CHICAGO — Eli Apple is headed back to the east coast.
The Ohio State cornerback became the third Buckeye an NFL team chose with their first round selection in the 2016 Draft, when the New York Giants picked him 10th overall.
This is the first time in program history Ohio State has had three players come off the board among the first 10 picks in the common draft era. The last time it happened was in 2010, when Oklahoma had three top-10 selections.
Apple left Ohio State with two seasons of eligibility remaining as a redshirt sophomore. A highly touted recruit from Voorhees, New Jersey, he finished second on the team with eight passes broken up in 2015.
Apple's stock rose immensely once he elected to declare for the draft in January. A long, athletic and fast corner, Apple shredded the NFL Combine with a 4.40-second 40-yard dash and showed solid ball skills. He finished his career in Columbus with 18 passes broken up and four interceptions, playing as Ohio State's boundary corner in 2015 after Doran Grant graduated a year earlier.
Apple is the third Ohio State corner drafted in as many years, joining Grant in 2015 and Bradley Roby in 2014. He selection at 10th is the highest among them, trumping Roby, who the Denver Broncos took 31st overall.
3 in the top 10 . 6 in Super Bowl . That's why it's THE OHIO STATE UNIVERSITY !
— Bradley Roby (@BradRoby_1) April 29, 2016
Apple joins former Buckeye Johnathan Hankins in New York.
