Sometimes we are robbed of the full career of an elite athlete because of injury or other unfortunate events. One such case would be former Ohio State linebacker Ryan Shazier. He was an All-American in Columbus for his ability to run, cover in space, and get to the ball with purpose. He was one of the most athletic linebackers that were a part of a new breed that could kind of do it all.
As an OSU linebacker, Shazier was recognized as a first-team All-American in 2013 before being drafted by the Pittsburgh Steelers in the first round of the 2014 NFL draft. He became a star playmaker in Pittsburgh, making the Pro-Bowl in 2016 and 2017 with a seemingly bright, long, and productive career ahead of him.
However, on Dec. 4, 2017, Shazier suffered a spinal cord injury in a Monday Night Football game against the Cincinnati Bengals. He never fully recovered enough to continue his football playing career and announced his retirement on Sept. 9, 2020.
Count former Ohio State football head coach Urban Meyer as a believer in the body of work Shazier would have put up had he not been injured. In an “X” (formerly Twitter) post from @RyanDayRuinedMe, Blake claimed that Shazier would have been “otw to Canton if he never went down.” Meyer was quick to share the claim with two simple words: “No doubt!”
And Meyer should know. He’s seen his fair share of elite athletes at the highest level of big-time college football and saw Shazier and what he could do on a football field for a couple of years in Columbus.
We agree. Shazier was on his way to becoming one of the most feared and athletic linebackers in the NFL and could have very well put together one whale of a career. What’s interesting about Shazier landing in Columbus to play for Ohio State is that he originally committed to play at Florida under Urban Meyer, but then rescinded when Meyer retired and flipped to Jim Tressel and Ohio State.
We then know that Meyer took over for Tressel eventually, where he was still able to play for the three-time national championship-winning coach.
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This article originally appeared on Buckeyes Wire: Urban Meyer thinks former Ohio State player would have made Hall of Fame if not for injury
Reporting by Phil Harrison, Buckeyes Wire / Buckeyes Wire
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