November 23, 2024

Ohio State & The NFL Draft

COLUMBUS, Ohio – No football program has produced as many NFL Draft picks since the year 2000 than the Ohio State Buckeyes. A total of 82 Buckeyes have been drafted in the last 13 years and that number should grow, and possibly swell, in the next few days with as many as nine Buckeyes potential picks in the 2013 NFL Draft.

Among those 82 draft picks are 17 Buckeyes who were chosen in the first round, including 2011 pick Cameron Heyward, by Pittsburgh. Only two teams can top Ohio State’s number of first-rounders since 2000: Miami and USC.

NFL Draft by the Numbers
Since 2000; Source: NFL.com

Most Draft Picks

1. Ohio State 82
2. Miami 81
3. USC 80
4. Georgia 75
5. Florida State 66
LSU 66
7. Florida 65
8. Tennessee 63
9. Oklahoma 60
10. Virginia Tech 58

Also: Wisconsin 57, Alabama 55, Michigan 54, Texas 52, Iowa 51, Penn State 50

Most First-Round Draft Picks

1. Miami 26
2. USC 18
3. Ohio State 17
4. Florida State 15
5. Texas 14
6. Florida 13
Alabama 13
9. Oklahoma 12
Tennessee 12
LSU 12

Also: Wisconsin 11, Georgia 11, Penn State 10, Michigan 9 Buckeyes on the Board

Ohio State has had 327 players chosen in the NFL Draft, according to NFL.com, and three down linemen – defensive tackle Johnathan Hankins, offensive tackle Reid Fragel and defensive end/outside linebacker John Simon – are expected to be among the first Buckeyes chosen in this year’s draft.

Six more stalwarts from the 2012 Ohio State team that finished as the only unbeaten team in the nation at 12-0 could hear his name called this weekend as well, including fullback Zach Boren, defensive lineman Garrett Goebel, cornerback Travis Howard, safety Orhian Johnson, tight end Jake Stoneburner and defensive end Nathan Williams.