Ohio State redshirt sophomore cornerback Shaun Wade (24) walks onto the field before the game against Michigan State Oct. 5. Ohio State won 34-10. Credit: Amal Saeed | Photo Editor
The final remaining piece of Ohio State’s 2019 starting secondary will be back for the start of the new decade.
Ohio State redshirt sophomore cornerback Shaun Wade announced he will return for a fourth year in the program Saturday at a ceremony in his hometown of Jacksonville, Florida, where he was once a five-star prospect out of Trinity Christian Academy in the 2017 recruiting class.
With redshirt senior cornerback Damon Arnette and senior safety Jordan Fuller out the door for the Buckeyes, and junior cornerback Jeff Okudah foregoing his final year of eligibility, Wade will be the only regular stater to return from Ohio State’s stable of defensive backs.
Okudah, junior running back J.K Dobbins and junior defensive end Chase Young all announced their intentions to go pro this past week, and it was thought Wade may as well, given projections that peg him as a late first round NFL Draft selection.
After redshirting his freshman season at Ohio State following an injury, Wade played in all 14 games for the Buckeyes the next year, and led the team with three interceptions — good for eighth-best in the Big Ten.
As a starter for Ohio State this season, Wade had an interception, two forced fumbles, four tackles for loss and two sacks.
It was an attempted sack against Clemson in this season’s Fiesta Bowl that would end up being the final play of Wade’s redshirt sophomore season, as an official review called him for targeting, which resulted in his ejection from the game in the first half.
During his announcement, Wade said he is “still kind of mad” about the Fiesta Bowl.
In the Buckeyes’ 56-21 win against Rutgers Nov. 16, Wade caused two turnovers on the Scarlet Knights’ first four offensive plays, with an interception followed by a forced fumble on consecutive possessions.
Wade was selected third team All-Big Ten by both the conference coaches and media.
