Ohio State left guard Donovan Jackson announced Wednesday that he will return for the 2024 season, his fourth with the Buckeyes, and forgo the NFL draft.
In a year which he and Matthew Jones were the only two returning starters on the offensive line, leading to some struggles, Jackson was a bright spot for what was otherwise the weakest point of the team. He earned recognition as a first-team All-Big Ten selection, selected by both the coaches and media.
Jackson is one of several players from the 2021 class who have been weighing their options between coming back for another year and going to the draft, and one of the biggest pulls bringing players from that class back is the fact that they haven’t been able to beat Michigan or win a Big Ten championship.
Jackson said the loss to Michigan this year hit especially hard because he thought he didn’t play well on the final drive. On Ohio State’s last play, he tripped over center Carson Hinzman and a Wolverine was able to get to Kyle McCord and hit him as he threw the interception.
“I’ve replayed that moment for a very long time,” Jackson said Dec. 12. “A couple of times, I had to get pulled out of my room by my roommate. He was like, ‘C’mon, man, you’ve got to get out of your room. You’ve got to do something. You’ve got to at least look at the sun for a while.’”
Now Jackson and the other returning players – including cornerback Denzel Burke, who also announced his return on Wednesday – will have at least one more chance to achieve their goals next season with the Buckeyes.
Jackson will presumably slot back in at left guard for the Buckeyes, though things remain in flux throughout the rest of the offensive line. Starting tackles Josh Simmons and Josh Fryar both return, but the Buckeyes will lost Jones and right guard and could be looking to make a change at center with the transfer addition of former Alabama offensive lineman Seth McLaughlin.
