Not entirely unexpected, but still tough to hear: Thaddeus Gibson will forgo his senior season for a shot at the NFL.
(H/T PBB)
Update (3:45pm) The university has confirmed Gibson's early exit. Bummer.
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Thanks for rockin some heads! Your time as a Buckeye is appreciated!
Damn. I expected it, but still. Damn.
loved him in a buckeye uniform and a focal point of a dominating defense this year... but does anyone really think he will be an impact for an NFL team?
I have a feeling that at his size he is going to struggle in the NFL playing DE, he is going to have to learn to play linebacker... he is in more of a speed end and thats great in the college game but in the NFL guys are a lot faster on average.. I wish him all the best though, a hard worker and a true Buckeye
Also guys call me nuts but I seriously think this will be our only NFL loss...
I'm starting to think so too. Maybe Hines if he has family issues to take care of, but one more year would really position him better to help is family out even more. We'll see.
Heyward is the only other junior really ready to go. Hopefully he will decide to stay to wreak havoc across the Big Ten for one more year. If Hines really wants to take care of his family he will wait and become a better football player with better cover skills so that he can last longer in the league and make more money long term. Chekwa is not ready at all.
Pretty damn bummed about this.
I'm sure all of Buckeye Nation will miss seeing Thaddeus out there but we will reload. Best luck to Thaddeus in the League.
I'm happy for him. He's one of the best defensive linemen we've seen, and he had one of the coolest names ever. Hopefully the guys below him on the depth chart learned a lot.
Good luck, Big Bad Thad.
yeah, bummer. He was my favorite Buckeye the last two years.
I also am a little concerned how he will translate in the nfl...he's pretty raw in terms of playing the d-end position, especially being a bit undersized. If he's going to have to move to linebacker, I'm not sure Gholston's failed transition so far bodes too well for Gibson. I do hope for greatness though. We will see.
I could be wrong but I think Gibson has experience playing linebacker..
Happy for him, hope he goes high in the draft... At the same time selfishly hoping Cam decides to stay with the Buckeyes one more year.
very brief. he was recruited as such but was eventually moved. the fact is, he broke out as a defender as a d-end. I think he'd be more of a project in the nfl if he's a linebacker, but he could prove me wrong.
From the official university release on Gibson's exit:
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“I would like to thank Coach Tressel, Coach Fickell, Coach Heacock, Shelly Poe, and the entire Ohio State football staff, as well as my mother, brother and of course God, for helping me to have the opportunity to enter the draft, and for the support from my teammates, alumni, and Ohio State fans across the nation."
Gibson said he has “grown a lot from his experience at Ohio State,” crediting the January 1 Rose Bowl win over Oregon as one of his most memorable Ohio State experiences.
“I am not leaving the Buckeye family. I wish the team the very best in the upcoming years and I thank all my teammates for all their support. I will keep in touch with my Buckeye family and I love them all. I will always bleed Scarlet and Gray.”
Gotta love that statement from Gibson. Looks like the young man gets what an honor it is to be a Buckeye and won't forget his roots while he makes his way in the pro game
I sure hope this isn't the start of an avalanche. We got a great shot at the MNC next year if the rest of the Jr D returns.
I hope he succeeds as well, but his size will not really change much so whether he comes back and tears it up or leaves now, his draft status my not change much. He is big and fast and strong. He'll tear it up at the combine and people will take notice, and really so what if he doesn't become a star. If he gets drafted in the right place he'll make a good chunk of money anyway. Good Luck to him, and he will definitely be missed next season.
Dispatch reporting that Checkwa confirmed via text he is coming back.
Nathan Williams, your time is now. Don't go robbing anybody.
Just saw where Cameron said in a University release that he will be back.
Rejoice!
Yeah I'm looking at it more from an impact in the NFL standpoint, as opposed to a smart business move standpoint, which I know it probably was if he's drafted in one of the top two rounds.
I think he will test out well in the combine, and a team will jump at the chance to draft him based on his talent and athletic ability, as well as potential. Still though, he looks like a tweener to me and I'm wondering what position he ultimately is. I don't really care about him being a "star" so much as I'd like to see him succeed and do well.
Always makes me sad to see someone leave early but un-selfishly, absolutely a great decision. But will miss Thad.