Amir Riep and Jahsen Wint haven’t played football for Ohio State since 2019.

So it’s no surprise that Wint called their participation in OSU’s pro day on Wednesday “surreal.”

The same could be said for their ordeal the last several years. The defensive backs were dismissed from the team in February 2020 after they were arrested and charged with raping and kidnapping following a sexual encounter with a 19-year-old OSU student.

A month later, the COVID-19 pandemic hit, which contributed to a delay in the trial for three years. The attorneys for Riep and Wint showed a cellphone video in which the accuser agreed with Riep when he said the sex was consensual. A Franklin County jury found Riep and Wint not guilty on Feb. 9, 2023.

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Riep and Wint resumed their college careers last year. Riep enrolled at Lincoln University in Oakland, which began a program in 2021 as an independent. Wint played at Marshall.

Riep and Wint were among a few former OSU players invited to perform for NFL scouts on pro day, as is customary.

“It’s an opportunity,” Riep said. “After what I went through, that’s all I was looking for. That’s what I got, so I’m thankful for that.”

Riep, a Cincinnati native, said he has no bitterness toward OSU for dismissing him from the team.

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“That was a while ago and I don’t really have too much feelings about it because I’m here now," he said.

“It still feels like home. There’s still love from all the coaches. We had a few people on the staff that are still here.”

Months after his arrest, Riep’s father was diagnosed with cancer and died.

“There were a lot of ups and downs,” he said. “It was a rollercoaster. But we’re here now, so I can only be thankful for it.

“I’m battle-tested. There was a lot of perseverance through my journey. Faith, control what I can control, and kept faith in God.”

Riep said he has not talked to NFL teams yet but said some have reached out to his agent. He knows the question about his ordeal will be raised.

“I’ll just tell them, ‘Wrong place, wrong time,’” he said. “I learned from it and grew from it.”

Added Wint, “At that time, I was just really mad, just at the fact, ‘Why me?’ or ‘Why did I have to go through that, me and Amir?’ I felt we were strong enough to handle it. It was a tough, tough time, but we got through it.”

Wint, who’s from Brooklyn, said he was worried that his play at Marshall would be affected by the long layoff.

“Really, it was like riding a bike,” he said. “Once you get the hang of it, it’s back to the same groove. I thought I’d lose a step, but I didn’t.”

Wint, who plans to participate in Marshall’s pro day as well, played 150 snaps for the Thundering Herd.

He just turned 26 years old, far older than he expected to be to get his shot at the NFL. They might be long shots to make it, but Wint and Riep are just happy to have any chance at all.

“We got our lives back, but it took three years, three (lost) seasons,” Wint said. “I’m just grateful for the opportunity to come back here and still have my opportunity.”

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This article originally appeared on The Columbus Dispatch: 2024 NFL Draft Ohio State pro day: Riep, Wint cherish opportunity