Defensive end Tyquan Lewis to return to Ohio State for senior season

Tyquan Lewis has led Ohio State in sacks for two straight seasons. The junior defensive end will attempt to make it three in a row in 2017, as he will return for one final season in Columbus, per ESPN’s Adam Rittenberg.

Lewis, the 2016 Big Ten Defensive Lineman of the Year and a two-year starter, paced the Buckeyes in sacks (eight) and tackles for loss (10.5) this season. As a sophomore, Lewis posted a team-best eight sacks and was second to Joey Bosa with 14 tackles for loss.

The North Carolina native developed a knack for the limelight in 2016. He registered the walk-off sack in Ohio State’s overtime win at Wisconsin, and at Michigan State, Lewis tallied a forced fumble and 1.5 sacks, including a sack on the Spartans’ potential game-winning drive. He was a big reason the Buckeyes defense finished their season ranked second in the country in scoring defense, third in defensive S&P+, and fifth in total defense.

A former four-star recruit who recently graduated with a sociology degree, Lewis redshirted the 2013 season before seeing action in all 15 contests during Ohio State’s national title run in 2014.