Entering the 2024 NFL Draft The Ohio State Buckeyes held the record for most first-round picks with 90. With the fourth overall selection of the first round, the Arizona Cardinals selected Ohio State wide receiver Marvin Harrison Jr, pushing that number to 91. Only two other schools have more than 80: USC (86), and Alabama (82). While the Buckeyes only added one to their total this year, they are projected to have multiple next year. The Buckeyes have had some great draft moments in recent years.
Five First-Rounders in One Year, The Most For Ohio State
The most first-rounders Ohio State has had in a single season is five, and they did that twice, in 2006 and 2016. Both those groupings of players included storied college football legends coming to the end of their eligibility after national championship runs.
In 2006 that group included A.J. Hawk, Donte Whitner, Bobby Carpenter, Santonio Holmes, and Nick Mangold. A group that combined saw ten Pro Bowls and two Super Bowl Wins. Most of these players were freshmen on the 2002 championship team at Ohio State and brought that professionalism and championship pedigree to the NFL.
In 2016 that group included Joey Bosa, Ezekiel Elliott, Eli Apple, Taylor Decker, and Darron Lee. All players were selected in the top twenty. Bosa and Elliott were both Rookie of the Year finalists, and Bosa won the AP Defensive Rookie of the Year. This entire group is still in the NFL and has seen a combined seven Pro Bowls. This group had a lot of hype coming off the 2014 National Championship.
Former Ohio State Players Get Selected 1,2,3 in 2018
In the 2018 NFL Draft, the first three selections played at Ohio State during their collegiate careers. Those picks were Joe Burrow first overall to the Cincinnati Bengals, Chase Young second overall to the Commanders, and Jeff Okudah third overall to the Detroit Lions. Since Joe Burrow transferred to LSU where he won a national championship and Heisman trophy, he does not factor into these numbers, but this was still a memorable moment for the Buckeyes.
Ohio State Has 5 Projected First Rounders Next Year
National Championship hype also brings highly touted draft prospects and the Buckeyes have five projected first-rounders for next year. Ohio State had multiple fringe players for the 2024 NFL Draft decide to stay for one more season with the Buckeyes. In making this decision, the players who stayed will be hot commodities in next year’s draft.
The five players who are in the top 32 on PFF’s 2025 Big Board are wide receiver Emeka Egbuka, running back Quinshon Judkins, edge Jack Sawyer, edge JT Tuimoloau, and cornerback Denzel Burke. A strong aspect of all these players being high on draft boards is that they play at first-round premium positions at wide receiver, edge, and cornerback.
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