The 2024 Ohio State NFL Draft prospects have made their impact with the Buckeyes and are now on their way to the NFL. Heading into this year’s draft, the Buckeyes have sent the third-most draftees to the NFL with 485 picks. However, they lead the pack with 90 first-round picks in history thus far.
This crop of Ohio State NFL Draft prospects is lighter than anticipated with a solid handful of NFL-worthy players electing to return to school. Even then, Ohio State is poised to have its ninth consecutive year with a first-round pick and at least half of a dozen alumni will hear their name called.
It’s a tradition at Ohio State to have NFL draft picks and Ryan Day has picked up where Urban Meyer left off when it comes to getting guys to the next level. Experts agree that Day’s players are worth the pick so we’ve compiled a small collection of experts and authorities on the internet. Not every list has all nine Buckeyes but we certainly tried to find as many as possible. For example, Xavier Johnson was only on one list. The former walk-on H-back hybrid captain was ranked 562 on Pro Football Network’s Big Board.
Where the Experts List Ohio State NFL Draft Hopefuls
Marvin Harrison, Jr., WR
ESPN: 2
NFL.com’s Lance Zierlein: 5
NFL.com’s Chad Reuter: 5
Dane Brugler: 2
Joe Goodberry: 3
NFLMockDraftDatabase: 4
33rd Team: 1
CBS: 1
PFF: 2
Pro Football Network: 3
The most sure-fire former Buckeye has to be stud wide receiver, Marvin Harrison, Jr. He was thrust into the spotlight in the 2021 Rose Bowl vs. Utah as both of Ohio State’s top receivers opted out. As a result, Harrison and Jaxon Smith-Njigba went nuclear.
In two years as WR1 in the Buckeyes’ offense, Harrison accounted for 2,474 yards and 28 touchdowns to go with his 139 yards and three scores as a true freshman. He was able to replicate his success despite a massive drop-off at the quarterback position. Considering he was able to go for 1,200+ yards and 14 scores with Kyle McCord at quarterback, Harrison is among the most impressive receivers in the class.
Harrison, the crown jewel of this Ohio State NFL Draft class, is nearly unanimously regarded as WR1 in this year’s class. Often, those discrediting him are just doing so to be different. Either way, he’s poised to be the first non-quarterback taken in this year’s draft. Where he will land will be a fun question as we get closer.
Michael Hall, DT
ESPN: 71
NFL.com’s Lance Zierlein: N/A
NFL.com’s Chad Reuter: 52
Dane Brugler: 79
Joe Goodberry: 64
NFLMockDraftDatabase: 69
33rd Team: 162
CBS: 56
PFF: 104
Pro Football Network: 58
Perhaps one of the more interesting defensive prospects, Michael Hall has been shooting up draft boards since the end of the season. In terms of raw productivity, Hall will not jump off the page. In two-plus seasons, he managed 45 tackles, 10 TFLs, six sacks, and a recovered fumble. Compared to the other top interior defensive linemen, Hall falls short.
However, he has some impressive advanced stats and his athletic profile. When it comes to 290+-pound players, only four players have run a 4.75-or-better 40-yard dash. Hall is one of those players along with Geno Atkins, so, no bad company. Additionally, he’s among the elite players of this draft class as well as recent classes in terms of pass-rush win rate. Hall is up there with Christian Barmore, Quinnen Williams, Jalen Carter, and Byron Murphy.
He will likely end up as a pass-rush specialist 3T. Imagine him learning from someone like Chris Jones in Kansas City…
Cade Stover, LB
ESPN: 76
NFL.com’s Lance Zierlein: N/A
NFL.com’s Chad Reuter: 86
Dane Brugler: 94
Joe Goodberry: 115
NFLMockDraftDatabase: 81
33rd Team: 73
CBS: 100
PFF: 115
Pro Football Network: 104
Cade Stover is a certified #FootballGuy. Stover was initially recruited as a linebacker and made the switch to tight end after two years. Even then, in that JSN/Harrison breakout game in the Rose Bowl, there was a sudden void at linebacker that Stover ended up switching back and filling in. He ended up as the third-leading tackler in that game with six.
As a tight end, Stover developed into a nice security blanket for both C.J. Stroud and Kyle McCord. In 2022, Stover accounted for 406 yards and five touchdowns. Those five scores marked the first time since 2011 that an Ohio State tight end scored at least five touchdowns. Then, in 2023, Stover had the best receiving yard mark from an OSU tight end since 1983 with 576. It stands as the third-best single-season performance by a tight end in program history. He added five more touchdowns and moved into third all-time by a tight end with 10.
Stover is regarded as a high-upside day-two pick who is still a bit raw. He has the chance to be the third Ohio State NFL Draft pick at tight end since 2017.
Tommy Eichenberg, LB
ESPN: 226
NFL.com’s Lance Zierlein: N/A
NFL.com’s Chad Reuter: 145
Dane Brugler: 74
Joe Goodberry: 121
NFLMockDraftDatabase: 132
33rd Team: 171
CBS: 149
PFF: 112
Pro Football Network: 175
When you think of “Ohio State linebackers,” Tommy Eichenberg fits the mold. Over the last three years, Eichenberg has held down the linebacker role fairly well. In total, he accounted for 266 tackles, 21 TFLs, 3.5 sacks, two interceptions (one pick-six), five pass breakups, a forced fumble, and a recovered fumble.
The two-time team captain and two-time First-Team All-Big Ten honoree was the Big Ten Butkus-Fitzgerald Linebacker of the Year last year. He is projected as a solid run-stopper with decent instincts finding the ball carrier. Eichenberg should be an early day-three selection (but Dane Brugler is very high on him compared to the rest). It’ll be interesting to see where this Ohio State NFL Draft hopeful lands.
Josh Proctor, SAF
ESPN: 242
NFL.com’s Lance Zierlein: N/A
NFL.com’s Chad Reuter: N/A
Dane Brugler: N/A
Joe Goodberry: 167
NFLMockDraftDatabase: 195
33rd Team: 226
CBS: 338
PFF: 264
Pro Football Network: 178
Perhaps the hardest-hitting of the Ohio State NFL Draft prospects, Josh Proctor‘s first “wow!” play was a memorable one. On the final play of the 2019 Big Ten Championship, Proctor baptized the Wisconsin quarterback to preserve the 35-21 victory for the Buckeyes.
Across his six years on campus, Proctor appeared in 53 games, including 11 games in four different seasons. He did miss 11 games in 2021 after suffering an injury in the loss to Oregon. In total, Proctor accounted for 112 tackles, 6.5 TFLs, a sack, three interceptions (one pick-six), 14 pass breakups, and a recovered fumble.
Thus far, NFL analysts are not super high on Proctor as he’s older and was prone to getting beat deep as a safety. However, he’s more than willing and capable of coming downhill to stop the ball carrier. Proctor’s best quality is that he’s a bruiser. Don’t be surprised if Proctor is a day-three selection who carves out a niche on special teams.
Steele Chambers, LB
ESPN: 252
NFL.com’s Lance Zierlein: N/A
NFL.com’s Chad Reuter: N/A
Dane Brugler: N/A
Joe Goodberry: 274
NFLMockDraftDatabase: 223
33rd Team: 292
CBS: 267
PFF: 201
Pro Football Network: 384
Initially a four-star recruit at running back, Steele Chambers made a name for himself as a linebacker. He was ultimately buried on the depth chart behind the likes of J.K. Dobbins, Master Teague, and Trey Sermon in those two years, so he made the transition to linebacker, a position Ohio State was incredibly thin.
Over the next three years, Chambers appeared in all 39 games and totaled 207 tackles, 13 TFLs, four interceptions, five pass breakups, a forced fumble, and scored a touchdown off of a fumble in the win over Maryland in 2022.
As Stover is as a tight end, Chambers is still a bit raw as a linebacker. He will likely make a name for himself on special teams and in specific sub packages as he is a solid run defender. Chambers is often noted for his explosive first step and recognition. However, he was the subject of much ire because, despite that great reaction, he missed tackles in the backfield, resulting in a positive gain on a play that should have been a TFL. Chambers is the last likely Ohio State NFL Draft selection.
Miyan Williams, RB
ESPN: 303
NFL.com’s Lance Zierlein: N/A
NFL.com’s Chad Reuter: N/A
Dane Brugler: N/A
Joe Goodberry: 263
NFLMockDraftDatabase: 320
33rd Team
CBS: 330
PFF: 217
Pro Football Network: 402
Quite possibly the most underappreciated running back of the last four years, Miyan Williams was rarely the guy. However, despite not being RB1 at any point, he made the most of each of his opportunities.
His best year as a Buckeye was in 2022 as he was the beneficiary of TeVeyon Henderson’s constant battles with injuries. In total, Williams accounted for 1,555 yards and 20 touchdowns (14 of which were in that 2022 season).
Williams has plenty of treads left on the tires and was getting NFL looks even as the change-of-pace back. In an era where the NFL values the running back position less and less, Williams is a prime candidate to be a team’s late day-three pick or UDFA and have a James Robinson-esque impact (and hopefully Urban Meyer isn’t there to inexplicably draft his replacement in the first round).
Matthew Jones, IOL
ESPN: 232
NFL.com’s Lance Zierlein: N/A
NFL.com’s Chad Reuter: N/A
Dane Brugler: N/A
Joe Goodberry: 295
NFLMockDraftDatabase: 318
33rd Team: N/A
CBS: 355
PFF: N/A
Pro Football Network: 492
One of the older players on the 2023 squad, Matthew Jones was one of two players from the 2018 recruiting cycle alongside Proctor. He was the starting right guard for the Buckeyes over the last two years with a few starts coming in 2021. In total, Jones played in 47 games and earned All-Big Ten Honorable Mention honors in 2021.
The last we saw of Jones he slid over to play center. The move was initially said to give Jones more tape to be another Ohio State NFL Draft selection (which, is the Cotton Bowl really the place for that?) and let Enokk Vimahi start in his place. As the questions were asked, it was found that regular starting center Carson Hinzman was unavailable for the game because he was benched, allegedly for some comments made on a podcast.
Xavier Johnson, WR
ESPN: N/A
NFL.com’s Lance Zierlein N/A
NFL.com’s Chad Reuter: N/A
Dane Brugler: N/A
Joe Goodberry: N/A
NFLMockDraftDatabase: N/A
33rd Team: N/A
CBS: N/A
PFF: N/A
Pro Football Network: 562
Finally, the least likely of the Ohio State NFL Draft prospects is Xavier Johnson. Over the last few years, Johnson developed into an actual offensive weapon for the Buckeyes as a running back/wide receiver H-back hybrid type. Considering he started off as a walk-on and ended up a team captain in 2023, there will be an NFL team out there that will give him an opportunity as a UDFA.
In his hybrid role, Johnson amassed 665 yards and three scores over the last two years, including a 71-yard rush against Indiana, the first score of the season against Notre Dame, and in the Peach Bowl against Georgia, all in 2022. While not one of the high-end talents Ohio State has had in the Ryan Day era, the fact that a former walk-on was able to break through, be voted as a captain, and become a semi-regular contributor, Johnson has plenty to be proud of even if he doesn’t end up as one of the Ohio State NFL Draft selections.