Last summer, Michigan had a loaded roster on paper. The Wolverines took advantage of that potential by winning the national championship and then leading all college programs with 13 Draft picks in April.
This summer, Ohio State has a roster full of veterans and future NFL players. A lot will happen between now and April 2025, but right now I have selectable grades on 15 draft-eligible Buckeyes.
Ohio State had just four players selected in the 2024 NFL Draft, the program’s lowest number in the last decade. But the main reason for the Buckeyes’ “off year” was the number of players who chose to return to school, creating a potential record-breaking draft class for head coach Ryan Day’s program.
Michigan’s 13 draft picks set a school record, but fell short of the current NFL Draft standard of 15, set by Georgia in 2022. Ohio State will have a chance to compete for that mark in the 2025 NFL Draft Let’s break it down:
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Top 100 Preseason Draft Ratings
DT Tyleik Williams (6-foot-2 1/2, 325 pounds)
Williams was my favorite player of this group to study; don’t be surprised if he’s the first Buckeye selected next April. He plays with excellent run awareness and the strength at the point of attack to accumulate, separate and make stops at the line of scrimmage.
With prospects like Williams, Michigan’s Mason Graham and a few others, the defensive tackle should be well represented early in next year’s draft.
JT Tuimoloau Edge (6-4 1/8, 268)
I don’t think anyone would use the word “dominant” to describe Tuimoloau’s 2023 film. But his motor, his craftiness, and his big-man athleticism appear consistently on film, and he gives blockers all they can handle while pressuring the quarterback or stopping the run. Considered a borderline first-rounder by NFL scouts had he entered the 2024 NFL Draft, Tuimoloau has work to do this season to solidify a top-32 spot.
Running back Quinshon Judkins (5-11 1/8, 219)
An Ole Miss transfer, Judkins announced himself as a future NFL running back with a combined 2,725 rushing yards and 34 touchdowns over the last two seasons in the SEC. For a bigger back, he runs with quick feet and quick reads to hurt the defense with his physical running style (the play below is only a 5 yard gain, but would have been a negative play for most backs) .
Judkins has the talent to be a top-60 pick and be a starter in the NFL.
Running back TreVeyon Henderson (5-10, 214)
Given the nature of the running back position, Henderson was the most surprising returner among Ohio State’s freshmen last year.
He is built low to the ground to move through contact and also displays moves in his lower body to shake defenders in space. With his receiving skills and his ability to take distance, Henderson will enter the season as the top senior prospect at his position.
CB Denzel Burke (5-11 1/4, 193)
After a standout freshman season in 2021, Burke had an up-and-down sophomore campaign. But he rebounded well last season as a junior and surprised many when he passed up a potential top-100 draft pick to return to Columbus. He needs to be more consistent as a tackler and when he makes contact early once he has his back to the quarterback, but with a strong final season, Burke may be the first senior defensive back drafted in April.
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WR Emeka Egbuka (6-0 3/4, 204)
While certainly not a first-rounder like recent Ohio State receivers Marvin Harrison Jr., Garrett Wilson and Chris Olave, Egbuka has the skills of an NFL starter. He primarily works out of the slot for the Buckeyes, is difficult to cover and has quarterback-friendly ball skills. His 2023 season was cut short by midseason ankle surgery, but a healthy Egbuka will enter this year as the No. 1 senior wide receiver prospect in my rankings.
Edge Jack Sawyer (6-4 1/4, 265)
Sawyer isn’t the most deceptive pass rusher, but he’s always in pursuit mode with balanced athleticism to elude blockers and heavy hands to create movement. He led the Buckeyes last season in sacks (6.5) and forced fumbles (two) and projects as a quality long-time NFL starter.
CB Davison Igbinosun (6-1 3/4, 190)
After spending his freshman season at Ole Miss, Igbinosun transferred to Ohio State last year and earned a starting job. With Burke on the other side, offenses had no qualms about throwing to Igbinosun, which created a lot of volatility in his 2023 tape. He needs to play with better control in coverage, but his length and athleticism will give him a chance to be selected in the Day 2.
Preseason Day 3 Draft Ratings
LG Donovan Jackson (6-3 3/8, 318)
It’s easy to see why Jackson was a five-star recruit coming out of high school. He has the makings to be a Day 2 draft pick, but needs to improve his timing, finishing and overall consistency as a senior to solidify a top-100 grade. Based on early scouting, he doesn’t appear to be a strong interior O-line draft class, which would help Jackson.
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CB Jordan Hancock (6-0, 190)
Playing primarily nickel, Hancock put himself on the NFL radar last season and earned recruiting grades from NFL scouts. Now in his fourth year in Columbus, he will look to take another positive step and improve his mid-round draft grade.
Quarterback Will Howard (6-4, 243)
Ohio State received solid quarterback play in 2023, but the solidity isn’t good enough in Columbus. Can Howard be a substantial upgrade over Kyle McCord? The Kansas State transfer is a good-sized athlete with the mobility to evade rushes and keep plays alive. At times, Howard can be too willing to throw into tight coverage, but he also shows the anticipation necessary to be a consistent passer down the field.
S Lathan Ransom (6-1, 205)
Ransom was expected to be a mid-round pick in the class of 2024, but a non-contact foot injury last November altered those plans and he returned to Ohio State for one more season. He plays with the range and read-and-drive quickness that demand the attention of NFL scouts.
LB Sonny Styles (6-4 1/4, 239)
Is he a linebacker or safety? Or maybe caught in the middle? Those are the questions being asked about Styles, a very talented former five-star recruit. He has more potential than production and should show more anticipation in 2024. But he enters the season with selectable grades due to his intriguing promise.
DT Ty Hamilton (6-2 1/2, 295)
It may be easy to overlook Hamilton, as he shared time with Williams and Mike Hall Jr. on tape in 2023. But he was more than a role player for the Buckeyes, using his physical hands to generate push at the point of attack and interrupt the game. Hamilton is a late-round prospect.
Linebacker Cody Simon (6-2 238)
Simon spent much of 2023 coming off the bench, but played a key role down the stretch as Ohio State dealt with injuries — he had his best performance against Missouri in the bowl game. With Tommy Eichenberg and Steele Chambers in the NFL, Ohio State’s defense will rely on Simon’s veteran presence in the middle.
There are also several players considered priority prospects at the free agent level who can improve their status this season, including offensive linemen Seth McLaughlin, Josh Simmons and Josh Fryar. And there are other draft-eligible Buckeyes who haven’t gotten enough film yet but could be heralded as draftable prospects, such as edge rushers Kenyatta Jackson Jr. and Caden Curry and linebacker CJ Hicks.
(Photos by JT Tuimoloau and Emeka Egbuka: Justin Casterline//Keynote USA/Getty Images; Ian Johnson/Icon Sportswire via /Keynote USA/Getty Images)
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