The exodus continues in Columbus.
Ohio State safety Tyvis Powell and linebacker Darron Lee both took to Twitter this weekend to declare their intentions to turn pro.
Powell tweeted this message Sunday morning:
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Lee posted this a day earlier:
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Both players were part of an astounding Ohio State defense that ranked third in the country in scoring defense, allowing an average of 15.1 points per game, and 10th in the country in total defense, allowing an average of 311.3 total yards per game. They both started on last year's national championship team.
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Powell departs following his third season of action as a redshirt junior. This year, he was third on the team with 71 total tackles. He picked off a trio of passes — including one in the Fiesta Bowl win over Notre Dame on Friday — and blocked a kick. All in all, he finishes his career with 195 total tackles and eight interceptions.
Lee was one of the Big Ten's best linebackers this season as a redshirt sophomore. He earned All-Big Ten honors after finishing with 66 total tackles, 11 tackles for loss, 4.5 sacks, an interception and a forced fumble. He had a huge performance in the Fiesta Bowl, tallying seven tackles, two tackles for loss and two sacks. That after an astounding postseason performance last season against Alabama, when he had seven tackles, three tackles for loss and two sacks en route to earning defensive MVP honors in the Sugar Bowl. In just two seasons of action, Lee recorded a total of 147 tackles, 27.5 tackles for loss, 12 sacks and three interceptions.
Powell and Lee join the already announced trio of Ezekiel Elliott, Cardale Jones and Joey Bosa to make it five Buckeyes who have opted to forego at least one season of eligibility to move on to the professional ranks.