If you’re looking to take your game to the next level with the game of American football, you could do a lot worse than starting that journey at Ohio State. The Buckeye program has been a monster when it comes to churning out players to the NFL, and it doesn’t seem to be slowing down anytime soon.
Sure, there are other programs that like to tout how many guys play on Sundays once they leave good ‘ole State U, but OSU has a legitimate case for being the main turnstile to NFL stardom — or at least to get that opportunity to catch an NFL scout or executive’s eye.
But don’t take our word for it. Thanks to some numbers put together by Ohio State and released to the media Friday. The evidence is staggering and we’re sharing it with you here.
Next … The 2020 NFL Draft
Ohio State continues to show out in the draft. The ten total selections came in as tied for the second-most of any program in America. It was the sixth time OSU has had more than ten players selected in the draft.
With three first-round selections (DE Chase Young No. 2 to Washington, CB Jeff Okudah No. 3 to Detroit, and CB Damon Arnette No. 19 to Las Vegas) broke a tie with USC for the most all-time first-round selections. The Buckeyes now have 84 all-time compared to USC’s 84 first-round picks.
The three first-round picks kept Ohio State in a tie with Alabama for most picks in the first round since 2000, as well, with 31 apiece. This was the fifth consecutive year that Ohio State has developed multiple first-round picks and the sixth time in the last seven years.
Next … The most recent run of success
- Ohio State has had 45 draft picks in the last five years with 33 of those picks within the first three rounds. That’s a ton.
- DBU or BIA? Since 2014, the Buckeyes have had eight defensive backs taken in the first round of the NFL draft. No other school has more than three in that same time span. Those eight first-round DBs are part of a total of 13 Ohio State defensive players that have been picked in the first round in that time, also the most of any program in the country.
- Associate head coach/defensive line coach Larry Johnson is now responsible for nine first-round NFL Draft picks, including the top defensive linemen selected in three of the last five drafts: Joey Bosa No. 3 overall in 2016; Nick Bosa No. 2 overall in 2019; and now Chase Young No. 2 overall in 2020.
Next … Dominance since 2000
– 78 defensive players drafted, the most in the nation during this time;
– 32 DBs drafted, most in the nation;-
– 26 DL drafted, most in the nation;
– 20 WRs drafted, most in the nation;
– 20 LBs drafted, second-most; and
– 20 OL drafted, third-most.
Most NFL First-Round Draft Picks
All-Time
1. Ohio State 84
2. USC 82
3. N. Dame 69
4. Alabama 66
5. Miami 63
6. Florida 53
7. Oklahoma 50
8. Michigan 48
9. Tennessee 46
10. Fla. State 45
Ohio State Buckeyes in the 2020 NFL Draft
Rd. #
1st 2nd DE Chase Young, Washington Redskins
1st 3rd CB Jeff Okudah, Detroit Lions
1st 19th CB Damon Arnette, Las Vegas Raiders
2nd 55th RB J.K. Dobbins, Baltimore Ravens
3rd 73rd DT DaVon Hamilton, Jacksonville Jaguars
3rd 75th OG Jonah Jackson, Detroit Lions
3rd 98th LB Malik Harrison, Baltimore Ravens
6th 199th SAF Jordan Fuller, Los Angeles Rams
7th 220th WR K.J. Hill, Los Angeles Chargers
7th 235th DT Jashon Cornell, Detroit Lions
2020 Buckeye Free Agents
TE Rashod Berry – New England Patriots
OT Branden Bowen – Carolina Panthers
DT Robert “BB” Landers – TBD
WR Austin Mack – New York Giants
LS Liam McCullough – Las Vegas Raiders
WR Binjimen Victor – New York Giants
*Most Draft Picks since 2000
1. 141 – Ohio State
2. 127 – Alabama
3. 127 – LSU
4. 120 – Miami
5. 117 – Florida
6. 115 – Georgia
7. 112 – USC
8. 109 – FSU
9. 100 – Oklahoma 101?
10. 93 – Michigan
*Most First Round Draft Picks since 2000
31 – Ohio State
31 – Alabama
30 – Miami
24 – Florida State
22 – USC
22 – Florida
*Most defensive players drafted since 2000
78 – Ohio State
71 – Alabama
64 – Florida
60 – Miami
59 – FSU
*Most Defensive Backs Drafted Since 2000
32 – Ohio State
25 – Alabama
25 – LSU
24 – Miami
24 – Florida
24 – Virginia Tech
*Most Defensive Linemen Drafted since 2000
26 – Ohio State
26 – Alabama
25 – LSU
25 – Florida
23 – FSU
*Most Wide Receivers Drafted Since 2000
20 – Ohio State
19 – LSU
18 – Florida
16 – USC
15 – Oklahoma
*Most Linebackers Drafted since 2000
21 – Georgia – 21
20 – Ohio State – 20
20 – Alabama – 20
18 – USC – 18
16 – Florida State – 16
16 – Oklahoma – 16
*Most Offensive Linemen Drafted since 2000
21 – Wisconsin
20 – Alabama
20 – Ohio State
18 – Miami
18 – Notre Dame
Next … More numbers of NFL draft dominance
*Schools with Most Draft Picks in 2020 NFL Draft
14 – LSU
10 – Ohio State
10 – TUN
9 – Alabama
7 – Clemson
7 – Florida
7 – Georgia
7 – Utah
6 – Auburn
6 – Notre Dame
5 – Iowa, Mississippi State, Minnesota, Penn State, TCU
*Most 2020 Draft Picks by Conference Division
38 – SEC West (5.4 players selected per team on average)
30 – Big Ten East (4.3)
25 – SEC East (3.6)
18 – Big Ten West (2.6)
17 – Pac-12 South (2.8)
*Most 2020 Draft Picks by Conference
67 – SEC
48 – Big Ten
32 – Pac-12
26 – ACC
21 – Big 12
Six Double-Digit Drafts for Ohio State
14 – 2004
13 – 1975
13 – 1971
12 – 2016
11 – 1976
10 – 2020
Twelve Ohio State DBs Selected Last Seven Drafts — 8 in First Round
2020 – Jeff Okduah, 1st Round, Detroit Lions
2020 – Damon Arnette, 1st Round, Las Vegas Raiders
2020 – Jordan Fuller, 6th, Round, Los Angeles Rams
2019 – Kendall Sheffield – 4th Round, Atlanta Falcons
2018 – Denzel Ward – 1st Round, Cleveland Browns
2017 – Marshon Lattimore – 1st Round, New Orleans Saints
2017 – Malik Hooker – 1st Round, Indianapolis Colts
2017 – Gareon Conley – 1st Round, Oakland Raiders
2016 – Eli Apple, 1st Round, New York Giants
2016 – Vonn Bell, 2nd Round, New Orleans Saints
2015 – Doran Grant, 4th Round, Pittsburgh Steelers
2014 – Bradley Roby, 1st Round, Denver Broncos
Eleven Buckeyes Drafted Under Larry Johnson
2020 1st Chase Young, Washington Redskins
2020 3rd DaVon Hamilton, Jacksonville Jaguars
2020 7th Jashon Cornell, Detroit Lions
2019 1st Nick Bosa, San Francisco 49ers
2019 3rd Dre’Mont Jones, Denver Broncos
2018 2nd Tyquan Lewis, Indianapolis Colts
2018 3rd Sam Hubbard, Cincinnati Bengals
2018 4th Jalyn Holmes, Minnesota Vikings
2016 1st Joey Bosa, Los Angeles Chargers
2016 3rd Adolphus Washington, Buffalo Bills
2015 6th Michael Bennett, Jacksonville Jaguars
Offensive Line coach Greg Studrawa “Studs” Ohio State NFL Draft Picks
2020 3rd Jonah Jackson, Detroit Lions
2019 4th Michael Jordan, Cincinnati Bengals
2019 6th Isaiah Prince, Miami Dolphins
2018 1st Billy Price, Cincinnati Bengals
2018 5th Jamarco Jones, Seattle Seahawks
2017 3rd Pat Elflein, Minnesota Vikings
*Research credit to Pick Six Previews and the fine folks at Ohio State
