Ohio State’s Jack Sawyer Honors Late Namesake in Championship Run

COLUMBUS, Ohio — Ohio State defensive end Jack Sawyer, a senior and one of the Buckeyes‘ most impactful players, has carried more than just his team’s hopes this season. He has also carried the memory of a young fan who shared his name and battled cancer until his death in 2023.

Jack Sawyer, the Ohio State star, first connected with Jack B. Sawyer, a Mentor, Ohio, teen, through social media before the younger Sawyer was diagnosed with Ewing sarcoma, a rare bone and soft-tissue cancer. The two formed a bond that transcended football, with the elder Sawyer sending care packages, handwritten notes, and Buckeyes gear to his namesake during his treatment.

“He was our only child, and we tried for six years to have him,” said Dawn Sawyer, the younger Jack’s mother. “He said, ‘I’m not afraid to die. I’m afraid of leaving my parents.'”

The younger Sawyer lived by the motto “PACE,” or “Positive Attitude Changes Everything,” which became a source of strength during his 18-month battle. Even in his final months, he watched the Ohio State defensive end wear an armband with “PACE” in his honor during games.

On Nov. 5, 2023, the younger Jack Sawyer passed away. Exactly one year later, the elder Sawyer made history with an 83-yard fumble recovery touchdown against Texas, a play that sent the Buckeyes to the national championship game. “There will never be a game when I don’t do that,” Sawyer said of honoring his late friend.

The Sawyer family has since established the Jack B. Sawyer Memorial Golf Outing and a scholarship in their son’s memory. “If this platform or any other platform can help push awareness of Ewing sarcoma, then we’ll do it,” Dawn Sawyer said.

For the elder Sawyer, the connection to his namesake has been a source of inspiration. “Your son was a hero of mine,” he told Matt Sawyer, the younger Jack’s father. “If Jack could push through his treatments and be strong and brave, then I’m going to do it, too.”

As Ohio State prepares for the national championship, Sawyer carries not only the hopes of Buckeye Nation but also the legacy of a young fan who taught him the power of resilience and positivity.