Buckeyes losing another defensive back with eligibility to NFL draft

GLENDALE, AZ - DECEMBER 31: Gareon Conley #8 of the Ohio State Buckeyes intercepts a pass intended for Mike Williams #7 of the Clemson Tigers during the first half of the 2016 PlayStation Fiesta Bowl at University of Phoenix Stadium on December 31, 2016 in Glendale, Arizona. (Photo by Jamie Squire/Getty Images)

GLENDALE, AZ - DECEMBER 31: Gareon Conley #8 of the Ohio State Buckeyes intercepts a pass intended for Mike Williams #7 of the Clemson Tigers during the first half of the 2016 PlayStation Fiesta Bowl at University of Phoenix Stadium on December 31, 2016 in Glendale, Arizona. (Photo by Jamie Squire/Getty Images)
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Jan 3, 2017
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Gareon Conley is the second Ohio State football player to announce he is leaving early for the NFL.

A cornerback from Massillon, Conley has been a starter the past two years after serving as a reserve for the 2014 national champion Buckeyes. He redshirted as a freshman in 2013.

Mannnnn it's been a wonderful journey from recruiting to playing in the shoe. I feel like the past four years have really expanded and opened my mind and made me grow as a student an athlete and a man! It's been an honor to play as a buckeye and a silver bullet and also to be apart of the great secondary this past year! I wanna thank everyone from family to friends to buckeye nation for all the love and support it's a tremendous blessing to have played for yall. Most importantly I wanna thanks all my team mates who I was in the trenches with and through thick and thin I love y'all boys and y'all my brothas for life once a buckeye always a buckeye! I have decided to declare for the 2017 NFL draft. I wanna thank God cause I didn't earn any of this he blessed me and I took advantage of the blessings and I'm just glorifying him. Thanks again buckeye nation #HowSheGoneEat #BIA #silverbullets #tbc ...

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This season he had 26 tackles and four interceptions en route to earning second-team All-Big Ten recognition from the league coaches.

Teammate and fellow defensive back Malik Hooker announced Monday his intentions to turn pro early, and more defections are expected.

All-American offensive lineman Billy Price has said he will return for his fifth year.

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Marcus Hartman has been a digital sports columnist and reporter at Cox's Ohio newspapers the Dayton Daily News, Springfield News-Sun and Journal-News since 2016.