There’s no denying that there will be a slew of Ohio State players taken in this year’s NFL draft, just like almost every year. You know about guys like Chase Young, Jeff Okudah, and J.K. Dobbins, but there’s more than that.
Most NFL mock drafts have seven or eight players going in the first four rounds, and it could be even better than that — especially when you look out through all seven rounds.
But who are the sleepers? There are always some guys that go earlier than most anticipate, and Ohio State isn’t immune to it. Wide receiver Terry McLaurin made a name for himself and went earlier than most projections had him, and someone’s going to jump up and surprise this April.
According to Pro Football Focus, there are two guys in their top ten sleepers that wear the scarlet and gray. Its top sleeper overall is offensive lineman Jonah Jackson, the other is wide-receiver K.J. Hill who checks in at No. 7. Both men excelled at the Senior Bowl, and that’s a good place to start.
The other place to look is on film. Hill routinely hauled in catches in big situations and left Ohio State as the all-time leader in receptions. Jackson came in as a graduate transfer from Rutgers and immediately solidified the left side of the offensive line. He was recognized as First Team All Big-Ten by the coaches.
Here’s what PFF says about both players.
Next … the rationale
JONAH JACKSON, OHIO STATE – OG
He may not have the ideal body type or the quickest feet or the most powerful frame, but Jonah Jackson is a broken record in pass protection. He ends more pass pro reps at the line of scrimmage than any other guard in the draft class. His short sets are impeccable, and he’s so quick to get his hands on guys and lock them up. Jackson won 58% of his reps in the one-on-ones in Mobile despite splitting his time between all three interior positions.
K.J. HILL, OHIO STATE – WR
Pound-for-pound the best route-runner in the entire draft class, Hill creates separation on the underneath route tree like no other. That still plays in the NFL. He doesn’t have good speed (4.6 40 at the Combine), doesn’t have a big catch radius and is likely stuck in the slot, but I have no doubt he’ll be a productive NFL receiver. He won all but one of his routes in the one-on-ones during the Senior Bowl practices, and his ability to get off the line of scrimmage is already incredibly advanced. Throw out the yardage totals in the Ohio State offense — Hill gets open.
Despite other pushing for the 2020 NFL draft to be postponed, it is still set for April 23-25. Hey, it’s sports. Go find a television or streaming device somewhere and we’ll have coverage of it all.
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