 KiB) Viewed 7819 times
1.554398148 Splash plays per game in his career. (Very Good/great)
AWARDS & ACCOMPLISHMENTS:
High school: 5-star recruit, top 5 overall prospect nationally.
2021: Played in 12 games as a reserve (13 tackles, 3 sacks, PBU, FF).
2022: Honorable Mention All-Big Ten Conference. Played in all 13 games with 3 starts (24 tackles, 6.5 TFLs with 4.5 sacks, PBU).
2023: Third-team All-Big Ten. Led team with 6.5 sacks. Tied for the team lead with 10 TFLs, 2 FFs. Started all 13 games (48 tackles, 2 PBUs, 2 FFs).
2024: Second-team All-Big Ten. Tied for the team lead with 3 FFs. Team captain. Cotton Bowl Defensive MVP (game-clinching 83-yard TD in the fourth quarter after causing and recovering a fumble on a sack of Texas QB Quinn Ewers). Started all 16 games for the national champions (59 tackles, 9 sacks, INT, 6 PBUs).
BIO:
Brian Maafi Preseason Scouting Report:The local kid who lived out his childhood dream, Jack Sawyer's journey from Pickerington to Ohio State feels like a throwback to an era before the transfer portal reshaped college football. Born just three miles from the Horseshoe at OhioHealth Riverside Methodist Hospital, Sawyer went from terrorizing quarterbacks at Pickerington North to becoming a cornerstone of the Buckeyes' defense. His path wasn't the meteoric rise many expected from a five-star recruit, but rather a steady climb that culminated in a statement senior season.
In an age where elite prospects rarely stay four years, Sawyer's development arc tells a different story. After contributing early with flashes of brilliance (7.5 sacks his first two seasons), he found his stride as a junior with 6.5 sacks and 10 TFLs. But it was his senior campaign where everything clicked – 9 sacks, 3 forced fumbles, and a signature moment in the Cotton Bowl where he strip-sacked Quinn Ewers and returned the fumble 83 yards to send Ohio State to the national championship game.
The former high school quarterback (who threw for over 1,000 yards at Pickerington North) brings rare athleticism to the edge position. His basketball background shows up in his fluid movement skills, while his defensive stats (144 career tackles, 23 sacks) only tell part of the story. Sawyer's evolution from raw athlete to refined technician mirrors his team's trajectory – peaking at the perfect moment during their championship run.
[quoteFive-star from the Columbus area. impressive athlete. lacks ideal length. Flashed as a freshman. 11 pressures/4 sacks in '21. 3 starts in '22. Solid grades all around, a little inconsistent. 22 pressures, 3 sacks. Starter in '23. Solid all around grades. 30 pressures, 5 sacks[/quote]
NFL.com
DraftBuzzOverview
Dense-framed, even-front defensive end whose game is built for power but not speed. He has short arms and slow power to neutralize and overcome run blocks. However, he lacks a quick-win first step or twitchy stack-and-shed move. He locates the football and racks up tackles when runners near his gaps. He’s a force-based rusher using strong hands, a relentless motor and a pocket-caving charge to run up pressure totals, but his rush lacks quickness. He could see more interior rush opportunities for shorter trips into the pocket. Sawyer is suited for box-based football, which could cap his pro ceiling, but his demeanor, toughness and activity level provide a higher floor.
Strengths
Posted 4.5 sacks and 6 pass breakups during Ohio State’s four-game playoff run to the title.
Beats back-side cutoffs with quick reaction to lateral steps.
Sets a strong edge and can release back inside to tackle B-gap.
Strength makes run game wins feel inevitable if a blocker doesn’t finish him.
Instinctive talent for finding the tackle when he is in the vicinity.
Accurate hands find wrist control to deconstruct pass-pro punch.
Uses two-hand charge and long-arm stab to crater the pocket.
Keeps feet moving, making it tougher to mirror him.
Weaknesses
Gaps close down on him as a mid-twitch penetrator.
Needs to get hands involved more quickly to mitigate his lack of reach.
Missing functional speed to spill action wide in contain.
Modest upfield burst rarely allows him to beat tackles to the junction point.
Wide base limits quickness and success of his inside moves.
Lack of bend hinders ability to get into the pocket.
FBGPScouting Report: Strengths
Devastating power at the point of attack – consistently rocks back tackles with powerful first contact and maintains leverage through the rep
Natural instincts in the run game shine when diagnosing pulling guards and tight ends – quickly processes and attacks appropriate gap
Nasty bull rush that can cave in the pocket – shows exceptional leg drive and hip torque to convert speed to power
High-level football IQ translates to excellent play recognition – rarely fooled by misdirection or caught out of position
Cross-chop move is a thing of beauty – times it perfectly to get tackles leaning before clearing their hands
Runs hot as a pass rusher and shows relentless pursuit – multiple coverage sacks in 2023 from pure effort
Strong hands and excellent placement when taking on blocks – consistently controls the point of attack
Showcases natural leadership qualities and high character – two-time team captain who elevated in big moments
Scouting Report: Weaknesses
Below average get-off at the snap limits his ability to stress tackles around the edge – often last one moving on the defensive line
Lacks elite bend and ankle flexion to consistently turn tight corners – has to win with power or through direct lines
Hand timing in pass rush can be erratic – allows offensive linemen to land first punch too frequently
Change of direction limitations show up when countering back inside – spin move lacks the explosiveness to threaten NFL tackles
Despite good testing numbers, functional athleticism appears closer to average – may struggle to win with speed at next level
Scouting Report: Summary
Sawyer projects as an immediate contributor in base defensive packages with the potential to develop into an every-down player. His power game and run defense prowess will translate quickly to the NFL level, making him an attractive option for teams running even-front schemes that emphasize setting the edge. While he may never be an elite sack artist, his high motor and technical refinement should allow him to consistently affect the quarterback.
His best fit comes with a team that employs multiple defensive fronts and values strength at the point of attack. Sawyer's intelligence and versatility will allow defensive coordinators to move him around the formation, though he's most effective working from a three-point stance. Expect him to make an immediate impact against the run while developing into a 6-8 sack per year player who can stay on the field for all three downs.
The team that drafts Sawyer is getting more than just a football player – they're getting a culture-setter who plays with an old-school mentality. His trajectory suggests his best football is still ahead of him, and his combination of power, technique, and football IQ should make him a reliable starter for years to come.
Strengths:
- Meat and potatoes type player who is fundamentally sound
and will keep you gap disciplined on his side of the line of
scrimmage. Got better every season at Ohio State.
- Shows that he’s good on both ends of defense; strong vs the
run game that does a good job of taking on and
subsequently disengaging from blocks; as well as an active
player in passing situations, to where he’s going to keep his
hands alive at the LOS if he can’t get the sack.
- An underrated sense of timing of when to make THE play.
Areas of Improvement:
- Not really twitchy or overly athletic, is pretty much decent in
all those categories as a prospect.
- Will need to add a little bit more creativity to his pass
rushing skill set as a pro. If you’re going to have one
dimension, it better be elite…and it isn’t, so more is
needed.
