Half of OSU’s starting seniors invited to NFL Combine – Ohio State Buckeyes
2/6/2015 12:00:00 AM | Football
Feb. 6, 2015
COLUMBUS, Ohio – Only eight seniors started this season for the national champion Ohio State Buckeyes and half of them have been invited to the NFL Scouting Combine, set for Feb. 17-23 in Indianapolis. The four Buckeye invitees are defensive tackle Michael Bennett, cornerback Doran Grant, tight end Jeff Heuerman and wide receiver Devin Smith.
The NFL released its list of combine invites today. The NFL Network will provide live coverage of the event.
Bennett, a team captain and a first-team All-American by CBSSports.com, played in 49 games for the Buckeyes and started 29 times, including all 15 games this past season. He was a force on the field and in the locker room and finished his career with 111 career tackles, including 31.5 tackles-for-loss and 18 quarterback sacks. He also forced seven fumbles, including a Big Ten championship game record two in the 59-0 win over Wisconsin. He had 14.0 tackles-for-loss in 2014.
Grant, also a team captain, was as durable as he was outstanding on the field, having played in all 54 games over the last four years including 29 consecutive starting assignments in 2013 and 2014. The second-team all-Big Ten Conference honoree had nine pass break-ups and five interceptions as a senior, including two interceptions in the Big Ten title game vs. Wisconsin. His career numbers include 146 tackles, 20 pass break-ups and nine interceptions.
Heuerman, a team captain and a second-team all-Big Ten Conference performer in 2014, played in 50 games and started 36 times for the Buckeyes. Called “the ringleader of what we want in terms of work ethic” by strength coach Mickey Marotti, Heuerman caught 52 passes in his career for 792 yards (sixth at Ohio State), a 15.2 yards per reception average, and seven touchdowns. Heuerman toughed out 14 starts as a senior despite a couple injuries and caught 17 passes for 207 yards and two touchdowns and was outstanding as a blocker.
Smith has all kinds of great Ohio State stats, none better than catching a touchdown pass in 22 games and Ohio State being a perfect 22-0 in those games. Included was a Big Ten record three touchdown receptions in the title game win over Wisconsin and a 47-yard touchdown reception that gave Ohio State the lead for good in the College Football Playoff semifinal win over Alabama. No. 2 all-time at Ohio State with 30 touchdown receptions, Smith had seven touchdown catches of at least 50 yards and 21 of at least 30 yards. He finished his career with 121 receptions for 2,503 yards to rank 11th and fifth, respectively, at Ohio State.
Seniors who didn’t get a combine invite but will be seeking NFL careers just the same are right tackle Darryl Baldwin (41 games and 15 starts), captain and middle linebacker Curtis Grant (131 career tackles), defensive end Steve Miller (35 games, 18 starts and 13.5 tackles-for-loss plus a game-changing interception and touchdown vs. Alabama in the CFP semifinal win) and Evan Spencer, named a team captain by Urban Meyer at the conclusion of the season plus the team’s MVP. Spencer’s career included 51 games played, 30 starts and 52 receptions for 579 yards and seven touchdowns.
