The first round of the NFL draft is complete, but there’s still six more rounds to go.
To get you ready for the second day of draft festivities, we’ve compiled some notes about Ohio State’s all-time history in the NFL draft, in which Buckeyes have been well-represented since the NFL began selecting players in 1936.
| TEAM | PICKS |
|---|---|
| Notre Dame | 523 |
| USC | 516 |
| Ohio State | 472 |
| Oklahoma | 400 |
| Michigan | 388 |
All-Time Draft Selections
With 472 draft picks, Ohio State lands at No. 3 on the all-time rankings list. It might take awhile yet for the Buckeyes to overtake the schools ahead of them. Notre Dame leads all schools with 523 selections and USC is breathing down their neck with 516 picks.
Time to put some positive spins on this:
- Ohio State is closer to Notre Dame and USC than to fourth-place Oklahoma (400) and fifth-place Michigan (388).
- Since 2000, the Buckeyes have 154 draft picks, the most of any program. Alabama is second with 139. Michigan checks in at 10th with 103 selections this century.
DBU is BIA
| TEAM | PICKS |
|---|---|
| Ohio State | 64 |
| USC | 60 |
| Notre Dame | 54 |
| LSU | 53 |
| Texas | 51 |
Since 1936, the Buckeyes’ 64 defensive backs selected in the NFL draft are the most of any program.
If Lincoln Riley turns things around at USC, the Trojans could overtake Ohio State at the top spot. Watching Riley’s defenses at Oklahoma, the Buckeyes’ position at the top of the mountain should be safe.
Going back to Ohio State, the program also has the most defensive backs selected in the first round. Its 20 first-rounders are seven more than second-place Miami and Texas.
Is there any debate Ohio State is DBU? No.
Second and Climbing
Wide Receivers
| TEAM | PICKS |
|---|---|
| USC | 49 |
| Ohio State | 47 |
| Miami | 44 |
| Florida | 43 |
| Tennessee | 42 |
The race between USC and Ohio State for the most receivers ever selected got a bit tighter on Thursday. To the surprise of many, Drake London of the Trojans was the first route-runner to get his name called in the 2022 NFL draft. When the Falcons went with London, USC increased its lead over Ohio State to four.
However, three picks later, Garrett Wilson and Chris Olave brought the Buckeyes back to within two of the No. 1 position. With Jaxon Smith-Njigba, Marvin Harrison Jr., Emeka Egbuka and the rest of the talented players oozing out of Brian Hartline's receiver room, Ohio State could be at the top very soon.
Running Backs
| TEAM | PICKS |
|---|---|
| Oklahoma | 45 |
| USC | 45 |
| Nebraska | 44 |
| Ohio State | 43 |
| Penn State | 42 |
The bad news: There are three teams in front of Ohio State for the most running backs ever selected.
The good news: The Buckeyes are only two draft picks behind the leaders. TreVeyon Henderson, Miyan Williams and Evan Pryor could all be NFL draft picks – with Henderson already looking like a potential first-round pick – within the next few years.
With Ohio State’s explosive offense and Tony Alford's track record of bringing in NFL-quality ballcarriers, Ohio State might have the most drafted running backs before the decade is over.
Ohio State vs. Michigan
The Buckeyes have owned their rival on the field since 1936. Ohio State's dominance over Michigan has also carried over to draft day.
Overall Picks
| POS | OSU | UM | DIF |
|---|---|---|---|
| C | 9 | 6 | +3 |
| DB | 32 | 15 | +17 |
| DE | 17 | 8 | +9 |
| DT | 9 | 9 | +0 |
| G | 4 | 8 | -4 |
| K | 1 | 1 | +0 |
| P | 1 | 1 | +0 |
| QB | 6 | 5 | +1 |
| RB | 13 | 6 | +7 |
| T | 9 | 6 | +3 |
| TE | 6 | 6 | +0 |
| WR | 22 | 15 | +5 |
| TOTAL | 153 | 103 | +50 |
1936-Last Night: All-time, 472 Ohio State players have been drafted compared to Michigan's 387. Doing a quick count of some fingers and toes, the Buckeyes are plus-85 against their counterpart in the draft. For those that like percentages, Ohio State has produced 22 percent more players for the NFL draft.
2000-Last Night: The gulf widens significantly when looking at the past 20-plus drafts. The Buckeyes currently have 153 overall draft picks compared to the Wolverines' 103. When the scarlet and gray is fielding 50 more NFL-draft-quality players, it's no wonder Ohio State is 17-3 against the team from Ann Arbor in the 21st century.
Fun Facts
- In 1960, Jim Houston was the first Ohio State player to be selected as a LB in the NFL draft, although Houston was an end for the Buckeyes.
- With Garrett Wilson and Chris Olave getting drafted in the first round, Ohio State has had 10 wide receivers selected in the opening round.
- The position with the most Buckeyes selected is DB with 64. Tackle is a close second with 62.
- The position – not including specialists – with the least Ohio State players drafted is tight end with 13.
- In 1989, Everett Ross became the only Ohio State player to be Mr. Irrelevant.
| TEAM | PICKS | LATEST PICK | FIRST PICK | HIGHEST PICK | 21ST CENTURY | BUCKEYES ON CURRENT ROSTER |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 49ERS | 11 | Trey Sermon (2019) | Dan James (1959) | Nick Bosa (2nd, 2019) | 5 | 3 |
| BEARS | 31 | Justin Fields (2021) | Gus Zarnas (1938) | Don Clark (7th, 1959) | 5 | 1 |
| BENGALS | 20 | Michael Jordan (2019) | Steve Howell (1969) | Dan Wilkinson (1, 1994) | 5 | 5 |
| BILLS | 12 | Adolphus Washington (2016) | Jan White (1971) | Tom Cousineau (1st, 1979) | 7 | 0 |
| BRONCOS | 12 | Baron Browning (2021) | Mike Current (1967 | Randy Gradishar (14th, 1974) | 6 | 3 |
| BROWNS | 34 | Tommy Togiai (2021) | Walt Kievay (1952) | Denzel Ward (4th, 2018) | 4 | 2 |
| BUCCANEERS | 3 | Will Allen (2004) | Aaron Brown (2004) | Will Allen (111th, 2004) | 1 | 0 |
| CARDINALS | 18 | Beanie Wells (2009) | Gomer Jones (1936) | David Boston (8th, 1999) | 2 | 0 |
| CHARGERS | 11 | K.J. Hill (2020) | Keith Ferguson (1981) | Joey Bosa (3rd, 2016) | 5 | 2 |
| CHIEFS | 5 | Donald Washington (2009) | Bruce Jankowski (1971) | Donald Washington (1971) | 1 | 0 |
| COLTS | 22 | Parris Campbell (2019) | Bob Myers (1955) | Art Schlichter (4th, 1982) | 9 | 2 |
| COMMANDERS | 19 | Chase Young (2020) | Steve Andrako (1940) | Chase Young (2nd, 2020) | 4 | 4 |
| COWBOYS | 14 | Mike Weber (2019) | Jimmy Harris (1972) | Ezekiel Elliott (4th, 2016) | 8 | 4 |
| DOLPHINS | 15 | Isaiah Prince (2019) | Bruce Elia (1975) | Ted Ginn Jr. (9th, 2007) | 6 | 1 |
| EAGLES | 22 | Brian Rolle (2011) | Jim Hague (1950) | Jim McDonald (2nd, 1938) | 3 | 0 |
| FALCONS | 11 | Kendall Sheffield (2019) | Vic Koegel (1974) | Michael Jenkins (29th, 2004) | 3 | 1 |
| GIANTS | 21 | Eli Apple (2016) | Dick Heekin (1936) | John Hicks (3rd, 1974) | 2 | 2 |
| JAGUARS | 3 | Luke Farrell (2021) | Michael Bennett (2015) | DaVon Hamilton | 3 | 2 |
| JETS | 13 | Garrett Wilson (2022) | Matt Snell (1964) | Chris Ward (4th, 1978) | 7 | 1 |
| LIONS | 27 | Jashon Cornell (2020) | Charley Hamrick (1937) | Jeff Okudah and Hopalong Cassady (3rd, 2020 and 1956) | 4 | 5 |
| PACKERS | 25 | Josh Myers (2021) | Merle Wendt (1937) | A.J. Hawk (5th, 2006) | 7 | 1 |
| PANTHERS | 5 | Curtis Samuel (2017) | Matt Finkes (1997) | Chris Gamble (28th, 2004) | 4 | 3 |
| PATRIOTS | 5 | Nate Ebner (2012) | Pete Cusick (1975) | Terry Glenn (7th, 1996) | 1 | 2 |
| RAIDERS | 10 | Damon Arnette (2020) | Jack Tatum (1971) | Rickey Dudley (9th, 1996) | 5 | 1 |
| RAMS | 28 | Jordan Fuller (2020) | Inwood Smith (1937) | Orlando Pace (1st, 1997) | 7 | 1 |
| RAVENS | 5 | Shaun Wade (2021) | Troy Smith (2007) | J.K. Dobbins (2020) | 5 | 3 |
| SAINTS | 17 | Chris Olave (2022) | Jim Otis (1970) | Marshon Lattimore and Chris Olave (11th, 2017 and 2022) | 11 | 6 |
| SEAHAWKS | 6 | Jamarco Jones (2018) | Ray Jackson (1988) | Shawn Springs (3rd, 1997) | 3 | 0 |
| STEELERS | 22 | Doran Grant (2015) | Jack Dugger (1945) | Bob Ferguson (5th, 1962) | 8 | 3 |
| TEXANS | 3 | Braxton Miller (2016) | Jonathan Wells (2002) | DeVier Posey (2012) | 3 | 1 |
| TITANS | 5 | Rob Reynolds (2004) | Jerome Foster (1983) | Eddie George (14th, 1996) | 2 | 1 |
| VIKINGS | 13 | Wyatt Davis (2021) | Leo Hayden (1971) | Robert Smith (21st, 1993) | 6 | 2 |
