Last summer, Michigan had a loaded roster on paper. The Wolverines followed through on 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 veteran-stocked roster flush with soon-to-be NFLers. Plenty will happen between now and April 2025, but right now, I have draftable grades on 15 draft-eligible Buckeyes.
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Ohio State had just four players selected in the 2024 NFL Draft — the program’s lowest number of the last decade. But the main reason for the Buckeyes’ “off year” was the number of players who elected to return to school, setting up a potential record-breaking draft class for head coach Ryan Day’s program.
Michigan’s 13 draft picks set a school record but fell shy of the modern-day 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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Preseason top 100 draft grades
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 is the first Buckeye selected next April. He plays with outstanding run awareness and the point-of-attack strength to stack, detach and make stops at the line of scrimmage.
With prospects like Williams, Michigan’s Mason Graham and a few others, defensive tackle should be well represented early in next year’s draft.
Edge JT Tuimoloau (6-4 1/8, 268)
I don’t think anyone would use the word “dominant” to describe Tuimoloau’s 2023 tape. But his motor, savvy and big-man athleticism consistently show up on film, and he gives blockers all they can handle while rushing 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 cement a top-32 spot.
RB Quinshon Judkins (5-11 1/8, 219)
An Ole Miss transfer, Judkins announced himself as a future NFL back with a combined 2,725 rushing yards and 34 touchdowns the past two seasons in the SEC. For a bigger back, he runs with nimble feet and quick reads to gash the defense with his physical run style (the play below is only a 5-yard gain, but it would have been a negative play for most backs).
Judkins has the talent to be a top-60 pick and an NFL starter.
RB TreVeyon Henderson (5-10, 214)
Given the nature of the running back position, Henderson was the most surprising returnee among Ohio State’s underclassmen last year.
He is built low to the ground to grind through contact and also shows wiggle in his lower body to shake defenders in space. With his receiving skills and take-it-the-distance talent, Henderson will enter the season as the top senior prospect at his position.
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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 bounced back well last season as a junior and surprised many when he bypassed a potential top-100 draft spot to return to Columbus. He needs to be more consistent as a tackler and when making early contact once his back is to the quarterback, but with a strong final season, Burke can be the first senior defensive back drafted in April.
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WR Emeka Egbuka (6-0 3/4, 204)
Although he’s not a no-doubt first-rounder like recent Ohio State receivers Marvin Harrison Jr., Garrett Wilson and Chris Olave, Egbuka has the skill set of an NFL starter. Working mostly out of the slot for the Buckeyes, he is tough to cover and has quarterback-friendly ball skills. His 2023 season was interrupted by a midseason ankle procedure, 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 is always in chase mode with the balanced athleticism to slip 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 long-time quality 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 role. With Burke on the other side, offenses weren’t shy throwing at Igbinosun — which led to plenty of volatility on his 2023 tape. He needs to play with better control in coverage, but his length and athleticism will give him a shot to be drafted on Day 2.
Preseason Day 3 draft grades
LG Donovan Jackson (6-3 3/8, 318)
It is easy to see why Jackson was a five-star recruit out of high school. He has the traits to be a Day 2 draft pick but needs to improve his timing, finish and overall consistency as a senior to cement a top-100 grade. Based on early scouting, it 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 as a nickel, Hancock put himself on the NFL radar last season and has earned draftable grades from NFL scouts. Now in his fourth year in Columbus, he will be looking to take another positive step and improve upon his mid-round draft grade.
QB Will Howard (6-4, 243)
Ohio State received solid quarterback play in 2023 — but solid 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 the rush and keep plays alive. At times, Howard can be too willing to throw into tight coverage, but he also shows the anticipation needed to be a consistent downfield passer.
S Lathan Ransom (6-1, 205)
Ransom was expected to be a mid-round draft pick in the 2024 class, 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 stuck in between? Those are the questions being asked about Styles, a former five-star recruit with a ton of talent. He is more potential than production and must show improved anticipation in 2024. But he enters the season with draftable grades because of his intriguing promise.
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DT Ty Hamilton (6-2 1/2, 295)
It can be easy to overlook Hamilton, as he shared time with Williams and Mike Hall Jr. on the 2023 tape. But he was more than a role player for the Buckeyes, using his physical hands to create push at the point of attack and disrupt the play. Hamilton is a late-round prospect.
LB Cody Simon (6-2 238)
Simon spent much of 2023 coming off the bench, but he filled 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, the Ohio State defense will rely on Simon’s veteran presence in the middle.
There are also several players considered priority free-agent-level prospects who can improve their statuses this season, including offensive linemen Seth McLaughlin, Josh Simmons and Josh Fryar. And there are other draft-eligible Buckeyes who haven’t put enough on film yet but could announce themselves as draftable prospects, like edge rushers Kenyatta Jackson Jr. and Caden Curry and linebacker C.J. Hicks.
(Photos of JT Tuimoloau and Emeka Egbuka: Justin Casterline / Getty Images; Ian Johnson / Icon Sportswire via Getty Images)