The Ohio State football program didn’t have as many first-round picks as we are all accustomed to in the 2021 NFL draft, but don’t get used to it. The Buckeyes are expected to be back at the first-round party next season and plenty of national media outlets are projecting several hues of scarlet and gray to walk across the stage in Las Vegas next April.
In fact, according to Michael Middlehurst-Schwartz, Ohio State has four players ranked in the top fifteen that will be eligible for the draft in 2022. That’s almost one-third of the first fifteen players selected, and that’s before we even get past that number and through the rest of the first round.
Now, before we celebrate, remember that it’s way too early to get excited about such prognostications and projections. All you have to do is look at both Wyatt Davis and Shaun Wade falling outside of the first round despite almost everyone projecting them to be there for the 2021 draft early in the year.
Still, it’s an impressive list so early on. So, what four players does Middlehurst-Schwartz have in the top fifteen (with a bit of a caveat)?
NEXT … A defensive end that’s primed to breakout
No. 10 – Zach Harrison, Defensive End
What Middlehurst-Schwartz Says
“Can the former five-star recruit make the leap and join the likes of Joey and Nick Bosa and Chase Young as top-five picks? The 6-6, 268-pound edge rusher has just 5 1/2 sacks in the last two years, but he could be headed toward a breakout campaign.”
NEXT … A defensive back that should be much improved
No. 14 – Sevyn Banks, Cornerback
What Middlehurst-Schwartz Says
“The Buckeyes’ cornerback pipeline is still running strong, and Banks looks next in line as the program’s latest standout member of the secondary. The 6-1, 200-pounder moves as fluidly as a much smaller player, but he still has to hone his instincts.”
NEXT … A pair of game-changing wide receivers
No. 15 (tie) – Chris Olave and Garrett Wilson, Wide Receivers
What Middlehurst-Schwartz Says
“It’s hard to choose between the Buckeyes’ pair of star wide receivers, so why not include each one? Olave surprised many by returning for his senior season after consistently beating defenses deep. Wilson, however, is one of college football’s most explosive players and flashy pass catchers.”
Sounds great to us. If Ohio State does indeed have this many players that high on NFL draft boards next April, we’re guessing the football team in Columbus is going to have a pretty special season. This is before we even talk about guys like Tyreke Smith and Haskell Garrett who both also have the ability to maybe jump up in that first-round projection.
Stay tuned.
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