CHICAGO — Darron Lee's finger was tired. He bore that toothy grin Ohio State fans grew to know and love, made a joke about being the best dressed Buckeye in the Windy City but then took a second to reflect.
"This is just a reminder of all the hard work, and this was a result of all the hard work," Lee said, peering down at his 2014 College Football Playoff National Championship ring. "This will be engraved for history for the rest of time."
So will the first round of the 2016 NFL Draft in Buckeye lore. Lee, taken by the New York Jets with the 20th overall pick, was the final of five players coached by Urban Meyer in Columbus to come off the board in the first round. It was the first time in a dozen years one school had at least five selections in the first 20 picks of the NFL Draft.
They didn't wear scarlet and gray suits, but you couldn't steer clear of Ohio State's imprint Thursday. Taylor Decker, who went 16th to the Detroit Lions, wouldn't quite buy into the fact he served as part of a walking billboard for Meyer's program on football's biggest stage, but knew it served as a final step in their collegial journey.
"I wouldn't say it was an infomercial, but maybe a family reunion sort of thing," Decker said. "We've all been out doing our own things, training for the combine, training for pro day and all that stuff. We kind of been all out doing our own things and just come back together and kind of go 'wow, look at that great program you built. Look at the coaches, look at these players.'
“That's what is expected from Ohio State. That's why we all went to The Ohio State University, because we knew we were going to be prepared to play at the next level.”– Ezekiel Elliott
"It's just an amazing day for us and an amazing day for Ohio State fans everywhere."
Meyer strolled the red carpet after Joey Bosa, Ezekiel Elliott, Eli Apple, Lee and Decker. Cornerbacks Kerry Coombs was there. So too was former safeties coach Chris Ash, now the head man at Rutgers.
Everywhere you looked, there stood Ohio State. Bosa went No. 3 to San Diego. Ten minutes later, Elliott landed in Dallas at No. 4. Another hour, it was Apple's turn — 10th to the New York Giants.
"That's what is expected from Ohio State," Elliott said. "That's why we all went to The Ohio State University, because we knew we were going to be prepared to play at the next level."
At least nine more players should enter the NFL later this weekend. A 10th or even 11th is possible if a team takes a bite on Chase Farris, Tommy Schutt or someone else. The talent the Buckeyes are sending to the league is second to none in 2016.
It also helped bring a national championship to Columbus in 2014 and 50 wins in four seasons. It all is part of Meyer's plan of competitive excellence he preaches day in and day out alongside strength coach Mick Marotti and everyone else involved with Ohio State's football program.
"They were all back there," Bosa said of his now former coaches. "When you see the smiles on their faces, it makes me feel so much better. They want the best out of all of us. I mean this is why we came to Ohio State, to play at the next level."
The Buckeyes reached the pinnacle of college football two short seasons ago. With Meyer, they're not far from it despite the outpouring of talent from the team this season.
"When we first got there, if you would have told us that we would be first-round draft picks, we probably all would have laughed," Lee said.
A photo from a 2012 recruiting trip shows Lee, Apple, Bosa and Elliott shivering and nervously smiling before Ohio State spanked Nebraska, 63-38, at Ohio Stadium. It's bounced across social media this week and resurfaced again Thursday night.
That core served up a host of victories, titles and more at Ohio State. It all was together for perhaps one final time Thursday in Chicago.
"Unbelievable," Bosa said. "You look at this picture of me, Zeke, Darron and Eli, all are seniors there in high school I'm sure back then we had no idea we would be here getting picked in the first round.
"It's a dream come true."
