It was a busy week on multiple fronts for the Ohio State football program.
Ohio State brought two new transfers into the program with the additions of former San Diego State offensive tackle Josh Simmons and Notre Dame wide receiver-turned-cornerback Lorenzo Styles. A few other players left the Buckeyes before the post-spring transfer window closed. And six members of last year’s Ohio State football team, headlined by first-round picks C.J. Stroud, Paris Johnson Jr. and Jaxon Smith-Njigba, were selected in the 2023 NFL draft.
We analyze all the comings and going of the transfer portal and where each of the Buckeyes landed in this year’s NFL draft, plus look ahead to what could be one of Ohio State’s deepest NFL draft classes ever in 2024, on this week’s episode of Real Pod Wednesdays.
The full rundown of what we’re talking about this week:
- 1:15: Josh Simmons isn’t a lock to start at right tackle, but Ohio State needed to add competition
- 5:45: Bringing in Lorenzo Styles was an obvious move, but he’s more likely to contribute in 2024-25
- 10:00: Ohio State still pursuing two more transfers in Ole Miss DT Tywone Malone, UAB S Jaylen Key
- 18:44: Ohio State needed to be more aggressive in the transfer portal this year, and it has been
- 20:44: Kaleb Brown’s transfer is more surprising than Caleb Burton’s, but neither is shocking
- 26:48: Ben Christman’s departure could prompt a Vic Cutler or Tegra Tshabola move to guard
- 32:43: Houston Texans remind us not to believe everything you hear before the NFL draft
- 39:33: C.J. Stroud will begin his career with less pressure in Houston than he had at Ohio State
- 41:02: Paris Johnson Jr. has extra motivation playing for the team that drafted his dad
- 43:41: If 2021 was any indication, Jaxon Smith-Njigba won’t be a No. 3 wide receiver for long
- 46:36: Dawand Jones’ slide was surprising, but Luke Wypler’s fall was even more surprising
- 50:36: “Advisors” didn’t make Wypler’s decision, and returning wouldn’t have guaranteed anything
- 56:26: OSU’s UDFAs aren’t shocking, though we expected Taron Vincent to get a contract
- 58:22: Two defensive draft picks in two years is a big reason why the defense has struggled
- 59:50: Ohio State could have one of its best draft classes ever in 2024 (but not eight first-rounders)
- 1:07:07: QB and OL play, defensive cohesion will determine if OSU takes advantage of all that talent
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