Ohio State Football: Shaun Wade’s return puts OSU in CFP conversation

The Ohio State football team received some welcomed news over the weekend that CB Shaun Wade is set to return in 2020. This puts the Buckeyes squarely back into the CFP conversation.

Well, the National Championship game for the 2019 season has yet to be completed but Ohio State is already onto preparations for next season’s College Football Playoff. And the big news of the weekend came when CB Shaun Wade announced through Letterman Row that he would be returning for his redshirt junior season.

This is great news for a team that is already poised to make a return appearance in the CFP, although the secondary was looking a bit thin. Having  already lost Jeff Okudah, Damon Arnette, Jordan Fuller and secondary coach Jeff Hafley, the Buckeye back line was in need of a total makeover. But Wade’s announcement has eased the burden a bit.

This is what Wade said about his decision, via Letterman Row:

"“I want to do it to show I can play outside corner, I want to do it for the team and I want to win a national championship,” Wade told Lettermen Row. “I feel like we’re going to have a great team next year, and I feel like we’re going to be elite. I want to be part of it."

Wade, who could have been a top 25 pick in this year’s NFL draft, wanted to return to Ohio State to prove to NFL teams that he is more than a nickel back. Expect to see him start on the outside this season and to see a fierce competition between Amir Riep, Cam Brown and Sevyn Banks for the other outside spot. Riep saw time in the slot when Wade was ejected during the Clemson game so don’t be surprised to see him as the starter at nickel back.

So it looks like the Buckeyes got the playmaker they needed in the secondary for next season. Let’s hope the other young guys step up and play well alongside Shaun Wade.