A Look Back at the Recruitments of Ohio State's New NFL Players

After impressing teams on the field and proving they are capable of playing at the next level, Nick Bosa, Dwayne Haskins and several Ohio State prospects are set to begin their careers as professional football players after being selected in this week's NFL draft.

Years ago, each of those prospects had to do the same thing as recruits, demonstrating that they were capable of playing at Ohio State before ultimately earning scholarship offers – and deciding to accept those scholarship offers – to become Buckeyes.

Through the first three rounds of the 2019 NFL draft, Ohio State has had five players selected: Bosa, Haskins, Parris Campbell, Dre'Mont Jones and Terry McLaurin. Several other Buckeyes have a chance to be selected in Saturday's final four rounds of the draft, including offensive linemen Michael Jordan and Isaiah Prince, cornerback Kendall Sheffield, running back Mike Weber and wide receiver Johnnie Dixon.

As those 10 Buckeyes move on from Ohio State and begin their careers in the NFL, we take a look back at how they were regarded as high school players and how they ended up in Columbus in the first place.

Nick Bosa: Round 1, Pick 2 (San Francisco 49ers)

Coming out of St. Thomas Aquinas High School in Fort Lauderdale, Florida, Nick Bosa was rated as the No. 8 player overall in the Class of 2016. His primary recruiters were former Ohio State wide receivers coach Zach Smith and current Ohio State defensive line coach Larry Johnson.

Bosa committed early, announcing his pledge to Ohio State in June 2018, the summer that his brother, Joey, was entering his second year in Columbus. The brothers would eventually go on to be drafted within the first three picks of their respective drafts.

Dwayne Haskins: Round 1, Pick 15 (Washington Redskins)

Dwayne Haskins’ commitment to Ohio State in January 2016 came on a big recruiting day for the Buckeyes. Haskins was committed to Maryland for the majority of the 2015 calendar year but flipped his commitment one month before the signing day, bringing along Maryland linebacker commit Keandre Jones with him. Current Ohio State receiver Binjimen Victor had committed to Ohio State earlier that day as well.

Jones would eventually transfer away from Ohio State after three seasons, but Haskins, who cited coaching changes at Maryland as a large part of his change of heart, would stay and lead Ohio State to Cotton Bowl and Rose Bowl victories.

Haskins was rated at the No. 91 overall prospect in the Class of 2016 and the No. 7 pro-style – not dual-threat – quarterback.

Parris Campbell: Round 2, Pick 59 (Indianapolis Colts)

When Akron eventual four-star athlete Parris Campbell visited Ohio State for the first time during his recruitment, he had no offers. He eventually earned his offer but was also heavily recruited by Tennessee, Michigan State and Indiana as a running back that could catch out of the backfield.

When Campbell committed to Ohio State’s Class of 2014 on Feb. 10, 2013, he committed on the same day as Kyle Trout and Lawrence Marshall. He was rated as the No. 139 overall prospect in the country and the No. 4 prospect coming out of Ohio by the time he signed with Ohio State nearly a year after his commitment.

Dre’Mont Jones: Round 3, Pick 71 (Denver Broncos)

When Cleveland defensive lineman Dre’Mont Jones signed with Ohio State in 2015, he only had eight offers, including offers from Michigan, Michigan State, Notre Dame and Ohio State. Schools like Penn State, Tennessee, Florida State and even Illinois talked with Jones but never extended an offer.

Jones finished his recruitment ranked No. 133 in the country, but when he committed to Ohio State in June 2014, he was rated as the No. 299 player in the 2015 class and the No. 15 recruit in the state of Ohio. He was drafted in the second round by the Broncos on Friday.

Terry McLaurin: Round 3, Pick 76 (Washington Redskins)

When Indianapolis-native Terry McLaurin committed to Ohio State in 2013, he was just a three-star speedy wide receiver that compiled more than 1,000 all-purpose yards at Indianapolis Cathedral High School as a junior. He was electronically timed at 4.30 seconds in the 40-yard dash, making him one of the fastest recruits in the nation.

Just two days after receiving his Ohio State offer in June 2013, he committed and eventually became a four-star recruit rated as the No. 248 prospect overall in the Class of 2014.

Michael Jordan

As a senior at Plymouth High School in Canton, Michigan, Michael Jordan averaged six pancake blocks per game and did not allow a sack – a nearly perfect season. He committed to Ohio State in June 2015 as the No. 4 prospect coming out of Michigan in the Class of 2016. Jordan represented a big recruiting victory for Urban Meyer and the Buckeyes over Michigan, who were thought to be the favorite.

Kendall Sheffield

Former five-star 2015 cornerback Kendall Sheffield signed with Alabama out of Thurgood Marshall High School in Missouri City, Texas, in 2015. After redshirting his first season at Alabama, he transferred to Blinn College in Brenham, Texas, where he recorded 31 tackles, two interceptions, 11 pass breakups and two touchdowns.

He then transferred to Ohio State as the No. 1 cornerback coming out of junior college, and after being recruited by Kerry Coombs, he showed up on campus for the 2017 season.

In high school, Sheffield was a two-time 110-meter hurdles state champion and an Under Armour All-American.

Mike Weber

Detroit-native Mike Weber was recruited by nearly everyone coming out of Cass Tech in 2015. He had offers from Michigan, Georgia, Alabama and others and was committed to Michigan and former head coach Brady Hoke before decommitting during Michigan’s loss to Maryland in November 2014.

Three weeks later, Weber committed to Ohio State and signed with the Buckeyes a few months later.

At Cass Tech, his head coach, Thomas Wilcher, said Weber was the best running back in the Detroit public school leagues that he had said in the 30 years previous after Weber ran for 2,268 yards and 29 touchdowns in his senior season despite missing three games.

Isaiah Prince

Isaiah Prince waited until National Signing Day in 2015 before he committed and signed with Ohio State. He had narrowed it down to Ohio State, Alabama and his hometown Maryland Terps but ultimately decided on Urban Meyer and the Buckeyes because he felt the least amount of pressure from them, in comparison to Maryland and Alabama.

Prince was rated as the No. 1 Maryland recruit in his class and the No. 5 offensive tackle in a fairly weak tackle class – he was rated as the No. 101 overall prospect.

Johnnie Dixon

Dwyer High School playmaker Johnnie Dixon was one of the top receivers in the 2014 class, rated 27 spots above Terry McLaurin as the No. 9 wideout in the class. He was set on the Buckeyes for months before committing in December 2013. He held offers from Alabama, Arkansas, Miami and others.

As a senior at Dwyer, Dixon caught 17 passes for 366 yards and six touchdowns during his team’s five-game run to its second ever Florida Class 7A State Title in 2013.