Josh Proctor wasn’t selected in the 2024 NFL draft, but he’ll still get his shot to compete for an NFL roster spot.
The former Ohio State safety is signing with the Jacksonville Jaguars as an undrafted free agent.
A four-star prospect in the 2018 recruiting class, Proctor spent six years at Ohio State. Plagued by inconsistent play in his early years as a Buckeye, Proctor suffered a season-ending leg injury in 2021 and was benched after the first drive of the season in 2022. But Proctor took advantage of a sixth year of eligibility for a breakout season in 2023, anchoring the secondary for one of the nation’s best defenses as he started 11 games at free safety and earned third-team All-Big Ten honors.
Unfortunately for Proctor, that wasn’t enough to get him drafted. But he’ll enter the NFL with confidence in his ability to overcome the odds after staying the course through adversity at Ohio State.
“I'm not gonna lie and say there wasn’t (moments where he doubted he’d make it to the NFL). Definitely that 2021 season after I had the leg injury,” Proctor said at the NFL Scouting Combine. “I didn't feel like I was gonna come back like myself. I didn't know if I was ever going to perform like I could or be myself, honestly. And it took a whole year. It took a whole year to get back to that. But I'm finally here, I finally feel like myself and I feel good.”
Proctor will look to follow in the footsteps of fellow former Ohio State safety Ronnie Hickman, who went undrafted last year but ended up making a significant impact for the Cleveland Browns as a rookie, appearing in 10 games with four starts and returning an interception for a touchdown in a playoff-clinching win against the New York Jets.
