Joey Velazquez Shares Michigan, Ohio State CFP…

Joey Velazquez Shares Michigan, Ohio State CFP National Championships

Joey Velazquez’s jewelry collection certainly will be unique.

No one else in human history will possess consecutive CFP national championship rings.

One from Michigan.

The other from Ohio State.

Ohio State LB Joey Velazquez is a back-to-back national champion🏆

🔶2023: Won the natty with Michigan
🔶2024: Won the natty with OSU

The double crown as a member of two of the biggest college football rivals👑 pic.twitter.com/ITEDIr2pfm

— Football Forever (@fballforeverhq) January 21, 2025

Joey Velazquez Takes Championship Journey

The Buckeyes’ backup linebacker/special teamer experienced a one-of-a-kind journey. After growing up in Columbus, Ohio, Velazquez was lured to Ann Arbor, Michigan, with an opportunity to compete in both baseball and football.

The Wolverines’ 2023 national title culminated his five years with the “Team Up North.”

Unfortunate news of his father’s health guided him back home. As a senior at St. Francis De Sales High School in 2019, Velazquez committed to the Buckeyes, but flipped after U-M baseball skipper Erik Bakich and football coach Jim Harbaugh agreed to allow the multi-sport prospect to play both sports.

“That was my dream come true coming out of high school,” Velazquez said, as reported by The Athletic. “They gave me the opportunity, so it was awesome.”

Velazquez appeared in 21 career football games, collecting seven tackles (three solo) and a fumble recovery. He played a bigger role with the baseball program, starting 68 career games.

In 2022, Velazquez joined elite company when the two programs earned Big 10 titles. Rick Leach, who played in the major leagues for parts of 10 seasons, was the last player to accomplish the feat in 1978.

“It’s breathtaking, honestly,” Velazquez said before the Buckeyes earned a 34-23 victory over Notre Dame during Monday’s national final.

Congratulations to Joey Velazquez on being named First Team All-Ohio!! pic.twitter.com/ZBGoUV7kNP

— DeSales Football (@FootballSFD) November 28, 2018

Family Commitments And Fatherly Love

As a sixth-year senior, Ohio State coach Ryan Day granted Velazquez an opportunity to walk on. With his father, Jason, suffering health problems, the eldest of nine children felt he needed to move closer to home.

With his Michigan ties boxed up and put in storage at his parents’ house, Velazquez set out to win over his former rivals-turned-teammates.

It didn’t take him long.

Twice, the 5-foot-11, 226-pounder earned locker-room recognition for being one of the offseason workouts’ “dudes of the week.” He appeared in 14 games, recording one tackle.

“He’s really here for the betterment of our team,” Ohio State linebacker Cody Simon said. “He’s grown to be a brother of mine now. He helped our culture as soon as he got here.”

Velazquez became the second player in the transfer portal era to earn two national titles with two programs, joining wide receiver Derion Kendrick, who won with Clemson (2018) and Georgia (2021). Velazquez played a role in four Big Ten championships with the Wolverines, three in football and one in baseball.

“I’m just thankful that God put me in the opportunities to be with these guys and these great players,” he said.

On both sides of the Michigan-Ohio border, Velazquez will be able to show off his unique bling.