Dwayne Haskins has had one of the most spectacular seasons in college football history and the best for a quarterback in the Big Ten since Drew Brees. Haskins even broke Brees’ passing record of yards (4580) and touchdowns (47) in a season ( For a full list of Haskins records see this post by our friends at Bucknuts). Haskins had a sensational season all while the Urban Meyer Suspension started off the season on a difficult note and clearly affected the team. With the passing weeks and Haskins’ talent on full display, it has become a foregone conclusion that Dwayne Haskins has NFL talent. But what isn’t a foregone
We break down the pros and the cons to leaving for the standout sophomore.
Pros
- Money: Lots and lots of money. Haskins has the talent of a top 10 player in the 2019 NFL draft and quarterbacks can make a lot if they are drafted in the top 10. For example, Baker Mayfield signed a four year deal worth $32.7 million dollars with a signing bonus of $21.9 million. Also, it is important to note that if he were to return and get hurt his draft stock would be severely affected.
- He can play right away: Haskins has the arm strength, field vision, and pocket presence to play in one of the many increasingly college-friendly NFL offense. His size at 6’3 220lbs is perfect for the NFL and his ability to progress to his third and fourth receiving options matched with his incredible accuracy make him a solid fit in the NFL.
- Urban Meyer: By leaving after this year Haskins can be done with Ohio State and would not have to deal with the questions about fitting into a new coaching environment or adapting to life without newly retired Meyer next season or face the drama surrounding whether or not Ohio State should have been selected for the college football playoff.
- New life: Playing for Ohio State was a dream for Haskins ever since he stepped foot onto campus as a young man, but playing in the NFL is an even bigger dream that many young boys grow up fantasizing about. Plus, he would be able to begin this new dream of his and begin adjusting to the next phase of his life rather than continuing to attend classes and live on campus while preparing for next season.
Cons
- Leaving OSU: This may be overstating Haskins’ view of Ohio State, but he would be leaving his home of two years and a familiar environment for an unfamiliar city and unfamiliar people. He would be switching from the ‘big man on campus’ (he’s 6’3 and a football player at OSU so he is sure to get noticed wherever he goes on campus) to a rookie in a locker room of seasoned veterans and potentially fighting for a starting spot.
- A National Championship: Of all the things that might leave Haskins wanting more is another shot at a national championship. Having played at an elite level and finishing just shy of a playoff berth could leave its sting on an ultimate competitor like Dwayne. Imagine if the 2019 Heisman race again featured Tua Tagovailoa and Dwayne Haskins and they faced off in the college football playoff. Dwayne could even return to try to win the Heisman Trophy but this is merely speculation by an anxious Buckeye fan. A fan can hope right?
- Improving his play: While Dwayne has played well enough to earn himself a top 10 pick, the ability to both demonstrate he can weather a coaching change (something many teams drafting in the top 10 may have undergone or will undergo) and continue to play at a high level in a second straight season will undoubtedly vault him into the top 5 if not top 2. With another year under his belt his leadership, poise, and confidence will grow along with rounding out his passing ability and his ability to read defenses both before and after the snap. Also, the quarterbacks that will enter the 2020 NFL draft may not be as polished as Haskins, outside of Tua which would further promote his draft stock.
Prognosis
Where as much as Buckeye fans might like to hope (and pray) that Haskins will return, it seems the best decision for Haskins to enter the NFL draft. The prospect of getting hurt next season or not having as stellar of a year as this year will most likely force Dwayne to make the jump to the NFL.
What is interesting is that unlike fellow Buckeye Nick Bosa, Dwayne stated he will play in the Rose Bowl. The fact that he stated he would return indicates that it was necessary, at least from his standpoint, to clear up any doubt whether or not he would play and that his likelihood of leaving must be obvious enough to warrant such a statement.
While Nick is not playing due to a groin injury, Dwayne must want to play one last time for the man who recruited him and share their last college football game together. It could be this same exact sense of love for and loyalty to OSU that might cause Haskins to consider a return, but the safer bet would be to just enjoy one final football firework show in a special game for Buckeye greats. I doubt we have seen the last of Haskins under center and any team that needs a QB might be able to find a diamond in the rough with Dwayne (Hey Bengals