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Jack Sawyer

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Jack Sawyer
refer to caption
Sawyer in 2025
No. 33 – Pittsburgh Steelers
Position:Linebacker
Personal information
Born: (2002-05-06) May 6, 2002 (age 23)
Columbus, Ohio, U.S.
Height:6 ft 4 in (1.93 m)
Weight:260 lb (118 kg)
Career information
High school:Pickerington North (Pickerington, Ohio)
College:Ohio State (2021–2024)
NFL draft:2025: 4th round, 123rd pick
Career history
Roster status:Active
Career highlights and awards
Stats at Pro Football Reference

Jack Sawyer (born May 6, 2002) is an American professional football linebacker for the Pittsburgh Steelers of the National Football League (NFL). He played college football for the Ohio State Buckeyes and was selected by the Steelers in the fourth round of the 2025 NFL Draft.

Early life

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Sawyer was born on May 6, 2002, in Columbus, Ohio. He grew up in Pickerington, Ohio and attended Pickerington High School North, where he played basketball and football for the Panthers.[1] After making the school's varsity football team as a backup tight end, he was moved to defensive end and finished the season with 58 tackles, 16.5 tackles for loss and 3.5 sacks.[2] Sawyer then committed to play college football at Ohio State shortly after his sophomore season, when he recorded 62 tackles, 15 tackles for loss, and six sacks.[3] He chose the Buckeyes over offers from Michigan, Notre Dame, Penn State, and Oklahoma.[4][5]

Due to injuries, Sawyer took over as the Panthers' starting quarterback during his junior season.[6] He completed 79 of 135 passes for 1,056 yards and nine touchdowns while rushing for 386 yards and six touchdowns and was named the Ohio Capital Conference-Ohio Division Defensive Player of the Year after recording 13.5 sacks and 19 tackles for loss before suffering a torn MCL in the state playoffs.[7] Sawyer opted not to play in his senior football season due to uncertainties surrounding COVID-19.[8]

College career

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Sawyer in 2023

Sawyer enrolled at Ohio State a semester early.[9] He won the Rose Bowl in 2022 with the team, but was ejected during the game for targeting Utah quarterback Cameron Rising.[10][11] During his senior season, Sawyer's participation in a post-game brawl after Ohio State's 13–10 upset loss to the Michigan Wolverines football team garnered significant media attention and criticism.[12]

In the 2025 Cotton Bowl, Sawyer returned a fumble touchdown in the fourth quarter after a strip-sack of Texas quarterback and former Buckeye teammate Quinn Ewers, which ultimately sealed the victory for the Buckeyes as they advanced to the national championship.[13] Sawyer was named the game's defensive MVP.[14] Sawyer and Ohio State finished the season by winning the 2025 College Football Playoff National Championship against Notre Dame.[15]

Professional career

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Pre-draft measurables
Height Weight Arm length Hand span Bench press
6 ft 4+1⁄4 in
(1.94 m) 		260 lb
(118 kg) 		31+3⁄4 in
(0.81 m) 		9+3⁄4 in
(0.25 m)		 21 reps
All values from NFL Combine/Pro Day[16][17][18]
Sawyer with the Pittsburgh Steelers in 2025

Sawyer was selected by the Pittsburgh Steelers in the fourth round (123rd overall) of the 2025 NFL draft.[19]

Personal life

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Sawyer is the son of Lyle and Michelle Sawyer.[20] Sawyer is a Christian.[21]

References

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  1. ^ Holbrock, Justin (September 13, 2023). "Pickerington's Jack Sawyer gets comfortable in new role at Ohio State". NBC4 WCMH-TV. Retrieved January 2, 2025.
  2. ^ Bielik, Tom (April 12, 2018). "Who is Jack Sawyer, the Pickerington North freshman who got a rare offer from Ohio State?". Cleveland.com. Retrieved February 22, 2021.
  3. ^ Blackledge, Steve (August 30, 2019). "Pickerington North defensive end Jack Sawyer rated among nations best". The Columbus Dispatch. Archived from the original on March 4, 2020. Retrieved February 22, 2021.
  4. ^ Landis, Bill (February 3, 2019). "Jack Sawyer, Ohio's No. 1 prospect, becomes Ohio State's first 2021 commitment: What it means". The Athletic. Retrieved February 22, 2021.
  5. ^ "Ohio State football: Pickerington Norths Jack Sawyer commits to 2021 recruiting class". The Columbus Dispatch. February 3, 2019. Retrieved February 22, 2021.[permanent dead link]
  6. ^ Bender, Bill (September 16, 2019). "Five-star Ohio State commit Jack Sawyer makes switch to QB look easy". Sporting News. Retrieved February 22, 2021.
  7. ^ Ulrey, Jarrod (November 9, 2019). "Football: Pickerington North's Jack Sawyer suffers torn MCL". Thisweeknews.com. Retrieved February 22, 2021.
  8. ^ VanHaaren, Tom (August 14, 2020). "No. 1 recruit Jack Sawyer to skip final high school football season, seek early enrollment at Ohio State". ESPN.com. Retrieved February 22, 2021.
  9. ^ Sallee, Barrett (August 14, 2020). "Ohio State football recruiting: Jack Sawyer, No. 3 player in Class of 2021, to enroll early to play in spring". CBS Sports. Retrieved February 22, 2021.
  10. ^ Gulick, Brendan (January 2022). "Jack Sawyer Ejected From Rose Bowl For Targeting". Sports Illustrated. Retrieved January 2, 2022.
  11. ^ Rabinowitz, Bill (January 1, 2022). "Led by Jaxon Smith-Njigba, Ohio State football comeback wins wild Rose Bowl over Utah". The Columbus Dispatch. Retrieved January 2, 2022.
  12. ^ "Ohio State vs. Michigan prediction, odds, line: 2024 college football picks, Week 14 bets by proven model". CBS Sports. November 30, 2024. Retrieved December 17, 2024.
  13. ^ Jurich, Jami (January 11, 2025). "Defensive end Jack Sawyer is proof that big risks can beget big rewards". Land-Grant Holy Land. SB Nation. Retrieved August 2, 2025.
  14. ^ Trotter, Jake (January 11, 2025). "Sawyer gets his 'moment,' sends OSU to CFP final". ESPN.com. Retrieved January 11, 2025.
  15. ^ Pells, Eddie (January 20, 2025). "Ohio State wins 1st national title since 2014, outlasting Notre Dame 34–23 in CFP championship game". AP News. Retrieved January 21, 2025.
  16. ^ Reuter, Chad; Zierlein, Lance. "Jack Sawyer Draft and Combine Prospect Profile". NFL.com. Retrieved February 28, 2025.
  17. ^ "Jack Sawyer College Football Profile". DraftScout.com. Retrieved February 28, 2025.
  18. ^ Brown, Chase (March 27, 2025). "Buckeye Pro Day Central: Results, Videos, Sights and Sounds From Ohio State's 2025 Pro Day". Eleven Warriors. Retrieved July 11, 2025.
  19. ^ Varley, Teresa (April 26, 2025). "Steelers select Sawyer in fourth round". Steelers.com. Retrieved July 11, 2025.
  20. ^ "Jack Sawyer". Ohio State Buckeyes Athletics. November 18, 2022. Retrieved July 11, 2025.
  21. ^ Doering, Joshua (January 15, 2025). "Ohio State enters title game led by faith-fueled veterans who 'give God all the credit'". Sports Spectrum. Retrieved January 21, 2025.
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