Ohio State football tight end Cade Stover announces he is returning to Buckeyes

Ohio State tight end Cade Stover will return to the Buckeyes for the 2023 season.

The fourth-year player from Mansfield caught 36 passes this season, the most by an Ohio State tight end since Rickey Dudley in 1995.

He injured his back in the first quarter after his only reception of the College Football Playoff semifinal against Georgia. The injury required a trip to the hospital, though Stover traveled home with the team the next day.

A former Ohio Mr. Football at Lexington High School, Stover bounced between offense and defense for the Buckeyes until this year.

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He played linebacker in last year’s Rose Bowl win over Utah when the Buckeyes were short-handed at that position.

When Jim Knowles was hired as defensive coordinator and installed a two-linebacker scheme, OSU coaches asked Stover to consider moving to tight end. The Buckeyes lost Jeremy Ruckert to the NFL and didn’t have an obvious successor.

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Stover filled that role, and will again for one more year.

The Buckeyes are still awaiting the announcements about NFL intentions from several players. Quarterback C.J. Stroud and left tackle Paris Johnson Jr. are expected to leave and become first-round picks.

Center Luke Wypler, linebacker Tommy Eichenberg, safety Lathan Ransom and right guard Matt Jones also have decisions to make. Running back Miyan Williams announced last week that he would return.

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This article originally appeared on The Columbus Dispatch: Ohio State football tight end Cade Stover announces return to Buckeyes