Right tackle Isaiah Prince, safety Vonn Bell, cornerback Eli Apple, defensive end Sam Hubbard and quarterback Joe Burrow were all classmates at Ohio State while coached by Urban Meyer.

Burrow and Hubbard are unquestioned leaders on the team, but their relationship goes much deeper than that, as their friendship has been close-knit and long-standing.

Hubbard and Burrow are also Ohio-born and raised, and were both in a business internship together in New York.

Burrow said it’s been tremendous to finally get to work together with his Buckeye brothers. 

“It’s exciting for me to finally get to play with those guys,” Burrow said. “I never got on the field to battle with those guys in the trenches when I was at Ohio State. When I got here, they had a lot of Ohio State guys on the team that I finally got to play with so that’s exciting.” 

Hubbard said having a quality friend like Burrow on the squad makes everything easier. 

“To have that past together, trust that we have for each other has really allowed us to do this thing hand in hand,” Hubbard said. “Along with all the other great leaders on the team, it’s been a joy to work with him.” 

Burrow said the team’s focus is to block out the noise from the outside, and Bell agreed. 

“We don’t worry about what everybody say,” Bell said. “We just worry about us."

Burrow said he’s tired of playing the underdog card, now that the Bengals have made the Super Bowl. 

The Bengal Buckeyes both collectively agreed that their experience together through college and now through the pros is helping to grow the team closer together, and help the Bengals reach their ultimate goal.

“It’s gonna feel good when we win this last game, for sure,” Bell said.