He didn't have the "wow" factor of a Chase Young or the freakish bend of the Bosa brothers. Let’s just be honest about that up front. When Jack Sawyer arrived at Ohio State as a five-star recruit and the top-ranked prospect in the country according to some, fans expected a sack artist who would teleport past offensive tackles.
It didn't quite happen like that. Instead, Sawyer turned into something maybe more valuable for a long-term NFL career: a brick wall with a motor that refuses to quit.
By the time he finished his senior year in Columbus, Sawyer wasn't just a highly-touted recruit. He was a national champion and a legend. If you're a Pittsburgh Steelers fan or just someone looking at the Jack Sawyer scouting report to see how he translates to the pro game, you've got to look past the sack numbers—even though those ended up being pretty good by the end.
The Steelers snagged him in the fourth round of the 2025 NFL Draft, a move that left a lot of Big Ten experts scratching their heads as to how he fell that far.
The Physical Profile: More Tank Than Ferrari
Sawyer stands about 6-foot-4 and weighs in at 260 pounds. On paper, that’s prototypical. In reality, he plays "heavy."
Some guys are speed rushers who win with a track-star first step. That isn't Sawyer. He’s a power player through and through. His arms are a bit on the shorter side—measuring around 31 3/4 inches—which is one reason why some scouts worried he’d struggle to disengage from massive NFL tackles.
But here’s the thing: his hands are incredibly violent. He uses a heavy-handed approach to shock blockers at the point of attack.
He’s not going to run around you. He’s going to run through you.
- Height: 6042 (6'4 1/4")
- Weight: 260 lbs
- Hand Size: 9 3/4"
- Arm Length: 31 3/4"
He’s a high-floor player. Basically, you know exactly what you’re getting. You're getting a guy who sets the edge better than almost anyone in the 2025 class. In 2024, PFF gave him a run-defense grade of 86.7, which is elite. Teams stopped running to his side of the field because he simply doesn't get moved off his spot.
The "Legend" Moment: The 83-Yard Dash
If you want to understand why Mike Tomlin and the Steelers front office liked him, just watch the 2025 Cotton Bowl. Ohio State was playing Texas in the CFP semifinal. The game was on the line. Texas had a 4th-and-goal at the 2-yard line, threatening to tie it up late.
Sawyer didn't just get a sack. He beat the tackle, stripped Quinn Ewers (his former roommate, hilariously enough), scooped the ball, and rumbled 83 yards for a touchdown.
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That play basically sent the Buckeyes to the Natty. It showed his "clutch" gene. Some guys disappear when the lights get bright, but Sawyer seemed to get better the bigger the game was. In the 2024 playoff run alone, he racked up 4.5 sacks. That kind of production when it matters most is exactly why his scouting report improved drastically during his senior year.
Pass Rush Evolution: Can He Win in the NFL?
This is where the debate starts. If you look at his sack totals, they went up every single year:
- 2021: 3.0 sacks
- 2022: 4.5 sacks
- 2023: 6.5 sacks
- 2024: 9.0 sacks
Progress is great. But scouts noted a lack of "bend." When people talk about bend, they mean the ability to lean at a sharp angle while running around the corner of a tackle. Sawyer is a bit "stiff" in the hips. He doesn't have that ankle flexion to dip under a tackle's hands.
Instead, he relies on a speed-to-power move. He gets a head of steam and converts it into a bull rush that collapses the pocket. He also has a decent two-hand swipe and a long-arm stab.
Honestly, he’s a bit of a "scheme specific" player. He’s perfect as a 4-3 defensive end or a heavy 3-4 outside linebacker who focuses on setting the edge and pushing the pocket rather than being a pure "finesse" rusher.
The Sam Hubbard Comparison
The most common name you’ll hear in any Jack Sawyer scouting report is Sam Hubbard. It’s a lazy comparison because they both went to Ohio State, but it’s also remarkably accurate. Hubbard has made a very lucrative career out of being "solid." He isn't a 15-sack guy, but he’s a 6-to-8 sack guy who plays 90% of the snaps and never makes a mistake in the run game.
Sawyer has that exact same vibe. He’s a "glue guy" for a defense.
Why the Steelers Drafted Him (and Why he Slipped)
So, why did a five-star national champion with 9 sacks fall to the fourth round?
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Age and "twitch." Sawyer was 23 by the time he hit his first NFL training camp. NFL GMs love drafting 20-year-olds with "untapped potential." Sawyer is mostly tapped. He is who he is.
There’s also the concern about his lateral agility. He struggled a bit in 2022 when Ohio State tried to play him in a hybrid "Jack" role where he had to drop into coverage and move in space. He looked out of place. He’s a "hand-in-the-dirt" or "set-the-edge" player. When you ask him to do too much, his effectiveness drops.
But for Pittsburgh, he’s a perfect fit. They have T.J. Watt and Alex Highsmith. They don't need Sawyer to be "The Man." They need him to be the guy who comes in, doesn't give up any ground on 1st and 10, and occasionally mauls a tackle on 3rd down.
Key Stats from his Final Season (2024)
- Tackles: 59
- Sacks: 9
- Forced Fumbles: 3
- Pass Breakups: 7 (He’s great at getting his hands up in passing lanes)
- Durability: Never missed a game in four years. That's huge.
Actionable Insights for the Future
If you're tracking Sawyer's transition to the NFL, keep an eye on these specific developmental areas. His success will depend on how he handles a few key shifts in the professional game:
- Hand Technique over Reach: Since he has shorter arms, he has to win the hand-fighting battle instantly. If an NFL tackle gets their hands inside his chest, the rep is over. Watch for him to develop a quicker "snatch-and-pull" move.
- Special Teams Impact: In Pittsburgh, a fourth-rounder has to play special teams. Sawyer did this at Ohio State even as a star, which says a lot about his character. His ability to be a "wedge buster" on kickoffs will keep him on the roster early.
- Interior Versatility: Don't be surprised if the Steelers use him as a "3-technique" (lining up over the guard) on obvious passing downs. His power is a mismatch for some interior linemen who aren't used to that kind of heavy-handedness from the edge.
Jack Sawyer might never be an All-Pro, but he’s the kind of player who plays for 10 years and makes every coach he plays for look smart. He’s a high-floor, high-character "football player" in the purest sense of the word.
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To get a better feel for how he'll produce in year one, you should check out the Steelers' preseason snap counts specifically on early downs—that's where his run-stuffing ability will either shine or show its limitations against NFL speed.