With both players having previously declared for the 2021 NFL draft, Ohio State guard Wyatt Davis on Wednesday said he'd like to return to the Buckeyes this fall, while teammate Shaun Wade remains undecided.
The Big Ten on Wednesday announced a return-to-play plan for football during the coronavirus pandemic starting in late October, but Wade's eligibility remains a question because of the cornerback's relationship with an agent.
It is unclear if Davis has an agent, and he applied for a waiver to return that is still being processed, a source told ESPN. The 2019 Associated Press first-team All-American, who opted out of the season on Friday, posted on social media Wednesday that he wants to return to Ohio State.
"I was incredibly happy to learn today about the Big Ten's decision to play football this fall," Davis said on Twitter. "... I want Buckeye Nation to know that I want to play this season for Ohio State, and I am working now to make that a reality."
— Wyatt Davis (@wyattdavis53) September 16, 2020
Davis started all 14 games for the Buckeyes last season, and he is listed as the No. 30 draft prospect by ESPN's Todd McShay and as the No. 1 draft-eligible guard by ESPN's Mel Kiper Jr.
A team captain for the Buckeyes and a preseason All-American, Wade was listed as Kiper's No. 7 prospect on the Big Board earlier this month.
Wade, appearing on ESPN's Outside the Lines on Wednesday, wouldn't commit to a return.
"Right now, I haven't decided," said Wade, who turned 22 on Wednesday. "... I knew it was going to come back, but I just didn't know it was going to come back soon. They have been saying a lot of stuff on Twitter and different sources, but at the end of the day, it just, I really don't know. ...
"Today's just been a wild day for me. Really, I just don't know what I'm going to do, what decision I'm going to make right now. ... I'll come back tomorrow and really think about it."
Wade said he has an agent, "but I haven't signed nothing."
The relationship with that agent will need to be defined by the NCAA to determine whether Wade is eligible to opt back in if he wants to do so. If he is ineligible because he signed with an agent, he has the option to go through the reinstatement process.
By NCAA rules, a player who declares for the draft and signs with an agent is technically ineligible. However, depending on the circumstances, the athlete and his school could try to go through the student-athlete reinstatement process to regain eligibility for a season.
Ohio State coach Ryan Day on Wednesday said that he thinks Wade and Davis should be able to return if they choose to do so.
The Big Ten plans to start the football season the weekend of Oct. 23-24. The conference will require student-athletes, coaches and other personnel who are on the field for all practices and games to undergo daily antigen testing for the coronavirus. The test results must be completed and recorded before each practice or game.
Wade announced Monday that he would forgo his senior season to prepare for the NFL draft.
"I came back to get my degree and to play another season and win a national championship," Wade said of his decision. "But when the Big Ten canceled, I was focused on still playing, but I felt like they were holding off for so long, I thought it was the best decision for me to declare for the draft and just go on with preparing and getting ready for the draft."
ESPN's Adam Rittenberg contributed to this report.