As the sun shines on a season of NFL football needed like never before, 63 former Buckeyes take to training camp. Below is a division-by-division breakdown of the league’s freshest faces and who’s playing in new places.
Miami never disputed the idea that 2019 was a rebuilding year, meaning its budding stars got plenty of chances to build a reputation. The LB duo of Jerome Baker and Raekwon McMillan did exactly that, combining for almost 200 tackles – 126 for Baker (which led the team) and 72 for McMillan (which ranked fourth). The two report to Dolphins camp as undisputed leaders at the core of a young defense. Meanwhile, rookie TE Rashod Berry joins Tom Brady-less New England after signing with the Patriots as an undrafted free agent.
 Miami Dolphins Jerome Baker (2015-17) Raekwon McMillan (2014-16) |
 New England Patriots Rashod Berry (2015-19) John Simon (2009-12) |
Last season, Baltimore was one of a few NFL teams free of former Buckeyes. After failing to win a playoff game as the highest AFC seed, the Ravens drafted a pair of First-Team All-B1G talents – RB J.K. Dobbins and LB Malik Harrison. In Cincinnati, three Buckeyes-turned-Bengals will report to camp alongside two of the team’s newest additions – SAF Vonn Bell, a free-agent signing from New Orleans coming off the best season of his career, and OL Isaiah Prince, who started a pair of games in Miami last year. OL Malcolm Pridgeon will appear in a Browns uniform for the first time, and QB J.T. Barrett still supplies the Steelers with much-needed depth at his position.
Top rookie RB 🔥🔥🔥 #Madden21 pic.twitter.com/E9UVWSUurV
— Baltimore Ravens (@Ravens) July 13, 2020
🙇🏾♂️🙇🏾♂️🙇🏾♂️ pic.twitter.com/nx9dzoPKEL
— Malik Harrison 💂🏾♂️ (@Leek_39) July 15, 2020
This one’s for all the kids in Columbus.@Leek_39‘s #NFLDraft moment ❤️💜#GoBucks #DevelopedHere #H2 #RavensFlock @Ravens pic.twitter.com/KhsCFGA2Kx
— Ohio State Football (@OhioStateFB) April 26, 2020
“It’s crucial for guys to understand you can’t be selfish. Gotta think about team. Fight the temptation. I’m gonna make sure I talk to guys, say, ‘Stay in, think about the team.’“https://t.co/pxVRZUsmjR
— James Rapien (@JamesRapien) July 27, 2020
 Baltimore Ravens J.K. Dobbins (2017-19) Malik Harrison (2016-19) |
 Cincinnati Bengals Vonn Bell (2013-15) Sam Hubbard (2015-17) Michael Jordan (2016-18) Billy Price (2014-17) Isaiah Prince (2015-18) |
 Cleveland Browns Malcolm Pridgeon (2017-18) Denzel Ward (2015-17) |
 Pittsburgh Steelers J.T. Barrett (2014-17) Cameron Heyward (2007-10) Ryan Shazier (2011-13) |
WR Parris Campbell hits the camp scene excited for his sophomore season in Indianapolis, where he played seven games and caught his first career touchdown a year ago. SAF Malik Hooker is three years into his Colts career and coming off a 51-tackle, three-turnover season on the back-end of a strong defense. Jacksonville addressed that side of the ball this offseason, and now seven defensive rookies set to enter camp. One of which is DL Davon Hamilton, the only Buckeye rookie in this division. As for Houston, CB Gareon Conley enters what could be his first full season in a Texans uniform, and could complete an all-Buckeye CB unit with Bradley Roby on the other side.
Gonna be a force. pic.twitter.com/1gnnNQC7VT
— #DUUUVAL (@Jaguars) April 26, 2020
“I’m just so blessed.”
A monster on the field, @dmhamilton53 is simply humble off of it. Relive the Hamilton family’s #NFLDraft night as he got the call from the @Jaguars to make his dream come true.#GoBucks #DevelopedHere #R2X #DUUUVAL pic.twitter.com/5IIBGDoZB6
— Ohio State Football (@OhioStateFB) April 25, 2020
Oakland only ever saw 2017 first-round CB Gareon Conley in flashes — a good game here, a star play there. But after being traded to Houston, Conley played up to his billing week in and week out.
Sometimes a change of scenery is all it takes.https://t.co/5B8R3NQXMP
— Benjamin Solak (@BenjaminSolak) July 24, 2020
 Indianapolis Colts Parris Campbell (2015-18) Malik Hooker (2015-16) Tyquan Lewis (2014-17) |
 Jacksonville Jaguars Davon Hamilton (2015-19) Andrew Norwell (2010-13) |
 Houston Texans Gareon Conley (2014-16) Bradley Roby (2011-13) |
Denver drafted with an emphasis on skill positions to surround its young QB with weapons, and also continued to invest in the TE position by adding former Buckeye Nick Vannett to the mix. A record-setter at Ohio State, WR K.J. Hill became a steal after he slid to a seventh-round selection by the Chargers. The 19th-overall pick, CB Damon Arnette became the eighth first-round Buckeye defensive backs since 2014. Did someone say BIA? Arnette joins the Raiders for their inaugural season in Sin City alongside LS Liam McCullough, who signed on as an undrafted free agent.
.@KayJayHill is about to prove a lot of people wrong 😤@Chargers fans, welcome Ohio State’s all-time receptions leader to LA ⚡️#GoBucks #DevelopedHere #NFLDraft #Zone6 #BoltUp pic.twitter.com/NWos6qDeJN
— Ohio State Football (@OhioStateFB) April 25, 2020
Huge steal, they gone see. https://t.co/vmgI2sq4TC
— Chris Olave (@chrisolave_) April 25, 2020
“I’ve never seen anybody be able to cover KJ Hill.” — Ryan Day
— Tony Gerdeman (@TonyGerdeman) April 26, 2020
If you only knew what @damon_arnette has gone through to get to this point. Once a Buckeye. Always a Buckeye.
A message from #BIA’s own 🗣#GoBucks #DevelopedHere #NFLDraft @Raiders pic.twitter.com/qC9C9Q48Sc
— Ohio State Football (@OhioStateFB) April 24, 2020
Show ’em what it’s about, @damon_arnette ⚫ pic.twitter.com/XVbpXjs9jT
— Las Vegas Raiders (@Raiders) July 25, 2020
 Denver Broncos Jeff Heuerman (2011-14) Dre'Mont Jones (2015-18) Nick Vannett (2012-15) |
 Los Angeles Chargers Joey Bosa (2013-15) K.J. Hill (2015-19) |
 Las Vegas Raiders) Damon Arnette (2015-19) Johnathan Hankins (2010-12) Liam McCullough (2015-19) Rod Smith (2011-14) |
Longtime Patriot SAF Nate Ebner joined the Giants in free agency, a good resource for rookie WR’s Binjimen Victor and Austin Mack. The two pass catchers signed with New York as undrafted free agents. While the name of Washington’s pro football team is now uncertain, three facts about it are not – QB Dwayne Haskins is slotted as the starter, WR Terry McLaurin appears to be one of the league’s most productive young stars, and DL Chase Young is primed to prove he’s the best player in the NFL’s entire rookie class.
Chase Young’s been putting in major work ahead of his rookie year. 💪 @youngchase907 (h/t @thecheckdown) pic.twitter.com/YQX6FWN1dg
— NFL (@NFL) July 13, 2020
Time to leave my legacy…💯 pic.twitter.com/MWYORPFjSQ
— CY2 (@youngchase907) July 23, 2020
 Dallas Cowboys Noah Brown (2014-16) Ezekiel Elliott (2013-15) Devin Smith (2011-14) |
 New York Giants Nate Ebner (2009-11) Austin Mack (2016-19) Binjimen Victor (2016-19) |
 Philadelphia Eagles Cameron Johnston (2013-16) |
 Washington Redskins Marcus Baugh (2014-17) Dwayne Haskins, Jr. (2016-18) Terry McLaurin (2015-18) Chase Young (2017-19) |
Additions in this division include a 13-year veteran and three rookies. WR Ted Ginn, Jr. fills the role of the former, joining Chicago after the team scooped up the speedster in free agency. The Bears are the sixth team Ginn has joined as a pro. As for the rookies, Detroit nabbed all three of them in this year’s draft, using the full weekend to make it happen. Third-overall selection Jeff Okudah became the highest-drafted CB in more than 20 years. Single-season standout OL Jonah Jackson joins fellow Buckeye Taylor Decker in the trenches. DL Jashon Cornell will also have his hand in the Ford Field turf after the Lions made him their seventh round choice and final pick in the draft.
The journey to top-three draft pick wasn’t easy.
It took someone with @Jeffokudah‘s strength, determination and skill to make it there. #NFLDraft @Lions @ohiostatefb pic.twitter.com/5t0RFre3gU
— NFL (@NFL) April 24, 2020
The moment @Jackson77Jonah got the call.#GoBucks #DevelopedHere @Lions pic.twitter.com/76NdnaYLZd
— Ohio State Football (@OhioStateFB) April 27, 2020
Watch out, NFC North. @JayRock_9 is coming.#GoBucks #DevelopedHere #NFLDraft #R2X #OnePride @Lions pic.twitter.com/ghUEhDM1Xy
— Ohio State Football (@OhioStateFB) April 25, 2020
 Chicago Bears Ted Ginn, Jr. (2004-06) |
 Detroit Lions Jashon Cornell (2015-19) Taylor Decker (2012-15) Jonah Jackson (2019) Jeff Okudah (2017-19) |
 Green Bay Packers Corey Linsley (2010-13) |
 Minnesota Vikings Pat Elflein (2013-16) Jalyn Holmes (2014-17) |
One of five former Buckeyes on the Saints last season, and one of three in the Saints’ secondary, CB Eli Apple recently signed a deal with Carolina. With seven rookies entering Panthers camp on the defensive side, Apple, entering his fifth NFL season, provides some pro experience for his new head coach, who’s entering his first pro season. On the offensive side, OL Branden Bowen joins Carolina as an undrafted free agent. Now back to New Orleans, where SAF Malcolm Jenkins returns for a sixth season after spending the last five in Philly. The veteran won a Super Bowl with the Saints in 2009, his rookie year. Jenkins has a lot left in the tank after an impressive statistical season, and has a lot to give a squad who sees its Super Bowl window still wide open.
Thanks to @ktmoze, we get an inside look at what the #Panthers are getting in CB Eli Apple https://t.co/H4g5DMy9FS
— Schuyler Callihan (@Callihan_) July 25, 2020
What value will Malcolm Jenkins bring back to the Saints? https://t.co/X9TqaTVXpf pic.twitter.com/z26lZe52ng
— Canal St. Chronicles (@SaintsCSC) July 22, 2020
 Carolina Panthers Eli Apple (2013-15) Branden Bowen (2015-19) Curtis Samuel (2014-16) |
 New Orleans Saints Malcolm Jenkins (2005-08) Marshon Lattimore (2015-16) Michael Thomas (2012-15) |
 Atlanta Falcons Kendall Sheffield (2017-18) |
Another late-round rookie is heading to the City of Angels. SAF Jordan Fuller, a three-year starter and two-time captain in Scarlet and Gray, gets his chance in Rams camp after the team chose him in the sixth round. Fuller also gets the pleasure of meeting RB Carlos Hyde twice a year now that Hyde is back in the division, this time a part of the Seahawks. After he was drafted by and played four years with San Francisco, Hyde spent the last two years between three different teams. Eventually, he gained footing in Houston and producing the first 1,000-yard season of his career. In Seattle, Hyde becomes the third member of a talented rock-toting trio, an excellent scenario to carry last year’s momentum into his seventh NFL season.
.@OhioStateFB ➡️ #LARams
Our scouts liked what they saw from @j_fuller4 through the draft process. pic.twitter.com/S10CDgdGpQ
— Los Angeles Rams (@RamsNFL) May 22, 2020
In an already-talented running back group, where does veteran Carlos Hyde fit in?
— Seattle Seahawks (@Seahawks) July 21, 2020
 Arizona Cardinals Johnnie Dixon (2014-18) |
 Los Angeles Rams Jordan Fuller (2016-19) Jake McQuaide (2008-10) |
 San Francisco 49ers Nick Bosa (2016-18) |
 Seattle Seahawks Carlos Hyde (2010-13) Jamarco Jones (2014-17) |
