Ohio State Football: Browning’s return huge for OSU’s defense

The Ohio State football team has had some guys declare for the NFL Draft recently, but one of the Buckeyes’ top linebackers will return.

Ohio State football linebacker Baron Browning announced on Twitter on Thursday that he will return for his senior season at OSU.

This is some of what Browning said in his letter on Twitter.

"“Buckeye NationThank you for your support over the last few years. We have shared many great moments, but there is more work to be done.I cannot wait to get back to work and grind with my brothers every day until we reach our goal.”"

Browning returning could be huge for the Buckeyes as three of Ohio State’s top four linebackers will return next season – Browning, Tuf Borland, and Pete Werner.

With Browning, Borland, and Werner all returning, Ohio State could have the best linebacker group in the country next season. Browning was sixth on the team in tackles with 43, but he was third in tackles for loss with 11 and third in sacks with five. Another year of maturation and growth could mean that these numbers will be even higher next season.

Austin Ward of Letterman Row thinks Browning will see growth his senior year similar to that of Malik Harrison‘s who led the Buckeyes with 75 tackles this season.

"The decision by Malik Harrison a year ago to stick around and learn under Al Washington turned out to be a great one, and now Browning has the same opportunity to keep growing, developing and boosting his draft stock … A quiet, lead-by-example type, Browning will team with fellow veterans Pete Werner and Tuf Borland to make the linebackers one of the most experienced, productive units in the program."

In addition to Browning, Werner was second on the team in tackles with 64 while Borland was fourth with 55. That is certainly a lot of tackles returning to a very talented defense.

Browning could potentially be one of the best athletes on next year’s defense as well. The former five-star recruit, according to 247Sports, ran a 4.56 40-yard dash and had a 37.4 vertical jump coming out of high school, according to ESPN. That athleticism helps him fly all over the field and get to where he needs to be to help Ohio State have one of the best defenses in the country.

That athleticism put him in the 2020 NFL Draft conversation and will probably put him atop some 2021 NFL Draft big boards next year.

The Buckeyes will certainly miss Harrison next season, but Browning, along with Borland, Werner, and other guys like Teradja Mitchell and K’Vaughan Pope will help OSU have one of the best linebacker groups in the country next year.