Buckeyes Breaking Records: How the National Champions Could Shape the 2025 Draft Class

-

On Monday night, a new king of college football was crowned. The Ohio State Buckeyes defeated Notre Dame in a 34-23 victory that was not as close as the score would suggest. Claiming this year's National Championship title would arguably make Ohio State the most legitimate champion in history, thanks to the expanded College Football Playoff format that forced them to play more games against a tougher schedule than any previous champion.

While winning the championship in this way is historic on its own, the Buckeyes might not be done making history just yet. Several Ohio State players saw their draft stock skyrocket during the CFP, and after winning the title game, the momentum for these players has never been stronger. This could mean Ohio State is in a position to break the record for most players from a single school being selected in one NFL draft class.

The current record for the most players drafted from a single school in one draft is held by the University of Georgia. They saw 15 of their players get taken in the 2022 NFL Draft following their national championship run at the end of the 2021-2022 season. Bulldogs drafted that year included:

  1. Travon Walker (Round 1, Pick 1 - Jaguars)
  2. Jordan Davis (Round 1, Pick 13 - Eagles)
  3. Quay Walker (Round 1, Pick 22 - Packers)
  4. Devonte Wyatt (Round 1, Pick 28 - Packers)
  5. Lewis Cine (Round 1, Pick 32 - Vikings)
  6. George Pickens (Round 2, Pick 52 - Steelers)
  7. James Cook (Round 2, Pick 63 - Bills)
  8. Nakobe Dean (Round 3, Pick 83 - Eagles)
  9. Channing Tindall (Round 3, Pick 102 - Dolphins)
  10. Zamir White (Round 4, Pick 122 - Raiders)
  11. Jake Camarda (Round 4, Pick 133 - Buccaneers)
  12. Justin Shaffer (Round 6, Pick 190 - Falcons)
  13. Jamaree Salyer (Round 6, Pick 195 - Chargers)
  14. Derion Kendrick (Round 6, Pick 212 - Rams
  15. John FitzPatrick (Round 6, Pick 213 - Falcons)

Ohio State's 2025 Draft class could surpass that record. Experts are currently predicting that at least 14 Buckeyes will be picked at some point in this draft, with the possibility of one or two additional players sneaking into the later rounds. Here's a look at the 14 OSU players currently projected to be picked:

  1. Will Howard (QB)
  2. TreVeyon Henderson (RB)
  3. Emeka Egbuka (WR)
  4. Josh Simmons (OT)
  5. Donovan Jackson (OT)
  6. Seth McLaughlin (C)
  7. JT Tuimoloau (EDGE)
  8. Jack Sawyer (EDGE)
  9. Tyleik Williams (DT)
  10. Ty Hamilton (DT)
  11. Cody Simon (LB)
  12. Denzel Burke (CB)
  13. Jordan Hancock (CB)
  14. Lathan Ransom (S)

These 14 players appear on almost every expert's Big Board, and it would be very surprising if any of them went undrafted. Even in that scenario, they would likely become high-priority UDFA signings. Two other Ohio State players, Josh Fryar (OT) and Gee Scott Jr. (TE), are on the bubble. Some scouts project them as late-round picks, while others did not give them draftable grades.

Additionally, there are three players who would have a very good chance at being drafted if they declare for the draft, but as of this time they are still considering returning to school for another year. They are Quinshon Judkins (RB), Sonny Styles (RB) and Davison Igbinosun (CB).

Between now and April, anything can happen. Players' draft stock undoubtedly will rise or fall based on their Pro Day performances, combine results, and team interviews. But this group of Buckeyes, which has already cemented their place in college football history, might just have one more bit of history to make.

Popular:

The Curious Case of the Combine Arm Length

-
Image
          Something strange is happening with prospect measurements this year, particularly when it comes to arm length for offensive linemen. Offensive tackles face the most scrutiny when it comes to physical measurements because of their crucial role in protecting quarterbacks. NFL teams generally prefer their tackles to have an arm length of at least 34 inches, with 33 inch arms being good enough to get by. It is almost unheard of for a long-term NFL starter at tackle to have arms shorter than 33 inches long. However, multiple offensive linemen who have been measured twice during the pre-draft process have seen significant discrepancies between their numbers, larger than what has been observed in previous years.      At this year’s NFL Combine, scouts were eager to get official measurements on some of the top offensive line prospects, but the results raised more questions than answers. Many of the most desired tackles came in with shorter-...
Read more

The Rookie Jar: Travis Hunter

-
Image
Travis Hunter is one of the most highly anticipated NFL prospects in modern history. His ability to play both offense and defense at an extremely high level has not been seen in decades. He has consistently been one of the best receivers and one of the best defensive backs in whatever conference he played in, and his ability to play both sides of the ball for years while avoiding any major injuries has intrigued NFL teams. He is guaranteed to be drafted at some point in the first four picks of the 2025 NFL Draft. The Prospect Full Name: Travis Hunter Jr. Position: Cornerback and Receiver Age: 21 (will turn 22 by rookie season) Height: 6'0" Weight: 188 pounds Hometown: Suwanee, Georiga Highest Accolade: 2024 Heisman Trophy Winner The Background Travis Hunter was born on May 18 2003, in West Palm Beach, Florida. He is the oldest of four siblings, with a younger sister and two younger brothers. His childhood years were spent in Florida before he moved to Suwanee, Georgia as a tee...
Read more

The Rookie Jar: Cam Ward

-
Image
Cam Ward was the first player selected in the 2025 NFL Draft, thanks to the Tennessee Titans and their immediate need for a quarterback. The path he took to become the top pick in the draft is one of the more remarkable stories to come out of this year’s rookie class. Back in 2020, he was a zero-star recruit as a senior in high school who only received one scholarship offer to play Division 1 college football. That offer wasn’t even from an FBS school. Despite this, he carved out a place for himself as a legitimate NFL prospect and has etched his name into the NCAA record books with his play over his 5 years in college. Here is everything you need to know about Cam Ward: Full Name: Cameron Anthony Ward Position: Quarterback Age: 22 (Will turn 23 by rookie season) Height: 6'2" Weight: 219 pounds Hometown: West Columbia, Texas Highest Accolade: 2024 Davey O’Brien Award (Best College QB) The Background Cam Ward was born and raised in the small town of West Columbia, Texas, approx...
Read more