There were many, many people -- ourselves included -- who openly questioned whether the five Ohio State players suspended for receiving impermissible benefits would honor their pledge and return to the Buckeyes for another season.
As it turns out, they did. Every single one of ‘em.
While not mentioning the quintet by name, head coach Jim Tressel told the Columbus Dispatch that his Buckeyes did not lose any underclassmen to the early entry into the NFL draft. That includes quarterback Terrelle Pryor, wide receiver DeVier Posey, running back Boom Herron, offensive tackle Mike Adams and defensive end/Sugar Bowl hero Solomon Thomas, all of whom have been suspended for the first five games of the 2011 season.
The first four players mentioned were full-time starters in 2010.
“Our kids want to finish their degree and their commitment at Ohio State,” Tressel told the Dispatch. “That is very important to each and every one of them, and to our staff and entire athletics family.”
Tressel created a bit of an uproar in late December when, in exchange for a pledge to forego early entry into the draft, the players were permitted to play in what turned out to be a Sugar Bowl win over Arkansas. Pryor himself added to the uncertainty surrounding the suspended ones, hinting that some may ultimately decide to renege on their pledges and declare for the April draft.
In the end, that turned out to be far from the case.
With the five players still in the fold, the Buckeyes can now turn their attention to appealing the length of the suspensions in the hopes of getting it reduced by at least a game -- don’t hold your breath on that happening -- and figuring out just who will replace the offensive foursome for almost the entire first half of next season. That process will begin in earnest when spring practice rolls around in the next couple of months.