Anytime you discuss the NFL, you can’t do it without a slew of former Ohio State players being brought up. The Buckeyes are a historical NFL factory and there aren’t too many programs that send players to the next level more than the one in Columbus.
And it’s not just making it to the NFL. Many former players are earning paychecks from the league at the highest of levels, routinely making Pro Bowls and winning awards.
Pro Football Focus recently released its list of 101 players in the NFL from this past season, and there are four Buckeyes appearing. This, even though some of the most notable names like Michael Thomas and Nick Bosa missed significant time because of injury.
Here are the five former OSU players, where they fell on PFF’s top 101 list, and what the popular online metric and performance site says about each.
NEXT … An explosive and consistent defensive end
No. 21 – Joey Bosa (Defensive End) – Los Angeles Chargers
What Pro Football Focus says about Bosa
“The Chargers’ defense was supposed to be special this season, and while that never quite happened, Joey Bosa certainly lived up to that billing. The Ohio State product notched 61 total pressures in just 12 games, and only Aaron Donald recorded a better pass-rush win rate than Bosa’s 24.6%. Bosa has now topped a PFF pass-rushing grade of 90.0 three times in his career, but this was the best run-defense grade of his career, which helped him surpass a PFF overall grade of 90.0 for the first time.”
NEXT … A veteran defensive lineman
No. 29 – Cameron Heyward (Defensive End/Defensive Tackle) – Pittsburgh Steelers
What Pro Football Focus says about Heyward
“Heyward has always been a good player, but he has elevated his game to another level over the last four seasons. He backed up a career year in 2019 with one almost as good the following season, finishing the year with a PFF grade of 89.5 while notching 64 total pressures and 32 defensive stops. He was a dominant force on the interior of the Pittsburgh Steelers defensive front that led the league in pressure rate and seems only to be getting better with age. Heyward has a strong case to be seen as the league’s second-best interior defender after Aaron Donald.”
NEXT … A budding edge rusher
No. 37 – Chase Young (Defensive End) – Washington Football Team
What Pro Football Focus says about Young
“Chase Young was the best edge rusher draft prospect we have seen since PFF has been grading college football (2014). And his rookie season suggests we were right on the money with that evaluation, particularly as his season was briefly derailed due to injury. Young missed some time and then took a little while to return to form, but he was cooking when playing at 100%. Young had five games with four or more total pressures and also notched 32 defensive stops and five forced fumbles, showing a knack not just for pressure but for game-changing plays. Year 2 could be something special.”
NEXT … The center for a Hall of Famer
No. 39 – Corey Linsley (Center) – Green Bay Packers
What Pro Football Focus says about Linsley
“Corey Linsley was the best center in the game this season — and by a lot. He allowed just four total pressures across his 13 regular-season games, and yet, pass blocking was actually not the strongest area of his game. He put together an 87.8 PFF run-blocking grade, the highest among all centers. And Linsley generated an 89.9 overall PFF grade, almost 10 grading points higher than any other center.”
NEXT … A solid and steady offensive tackle
No. 72 – Taylor Decker (Tackle) – Detroit Lions
What Pro Football Focus says about Decker
“One of the most solid pass-blocking left tackles in the game, Taylor Decker was again excellent in that regard in 2020. He allowed just two sacks over almost 700 pass blocking snaps for the Lions this season and posted the second-best PFF run-blocking grade of his career. Decker had three perfect games of pass protection on the season.”
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