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Buckeyes LB Jerome Baker is still unsure if he’ll return in 2018, but say’s he’s playing in Cotton Bowl

Dustin Schutte

By Dustin Schutte

Published:

Jerome Baker isn’t quite sure what he’s going to do after Ohio State’s Cotton Bowl game against USC. He’s still deciding whether he’ll return to the program in the 2018 season or declare for the NFL draft.

But when it comes to the bowl game, Baker doesn’t have to do any thinking. The talented linebacker is definitely playing against USC.

“Even if I decide to leave, I’m playing regardless,” Baker told Austin Ward of Land of 10. “I can’t leave my brothers behind.”

Baker played in 11 games for the Buckeyes this season, missing just one due to injury. He recorded 51 tackles, 4..5 stops for loss, and a pair of sacks. Matt Miller of Bleacher Report has the linebacker pegged as the fourth-best of the 2018 class, if he decides to enter the NFL draft.

Ohio State and USC are scheduled to square off on Dec. 29 in the Cotton Bowl Classic. The game is set for 8:30 p.m. ET and will air on ESPN.

Dustin Schutte

Dustin grew up in the heart of Big Ten country and has been in sports media since 2010. He has been covering Big Ten football since 2014. You can follow him on Twitter: @SchutteCFB