As past Buckeyes drafted into the NFL at the wide receiver position can attest, being selected is an honor but doesn’t come with many guarantees.
That fact is undoubtedly not lost on Ohio State's latest pair of wide receivers to be selected in the draft, Devin Smith and Evan Spencer, as the two prepare to officially begin their professional careers.
Smith has a bit of a leg up as a 2nd round selection by the New York Jets with the 37th overall pick of the draft, while Spencer might have a slightly steeper slope after the Washington Redskins chose him in the 6th round with the 187th overall pick.
As indicated by their respective selections, Smith is seen as the more talented receiver thanks largely to his deep ball exploits whereas Spencer oozes intangibles but long-term, it comes down to performance and each will have to earn their keep to stay in the league. No matter where a player is selected, if he performs, he stays. If he doesn't, he goes in the cutthroat world that is the NFL. As such, a higher draft spot will net a player some extra money up front and maybe an extra chance or two to stick with a team but production ultimately determines staying power, not draft status.
Smith and Spencer will be looking to carve out their own roles within the league but for some perspective on exactly what standard has been set by past Buckeye wide receivers, we take a look at the last 10 years worth of wideout draft picks from Columbus.
DEVIER POSEY: 2012 - 3RD ROUND / 68TH OVERALL PICK
It's fair to say the jury is still out on Posey, though the window of opportunity is likely to slowly close unless he can gain traction this season.
As a rookie in 2012, Posey saw in action in 11 regular season games for the Houston Texans registering a modest six catches but recorded three more for 36 yards and a clutch touchdown grab in a playoff loss to New England but he ruptured his Achilles tendon later in the contest. To his credit, Posey rehabbed in time to play in the 2013 season opener, but he totaled just 15 receptions for 155 yards and no touchdowns in 14 games. Last year, he was inactive for all but one contest, and the Texans traded him to the Jets during this year's draft. He'll now compete with Devin Smith and others for snaps in New York.
BRIAN ROBISKIE: 2009 - 2ND ROUND / 36TH OVERALL PICK
Currently unsigned and without a catch since the 2012 season, Robiskie enjoyed some early success with the Cleveland Browns, though his production never lived up to his draft selection.
As a rookie in 2009, Robo caught only seven balls but became a much larger factor in year two as he tallied 29 grabs for 310 yards and three touchdowns for Browns. The production wouldn't sustain however as he played just six games for Cleveland in 2011 before landing with Jacksonville Jaguars. That arrangement ended as he joined Detroit in 2012 playing in six games recording four catches to round out a career that saw 39 of 43 career receptions occur in his first three years in the league.
BRIAN HARTLINE: 2009 - 4TH ROUND / 108TH OVERALL PICK
Though most honest Buckeye fans didn't see it coming, Hartline turned in a couple of 1,000 yard receiving seasons as part of a six-year stint in Miami that saw him average 50 receptions for 707 yards on 14.2 yards per catch.
He also turned in a Dolphins franchise record single-game effort of 253 yards on 11 catches in a 24-21 loss to the Arizona Cardinals back in 2012.
With 12 career touchdowns to his name, Hartline will suit up in 2015 for the Cleveland Browns looking to further his career stats as a solid 4th round receiver.
TED GINN JR.: 2007 - 1ST ROUND / 9TH OVERALL PICK
As the 9th pick in the 2007 Draft, Ginn Jr. entered the NFL which much fanfare, not just a receiver but an electrifying return man with sprinter's speed.
The hype proved tough to live up to as Ginn Jr. While he certainly was a solid player, he didn't produce Top-10 pick type numbers through his first eight seasons, averaging 26 receptions for 349 yards. He did tally 11 receiving and two rushing touchdowns with another seven scores via kick/punt returns but it wasn't enough to keep him from playing for four different franchises during those first eight years.
This season, he's back with the Carolina Panthers after a 14 catch, 190-yard season with one punt return touchdown last year with Arizona.
ANTHONY GONZALEZ: 2007 - 1ST ROUND / 32ND OVERALL PICK
Ginn Jr.'s running mate as part of Ohio State's sick 2006 offense, Gonzo parlayed a great quickness and route running from the slot along with a cerebral approach to the game to earn a 1st round selection by the Indianapolis Colts upon leaving school a year early.
After two solid years with Indy including a sophomore season in which he tallied 57 receptions for 664 yards and four scores, Gonzalez was hurt in game one of the 2009 season followed by a slew of other injuries pumping the brakes on a chance at a very productive career.
In fact, Gonzo would go on to record just five catches over the next three seasons (all in 2010) before hanging up his cleats with 99 career receptions for 1,307 yards and seven touchdowns.
ROY HALL: 2007 - 5TH ROUND / 169TH OVERALL PICK
The third receiver drafted from Ohio State's 2006 juggernaut, Hall lasted three years in the league recording one catch in seven games. His career was slowed by injuries including a major special teams collision in game three of his rookie season.
SANTONIO HOLMES: 2006 - 1ST ROUND / 25TH OVERALL PICK
Currently a free agent at age 31, Holmes believes he still has plenty left in the tank, though with nine years on the odometer, he won't come super cheap. A reputation as a potentially difficult personality in the locker room seems to have teams proceeding with extreme caution.
Despite the current situation, Holmes put up his fair share of numbers in those nine seasons, totaling 112 games, 389 receptions, 6,030 yards and 36 touchdowns. On average, that's good for 43 grabs and 670 yards. He does have one 1,000 yard season on his resume, along with a Super Bowl MVP trophy thanks to hauling in a nifty game-winning touchdown toss from Ben Roethlisberger with :35 left as part of a nine-catch, 131-yard performance against the Arizona Cardinals.
