CHICAGO — Another Buckeye to the Big Easy, this time in the form of the Vonn Bell Academy.
The New Orleans Saints selected the All-American Ohio State safety with the 61st overall pick in the 2016 NFL Draft Friday. Bell joins wide receiver Michael Thomas, who the Saints grabbed 14 picks earlier.
Thomas theorized on why the Saints doubled down on Buckeyes in the second round:
The Saints must of watch the Sugar many times @TheVonnBell7 Let's Get It!!!
— Mike Thomas (@Cantguardmike) April 30, 2016
Bell becomes the second-highest drafted Buckeye safety since 2006, when the Buffalo Bills took Donte Whitner with the eighth overall pick. The last safety from Ohio State drafted was Christian Bryant, who went 241st overall (seventh round) to the then-St. Louis Rams. The New England Patriots took Nate Ebner in the sixth round in 2012, the Rams took Jermale Hines in the fifth round in 2011 and Carolina grabbed Nate Salley 121st overall in 2006.
Bell served as a two-year starter at the back of Ohio State's defense, leading a resurgence in the secondary along with former safeties coach Chris Ash. He started 28 of 42 games over three seasons, leaving after his junior year. Bell led the Buckeyes with nine passes defensed in 2015 and also returned one of his two interceptions on the year for a touchdown in a 28-14 victory against Minnesota. He also returned a fumble for a score against Hawai'i.
Bell finished second on the team with 92 tackles in Ohio State's 2014 national title season, when he tallied a team-high six interceptions. A tender hamstring prevented him from running at the 2016 NFL Combine, but he ultimately peaked the interest of New Orleans.
A playmaking machine, Bell joins not only Thomas but former Buckeye linebacker James Laurinaitis in New Orleans, whom the Saints signed this offseason.
Bell's selection before the end of the second round makes seven Buckeyes off the board among the first 63 picks, which ties an NFL record in the modern draft era. Tennessee (2000) and USC (2008) are the only other schools to reach that mark.
