Ohio State linebacker Tommy Eichenberg made the decision to stay in Columbus for a fifth year rather than go to the NFL Draft last year. But looking back, that decision partially based on a belief that he let others down.
Speaking to the media this week, Eichenberg admitted that one of the reasons he returned to Columbus for a fifth year was due to losing the final two games of 2022 to Michigan and Georgia. He said he wanted to “right some wrongs” and give it one more go at Ohio State.
“Those last two games last year hurt. It really did hurt losing. And I never really told anyone that, but I felt like I couldn’t leave after those last two games,” Eichenberg said, via Eleven Warriors. “I wanted to right some wrongs, and obviously my roommates were coming back too, so I just wanted to win, really.
“It was very, very hard for me,” Eichenberg said. “You just feel like you let a lot of people down, really. That was something that I had to deal with.”
However, after losing to Michigan again in 2023, Eichenberg admitted that he could have played better against the Wolverines coming off an injury that had limited him in two previous games.
“I just know I definitely could have played a lot better,” Eichenberg said. “I felt like I let down so many people, really. Especially being a captain, too. You know, that’s the standard is winning that game. It was very hard for me. But you gotta keep moving forward.”
Hopefully his impending NFL career allows him to avoid dwelling on it too much.