Ohio State junior center Michael Jordan is leaving for the NFL. He made the announcement on Twitter today that he would be foregoing his final year of eligibility and entering the 2019 NFL Draft.
“First, I want to thank God for the many blessings he has bestowed on me and my family. The journey that has led to this point, where I announce my decision to declare for the 2019 NFL Draft, has been truly unforgettable,” he wrote.
Jordan was named a First-Team All-American this season following his move from left guard to center. He became the third-consecutive Buckeye center to be named an All-American.
A starter as a true freshman in 2016, Jordan has started all 41 games over the last three seasons.
Jordan’s first two years were spent at left guard, where he was a Freshman All-American and then a First Team All-B1G selection as a sophomore.
Jordan came to Ohio State from Canton, Michigan.
It is rare for offensive linemen to leave early for the NFL Draft after just three seasons, but every step of Jordan’s career at Ohio State has been rare. He was the first true freshman to start on the offensive line since Orlando Pace in 1994, and just one of six Buckeyes to start an opening game as a true freshman.
Replacing Jordan in 2019 will likely be Josh Myers, who was the backup center in 2018 as a redshirt freshman.
OSU offensive line coach Greg Studrawa said on Sunday that Myers has been good enough to start for the Buckeyes since the middle of the season.
You can read Jordan’s full announcement below.
It was not an easy decision, but the right one for sure. Thank you everyone for your support! pic.twitter.com/0qmB7q1iuw
— Michael Jordan (@BigMikeJ73) January 4, 2019
Good luck, Michael!
Godspeed!
Huge blow.