Master Teague III’s Ohio State career is over.
The Ohio State running back announced Monday on Twitter that he is entering the 2022 NFL draft after four years with the Buckeyes.
I say, "Thank you Buckeye Nation!" Praise the Lord above!" (Listen) pic.twitter.com/NMCfWOryqk
— aster W. Teague III (@MasterTeagueIII) January 3, 2022
Teague, who was a redshirt junior in eligibility, could have played as many as two more seasons at Ohio State after the NCAA gave all players an additional year of eligibility last season. After graduating in August and going through Senior Day festivities before Ohio State’s final home game of the 2021 season, however, Teague has decided to move on and try his hand at playing professionally.
Over the course of his four-year career at Ohio State, Teague rushed for 1,764 yards and 17 touchdowns on 323 carries and caught 11 passes for 118 yards. He was J.K. Dobbins’ top backup in 2019, when he ran for a career-high 789 yards and four touchdowns on 135 attempts, and was the starting running back for most of the 2020 season, when he ran for 514 yards and eight touchdowns on 104 carries. He ran the ball just 67 times for 355 yards and four touchdowns in 2021, however, after being relegated to third-string duty behind TreVeyon Henderson and Miyan Williams.
That makes it very uncertain whether Teague will actually be selected in the 2022 NFL draft, but the 5-foot-11, 225-pound running back has decided to try his hand at playing professionally rather than continuing to play college football.
“Despite this year not going the way I imagined and wanted it or worked for it to go for me personally, I'm going to trust the Lord and my abilities and I’ve decided to declare for the 2022 NFL draft,” Teague said in a video accompanying his announcement. “I'm so grateful to be a part of the brotherhood at The Ohio State University, and a part of Buckeye Nation. I'm forever a Buckeye.”
Teague joins a class of 2022 NFL draft hopefuls from Ohio State that also includes wide receivers Chris Olave and Garrett Wilson, offensive linemen Nicholas Petit-Frere and Thayer Munford, tight end Jeremy Ruckert, defensive linemen Tyreke Smith, Haskell Garrett and Antwuan Jackson and cornerback Demario McCall.
While Ohio State is now losing the most veteran running back from its roster, the Buckeyes are still well-stocked at the running back position for the 2022 season. Henderson and Williams return as Ohio State’s top two running backs while Evan Pryor, Marcus Crowley and incoming freshman Dallan Hayden will also be vying to earn playing time in the running back rotation.
