Ohio State’s Xavier Johnson Returning For Extra Season Of Eligibility In 2023

The former walk-on has emerged as a weapon for the Buckeyes on offense and special teams.

Ohio State fifth-year senior wide receiver Xavier Johnson creatively announced on Monday he is returning for his extra year of eligibility in 2023, tagging redshirt junior tight end Cade Stover in an Instagram post with the caption, “What you say?” in reference to Stover’s decision earlier in the day.

View this post on Instagram

A post shared by Xavier Johnson (@xavi.j1)

A former walk-on from Cincinnati, Johnson caught 13 passes for 151 yards and two touchdowns and rushed for 146 yards and another score this season. He also returned 12 kicks for 269 yards and appeared on the Buckeyes’ kickoff and punt return units, recovering two blocked punts.

While it’s unclear exactly what role Johnson will have in the offense next season, with Ohio State returning a pair of 1,000-yard wide receivers and as many as five scholarship running backs, he’ll continue to make an impact on special teams and stay ready for when his name is called elsewhere.

More News From Sports Illustrated: College Football Bowl Schedule | The South's Grip On College Football Is As Strong As Ever | SI's Experts Predict The National Championship Game | What We'll Remember From 2022: The Year Of Chaos

Other players who could take advantage of their extra year of eligibility next season include wide receiver Kamryn Babb, offensive lineman Matthew Jones, defensive end Tyler Friday, defensive tackle Taron Vincent, linebacker Palaie Gaoteote, cornerback Cameron Brown and safety Josh Proctor.

They all participated in Senior Day festivities ahead of the regular-season finale against Michigan, but so did Johnson, so the door isn’t closed on any of them returning to Columbus in 2023. They would count against the Buckeyes' 85-man scholarship limit, though.

-----

Get your Ohio State football and basketball tickets from SI Tickets. Also, be sure to check out our new message boards, Buckeye Forums. We'd love to have you part of the conversation during the season.

-----

You may also like:

Michigan RB Blake Corum Returning For Senior Season In 2023

Ohio State TE Cade Stover Returning For Fifth Season In 2023

Former Ohio State CB J.K. Johnson Transferring To LSU

Former Ohio State SAF Jaylen Johnson Transferring To Memphis

Former Ohio State WRs Garrett Wilson, Chris Olave Make NFL History

Seven Ohio State Signees Set To Play In 2023 All-American Bowl

-----

Be sure to stay locked into BuckeyesNow all the time!

Join the BuckeyesNow community!
Subscribe to the BuckeyesNow YouTube channel
Follow Andrew Lind on Twitter: @AndrewMLind
Follow BuckeyesNow on Twitter: @BuckeyesNow_FN
Follow BuckeyesNow on Instagram: @BuckeyesNow_FN

Like and follow BuckeyesNow on Facebook!