NFL Draft Dominance This Century for Buckeyes
5/1/2020 2:59:23 PM | Football
COLUMBUS, Ohio – The Ohio State football program remains one of the dominant programs with regard to the NFL Draft after 10 Buckeyes were selected during the 2020 draft last Thursday through Saturday. The 10 selections tied for the second-most in this year’s draft among all schools and the total represented the sixth time in school history at least 10 or more players were selected.
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 – moved Ohio State into the all-time lead with 84 first-round picks. USC is second with 82.
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.
45
We like that number around Ohio State … a lot! Here’s another reason: Ohio State has had 45 draft picks in the last five years with 33 of those picks within the first three rounds.
8 & 13
Here are two more likable numbers: since 2014, the Buckeyes have had eight defensive backs taken in the first round of the 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.
Larry & Mick
Associate head coach/defensive line coach Larry Johnson can now boast – although he won’t – of 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.
Mick Marotti, meanwhile, Ohio State’s associate athletics director for sports performance, has been a head strength/performance coach for 31 years at four schools – Ohio State, Florida, Notre Dame and Cincinnati – and he has seen a few of his players drafted: 135 in all, including 27 first round picks with 17 of those first round Buckeyes.
A Good First 21
The 21 years of this 21st century have, indeed, featured a remarkable run of success for the Ohio State football program. Below, because it’s great to see it all in one place, are a few more all-time NFL Draft notes, some notable notes since 2000 and a collection of Top 5 lists, with credit for them going to the experts at Pick Six Previews, who provided the initial “Since 2000 …” research.
Since 2000, Ohio State has had…
• 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. Notre Dame – 69
4. Alabama – 66
5. Miami – 63
6. Florida – 53
7. Oklahoma – 50
8. Michigan – 48
9. Tennessee – 46
10. Florida 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
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
18 – Iowa
*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
12 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
11 Buckeyes Drafted Under Larry Johnson
2020 1st Rd. – Chase Young, Washington Redskins
2020 3rd Rd. – DaVon Hamilton, Jacksonville Jaguars
2020 7th Rd. – Jashon Cornell, Detroit Lions
2019 1st Rd. – Nick Bosa, San Francisco 49ers
2019 3rd Rd. – Dre’Mont Jones, Denver Broncos
2018 2nd Rd. – Tyquan Lewis, Indianapolis Colts
2018 3rd Rd. – Sam Hubbard, Cincinnati Bengals
2018 4th Rd. – Jalyn Holmes, Minnesota Vikings
2016 1st Rd. – Joey Bosa, Los Angeles Chargers
2016 3rd Rd. – Adolphus Washington, Buffalo Bills
2015 6th Rd. – Michael Bennett, Jacksonville Jaguars
“Stud’s” Ohio State NFL Draft Picks
2020 3rd Rd. – Jonah Jackson, Detroit Lions
2019 4th Rd. – Michael Jordan, Cincinnati Bengals
2019 6th Rd. – Isaiah Prince, Miami Dolphins
2018 1st Rd. – Billy Price, Cincinnati Bengals
2018 5th Rd. – Jamarco Jones, Seattle Seahawks
2017 3rd Rd. – Pat Elflein, Minnesota Vikings
*Research credit to Pick Six Previews
