Ohio State Cornerback Bradley Roby to Return Next Season

Tim May of the Columbus Dispatch reports that cornerback Bradley Roby will return for his redshirt junior year at Ohio State.  

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Cornerback Bradley Roby just told me by phone he is RETURNING to play for Ohio State in what will be his junior season this year.

— Tim May (@TIM_MAYsports) January 6, 2013"

It was expected that Roby would return, but the news became official today. Ohio State’s defense will benefit greatly from the return of Roby, who is among the best cornerbacks in the nation, as he was in 2012. Leading the nation in passes defended per game last season, Roby’s leadership and speed will benefit a relatively young Buckeye’s defense.

Though the front seven will be young, Roby’s return will also put the Ohio State secondary in discussion for one of the best in the nation. Roby, C.J. Barnett and Christian Bryant will all be returning starters in 2013. The second cornerback spot should belong to Doran Grant, who started a game in 2013 and gained solid playing time throughout the year. 

Roby made a wise decision to return for another year. In what will be his third season playing corner, Roby is still raw in certain areas and will be able to polish his game in an effort to be a top-15 pick in next year’s NFL draft. The fact that Ohio State will be a preseason top-five team next season doesn’t hurt either.  

May also tweeted that Roby said there was “unfinished business due to this post-season that was taken away by NCAA.”

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Roby also said the team, 12-0 in Urban Meyer's first year, has unfinished business due to this post-season that was taken away by NCAA.

— Tim May (@TIM_MAYsports) January 6, 2013"

This coming shortly after the commitment of Mike Mitchell, it seems as if late Christmas presents just keep being delivered to Buckeye Nation. It was essential that Roby returned for 2013 for the Buckeyes to make a run at a national championship. It will be great to see No. 1 suit up for the Buckeyes one last season.