Ohio State and Michigan are set to square off in the 119th meeting of ‘The Game’ in what’s sure to be a competitive battle between two of the highest-ranked college football teams in the nation. Every year we see these two teams pit some of the best talent the Big Ten has to offer against one another in one of the biggest matchups of the year.
But before the game begins, and long after it ends, these two teams also compete off the field, trying to recruit the top prospects in the nation.
The allure of both programs is obvious, whether you’re more intrigued to play for coach Ryan Day or coach Jim Harbaugh, both the Buckeyes and Wolverines offer players a strong chance of reaching the pros. Certainly more so than say, playing for the Harvard Crimson, for example.
While players who attend Harvard likely have no trouble finding another life after football, if reaching the NFL is the ultimate goal, there are better programs available. However, just because a player is smart enough to get into Harvard, it doesn’t mean they’re good enough to play at a school like Ohio State or Michigan.
That may not be the case for Harvard defensive tackle Thor Griffith, who’s just recently entered college football’s transfer portal, and has been highly productive in the Ivy Leagues.
Griffith was ranked No. 8 on Bruce Feldman’s annual ‘Freaks List’ thanks to possessing brute strength, so much so that he was able to muster 45 reps at 225 pounds on the bench press.
But he’s not just a workout warrior who looks like he’d be able to play pro football, Griffith is also highly accomplished on the gridiron, where he’s recorded 132 tackles, 13.5 sacks, and 33.5 tackles for loss across 30 games.
But now instead of continuing his education at Harvard, Griffith tells The Athletic he’d like to take his talent to Ohio State or Michigan instead. Griffith has one year of eligibility remaining, but the 6-foot-2, 320-pound defensive tackle should be able to help a lot of teams, even the Buckeyes and Wolverines.
