Ohio State is well-represented once again on this year's edition of the NFL Top 100.
Six former Buckeyes made this year's edition of NFL Network's annual countdown, which ranks the league's top 100 players as voted on by the players themselves, led by New Orleans Saints wide receiver Michael Thomas, who was the highest-ranked Buckeye on the list for the second year in a row.
Ranked 13th on last year's list, Thomas moved up in the top 10 this year – checking in at No. 5 – and was the top-ranked wide receiver on the countdown after breaking the NFL's single-season catch record with 149 receptions for 1,725 yards and nine touchdowns in 2019.
THE BEST IN THE GAME
— New Orleans Saints (@Saints) July 30, 2020
:: @NFLNetwork's #NFLTop100 pic.twitter.com/c98xIuzXts
San Francisco 49ers defensive end Nick Bosa, just one year into his NFL career, was chosen as the league's 17th-best player after a spectacular debut season in which he recorded 47 total tackles with 16 tackles for loss and nine sacks – along with an interception, a forced fumble and two fumble recoveries – and earned NFL Defensive Rookie of the Year honors.
FACT, bears make plays @nbsmallerbear | #NFLTop100 pic.twitter.com/WULuvehkxw
— San Francisco 49ers (@49ers) July 29, 2020
Dallas Cowboys running back Ezekiel Elliott, who has made the countdown for four straight years, made the top 25 for the third time in four years by landing the No. 24 spot on this year's list. He's the fourth-ranked running back on this year's NFL Top 100 behind Christian McCaffrey, Derrick Henry and Dalvin Cook.
.@EzekielElliott lands a spot on the countdown again!
— NFL Network (@nflnetwork) July 29, 2020
The @dallascowboys RB comes in at 24 this year. pic.twitter.com/EZk0qJAARS
Los Angeles Chargers defensive end Joey Bosa, fresh off signing a record-breaking five-year, $135 million contract extension with the Chargers, was ranked as the league's 34th-best player this year, a 22-spot climb from the 2019 countdown.
high praise for @jbbigbear #NFLTop100 | @nflnetwork pic.twitter.com/PYAC79w5Wo
— Los Angeles Chargers (@Chargers) July 29, 2020
New Orleans Saints cornerback Marshon Lattimore earned the No. 76 spot on this year's countdown, marking the second time in his first three years in the league that he has landed a spot on the NFL Top 100.
"He's a tackling corner, a cover corner and he takes the ball away - it's tough to beat him" @shonrp2 showcased on the @nflnetwork's #NFLTop100 pic.twitter.com/VBhxlnfC9c
— New Orleans Saints (@Saints) July 27, 2020
Pittsburgh Steelers defensive end Cameron Heyward made the list for the fourth time in his career, earning the 84th spot on the list after earning first-team NFL All-Pro honors and making his third straight Pro Bowl last year.
He has all the tools in the toolbox @CamHeyward makes his fourth appearance in the #NFLTop100, this year coming in at #84. Thoughts?
— Pittsburgh Steelers (@steelers) July 27, 2020
: #NFLTop100 on @nflnetwork now pic.twitter.com/dN6PkEnBnp
With six representatives on this year's list, Ohio State is tied with LSU for the second-most players in the NFL's Top 100 Players of 2020. Alabama led all schools with seven former players selected.
| College | Total | Players |
|---|---|---|
| ALABAMA | 7 | DERRICK HENRY, JULIO JONES, MINKAH FITZPATRICK, MARK INGRAM, AMARI COOPER, JOSH JACOBS, MARLON HUMPHREY |
| OHIO STATE | 6 | MICHAEL THOMAS, NICK BOSA, EZEKIEL ELLIOTT, JOEY BOSA, MARSHON LATTIMORE, CAMERON HEYWARD |
| LSU | 6 | JAMAL ADAMS, TYRANN MATHIEU, DANIELLE HUNTER, TRE'DAVIOUS WHITE, ODELL BECKHAM JR., JARVIS LANDRY |
| MISSISSIPPI STATE | 5 | DAK PRESCOTT, CHRIS JONES, PRESTON SMITH, FLETCHER COX, DARIUS SLAY |
| NOTRE DAME | 5 | QUENTON NELSON, ZACK MARTIN, HARRISON SMITH, RONNIE STANLEY, JAYLON SMITH |
| TEXAS A&M | 4 | VON MILLER, MIKE EVANS, RYAN TANNEHILL, MYLES GARRETT |
| WISCONSIN | 4 | RUSSELL WILSON, T.J. WATT, J.J. WATT, RYAN RAMCZYK |
| CALIFORNIA | 3 | AARON RODGERS, CAMERON JORDAN, KEENAN ALLEN |
| CLEMSON | 3 | DEANDRE HOPKINS, DESHAUN WATSON, GRADY JARRETT |
| PENN STATE | 3 | SAQUON BARKLEY, CHRIS GODWIN, ALLEN ROBINSON |
| STANFORD | 3 | CHRISTIAN MCCAFFREY, RICHARD SHERMAN, ZACH ERTZ |
