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In year one of Matt Patricia as the Ohio State defensive coordinator, the Buckeyes were a top-three defense all season long. It certainly helps having guys like Caleb Downs, Sonny Styles, Kayden McDonald, and more, but what Patricia did with the OSU defense was simply impressive in just one year. Remember, it took Jim Knowles three seasons to reach that kind of consistency.
But will Matt Patricia be back in Scarlet and Gray for another season? That question remains to be answered, as Patricia posted something on social media that almost seemed to hint at a farewell. Additionally, it has been reported that NFL teams have been gauging interest, specifically the Dallas Cowboys, who recently fired defensive coordinator Matt Eberflus.
But it seems Ohio State is not going to let Patricia go without a fight. It has been reported that the Buckeye brass is working on a three-year, $9 million deal to keep Patricia in Columbus. $3 million a year would make Patricia one of the highest-paid defensive coordinators in college football, but would it be enough?
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The NFL and especially the Cowboys have deep pockets. Ohio State lost Chip Kelly after just one season to the Las Vegas Raiders, who signed him to a three-year, $18 million contract ($6 million annually), which was almost triple his contract with the Buckeyes. But the grass isn't always greener on the other side. Kelly lasted less than a year in Las Vegas before being fired. He's now back in the college game with Northwestern, quite a downgrade from Ohio State.
Can Ohio State retain Patricia? It's hard to say at this point. In today's world of NIL and the transfer portal, college coaches are jumping at the chance to get NFL positions, even some leaving head coaching gigs at the collegiate level for coordinator positions in the League. But every interview we've seen with Patricia, you can see the genuine excitement he gets from leading and teaching young men. Will that be enough to keep him around, or will Ryan Day be looking for a second defensive coordinator in as many years?
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This article originally appeared on Buckeyes Wire: Can Ohio State keep Matt Patricia from jumping to the NFL?
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