Once a Buckeye, always a Buckeye. Across the Shield follows those who once wore Scarlet and Gray on their journeys through the NFL.
Can't Guard Mike
Michael Thomas made history on Sunday afternoon.
The former Buckeye star caught six passes for 94 yards in his final regular-season game on Sunday, making his season total 104 catches for 1,245 yards, making Thomas the first receiver in Saints history to catch 100 passes in a single season.
Thomas made NFL history as well. With 104 receptions this season and 92 receptions last season, Thomas has 196 through his first two professional seasons, giving him the most receptions through his first two seasons in NFL history.
More receptions in his first two seasons than any other player in NFL history.
— New Orleans Saints (@Saints) January 1, 2018
Congratulations to @Cantguardmike! #SaintsGameday | #NOvsTB pic.twitter.com/E6L8KU6HBA
Not bad for a second round pick...
Super Bowl Ready?
Last week, Carlos Hyde predicted his San Francisco 49ers would be playing in the Super Bowl next season. It was an extremely bold prediction from someone who had just averaged 2.5 yards per carry a game.
This week though, Guapo's stats were much closer to Super Bowl numbers. He finished the game with 100 yards from scrimmage, rushing for 90 yards and two touchdowns on 15 carries – six yards per carry.
Hyde and the 'Niners capped the season with a 34-13 win over the Rams, finishing the year on a five-game winning streak and 6-1 record in their last seven games.
San Francisco has yet to lose with Jimmy Garoppolo at the helm.
Maybe Guapo's prediction wasn't that far off...
There's Always Next Year...
Last week, Ezekiel Elliott came back from his suspension with the playoffs on the line. Unfortunately for the Cowboys, they lost and were eliminated from playoff contention, making this week's game all but meaningless, and the 6-0 score was quite indicative of that.
Regardless, Elliott went out with a bang.
The former Buckeye rushed for 103 yards on 27 carries and added 3 catches for 38 yards, making him by far the most productive offensive player on the field.
Barring any off-season, off-field issues, Elliott should be available for every game next season, with no lingering legal issues.
Playoff Bound Buckeyes
The regular season is over, but there are still a few Buckeyes in the playoffs. Here's the complete list of former Ohio State players currently on their team's active roster that will take part in this year's NFL playoffs.
AFC
- Cam Heyward – Pittsburgh Steelers
- Adolphus Washington – Buffalo Bills
NFC
- Malcolm Jenkins – Philadelphia Eagles
- Jake McQuaide – Los Angeles Rams
- Michael Thomas – New Orleans Saints
- Marshon Lattimore – New Orleans Saints
- Vonn Bell – New Orleans Saints
- Ted Ginn Jr. – New Orleans Saints
- Kurt Coleman – Carolina Panthers
| Player | Position | Team | Stats |
|---|---|---|---|
| Alex Boone | OL | Arizona Cardinals | |
| Adolphus Washington | DL | Buffalo Bills | 1 total tackle |
| Kurt Coleman | S | Carolina Panthers | |
| Andrew Norwell | OL | Carolina Panthers | |
| Curtis Samuel | WR | Carolina Panthers | Injured Reserve |
| Mike Nugent | K | Chicago Bears | 1/1 field goals, 1/1 extra point |
| Noah Brown | WR | Dallas Cowboys | 1 target |
| Ezekiel Elliott | RB | Dallas Cowboys | 27 carries for 103 yards, 3 catches for 38 yards |
| Rod Smith | RB | Dallas Cowboys | |
| Jeff Heuerman | TE | Denver Broncos | 1 catch for 9 yards |
| Bradley Roby | CB | Denver Broncos | 2 total tackles |
| Taylor Decker | OL | Detroit Lions | |
| Corey Linsley | OL | Green Bay Packers | |
| Braxton Miller | WR | Houston Texans | 2 catches for 9 yards |
| Michael Bennett | OL | Jacksonville Jaguars | Injured Reserve |
| Jonathan Hankins | DL | Indianapolis Colts | |
| Malik Hooker | S | Indianapolis Colts | Injured Reserve |
| Jack Mewhort | OL | Indianapolis Colts | Injured Reserve |
| John Simon | LB | Indianapolis Colts | Injured Reserve |
| Joey Bosa | DE | Los Angeles Chargers | 5 total tackles, 1 sack, 1 tackle for a loss, 1 fumble recovery, 2 quarterback hits |
| Cardale Jones | QB | Los Angeles Chargers | |
| Jake McQuaide | LS | Los Angeles Rams | |
| Raekwon McMillan | LB | Miami Dolphins | Injured Reserve |
| Pat Elflein | OL | Minnesota Vikings | |
| Nate Ebner | DB | New England Patriots | Injured Reserve |
| Vonn Bell | S | New Orleans Saints | 10 total tackles, 1 sack, 1 tackle for a loss, 1 QB hit |
| Ted Ginn Jr. | WR | New Orleans Saints | 3 catches for 33 yards, 1 rush for 2 yards |
| Marshon Lattimore | CB | New Orleans Saints | 3 total tackles, 1 pass defended |
| Michael Thomas | WR | New Orleans Saints | 6 catches for 94 yards |
| Eli Apple | CB | New York Giants | |
| Curtis Grant | LB | New York Giants | Injured Reserve |
| Darron Lee | LB | New York Jets | 2 total tackles |
| Devin Smith | WR | New York Jets | Injured Reserve |
| Gareon Conley | CB | Oakland Raiders | Injured Reserve |
| Malcolm Jenkins | S | Philadelphia Eagles | |
| Cameron Heyward | DE | Pittsburgh Steelers | |
| Ryan Shazier | LB | Pittsburgh Steelers | Injured Reserve |
| Carlos Hyde | RB | San Francisco 49ers | 15 carries for 90 yards and 2 touchdowns, 2 catches for 10 yards |
| Tyvis Powell | DB | San Francisco 49ers | 2 total tackles |
| Nick Vannett | TE | Seattle Seahawks | |
| Terrelle Pryor | WR | Washington Redskins | Injured Reserve |
