Shaun Wade will play for Ohio State this season after all. Mike Carter-USA TODAY Sports

Cornerback Shaun Wade opts back in, returns to Ohio State

By Zac Wassink | Last updated 9/17/20

Ohio State cornerback Shaun Wade didn't have to think about his future for long.

The defensive back, who opted out when he thought there would be no fall Big Ten football season, told ESPN and announced via Twitter that he has returned to the Buckeyes.

I’m Back Sunshine☀️ #GoBucks pic.twitter.com/LxbT0zEm1d
— Shaun Wade (@shaunwade24) September 17, 2020

"Really, back in January, I didn't go to the draft and, my goal was to come back, be a captain, get my degree," Wade said during a Thursday appearance on "SportsCenter," per Tom VanHaaren of ESPN. Wade continued:

"And they didn't cancel football. Now it's back. So since it's back, we've got a chance to win a national championship. That's been my goal since day one. So that's what we're striving for. That's what we're gonna strive for when we get back in October."

Wade told ESPN on Wednesday he hadn't yet decided if he would try to play for Ohio State this fall.

The Big Ten postponed football and other fall sports on Aug. 11 due to the coronavirus pandemic but reversed that decision earlier this week and announced that a conference schedule will begin the weekend of Oct. 23-24.

It remains unknown if Wade's relationship with an agent will make him ineligible even though he signed no paperwork. Wade could go through the NCAA student-athlete reinstatement process to be cleared to play, if necessary.

Teammate and OSU guard Wyatt Davis also opted back in. Both players are widely viewed as first-round talents for the 2021 NFL Draft class.

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