Yesterday, David Regimbal took a look at three Ohio State players on the current roster who could improve their draft stocks with great final seasons.
So, we figured that today, we should look at the historical side of that: players who had already accomplished that feat.
Of course, the main reason we are looking at this is because of Terry McLaurin's great final season and performance afterwards (at the Senior Bowl and at the NFL Combine).
The North brought out the Flea flicker!
— NFL Network (@nflnetwork) January 26, 2019
: @seniorbowlonly on NFL Network pic.twitter.com/n3NES7FEzn
"Touchdown Terry" is viewed by most draft experts as a second-day selection, but ESPN's Mel Kiper was impressed enough that he gave McLaurin a first-round projection in his latest mock draft.
So, let's take a look at some historical examples of players who have already accomplished this feat.
Terry Glenn, Wide Receiver
Terry Glenn's rise from walk-on to superstar has been well-documented in the past, but it is really crazy how the stats ballooned as well.
Glenn went from just 15 catches and zero touchdowns in his first two seasons (combined) to an incredible 64 catches for 1,411 yards and 17 touchdowns in his junior year of 1995. He won the Biletnikoff Award (given to the nation's top collegiate wide receiver) that season.
Glenn was able to catapult that into a very nice NFL career, in which he was drafted in the first round (seventh overall) by the New England Patriots. After spending six years with the Patriots, which included a Pro Bowl spot in 1999 and a Super Bowl Championship in 2001, he went to the Green Bay Packers for a year before finishing his career with the Dallas Cowboys.
Not bad for a former walk-on.
Malik Hooker, Safety
Hooker's rise was another incredible one. After warming the bench his first two years in Columbus, Hooker shined as a redshirt sophomore, recording 74 tackles and picking off seven passes (and scoring three touchdowns).
Hooker parlayed his incredible 2016 season into becoming a first-round pick of the Indianapolis Colts, where he had found some success, although he has also had to deal with some injuries.
Marshon Lattimore, Cornerback
From the same draft class as Hooker, Lattimore has quickly become one of the NFL's best corners. After a mostly injury-plagued career at Ohio State, it was remarkable to see Lattimore's quick turnaround.
Another redshirt sophomore, Lattimore was excellent in 2016 as well for the Buckeyes. He quickly became one of college football's best corners playing opposite Gareon Conley, and recorded 41 tackles along with four interceptions and a touchdown.
After his redshirt sophomore season, Lattimore declared for the NFL Draft, where he was drafted in the first round by the New Orleans Saints.
Lattimore has had an impressive career with the Saints so far. He was named to the Pro Bowl in his first season, and was also named the AP Defensive Rookie of the Year that same season.
Dwayne Haskins, Quarterback
The most recent example, Haskins was Ohio State's starting quarterback for just one season before heading off to the NFL, where he is almost certain to be a first round draft-choice.
Haskins broke pretty much every single-season passing record during his one campaign as a starter for the Buckeyes. He had 4,831 passing yards, to go with 50 touchdowns against just eight interceptions.
He parlayed that into a trip to New York as a Heisman Trophy finalist, and will now almost certainly hear his name called on the first night of the NFL Draft in a few weeks.
1. Cardinals - Kyler Murray
— Herd w/Colin Cowherd (@TheHerd) March 27, 2019
6. Giants - Dwayne Haskins
15. Redskins - Daniel Jones
32. Patriots - Will Grier@joelklatt explains the fit for his 1st round projected quarterbacks pic.twitter.com/EtMDvfeeRI
So, as mentioned, there are times when players can be one-starting-season-and-done stars. It doesn't happen often, but it's pretty damn impressive when it does.
