The Ohio State Buckeyes were left for dead after their embarrassing loss to the Michigan Wolverines. Calls for Ryan Day to be fired roared for the next few weeks. The team has responded in a big way. They dispatched the Tennessee Volunteers in the first round, setting up a rematch against the Oregon Ducks. The Buckeyes destroyed the lone undefeated team at the Rose Bowl. The calls for an overhaul of the team have become very quiet. Success shouldn’t be surprising, given how much talent this team has on the roster. Here are the top five NFL Draft prospects for the Ohio State Buckeyes.
Ohio State Buckeyes NFL Draft Prospects
These rankings are courtesy of NFL Draft Buzz. I am making some assumptions about who is declaring for the draft. Even if a player has not officially declared for the NFL, I will go off of what the reports are saying. Ohio State doesn’t have too many players on the fence, so these rankings likely won’t include someone who decides to stay unless a massive NIL deal comes along. With those caveats out of the way, onto the list!
1. Josh Simmons, Offensive Tackle
The injury to Simmons in the middle of the season was devastating for the Ohio State Buckeyes offensive line. One of the reasons they struggled down the stretch was the absence of Simmons. He possesses many abilities NFL teams crave. Simmons explodes off the line, getting to the second level on run plays. When he gets to the second level, he is able to land blocks, opening up lanes for running backs effectively. In pass protection, he can get out of his stance quickly, neutralizing speed rushers trying to get around the edge.
The biggest knock on Simmons is his tendency to commit penalties. He gets flagged a lot, which can kill promising drives. Simmons will have to improve his footwork and hand placement so he is not in positions where he feels he needs to commit penalties. The good news for his NFL Draft stock is he has experience against many of the top edge rushers, having played in the Big Ten for years. Even though he is coming off an injury, he is still an elite talent.
2. Jack Sawyer, Defensive End
2024 Stats: 53 tackles, 23 solo tackles, 8 tackles for loss, 8.0 sacks, 1 interception, 5 passes deflected, 2 forced fumbles
“The hero!!” Sawyer is another in the long list of quality edge rushers to come from the Ohio State Buckeyes. He is a high-motor player who can play anywhere on the line. Many edge rushers will focus solely on getting the passer, making them a liability in the run game. Sawyer shows great patience and doesn’t overextend himself on run plays. When engaged in a block, he keeps his balance and is able to stay in the play.
Sawyer does not possess the crazy athletic traits that so many teams crave. Because of this, he can get overpowered by linemen who possess superior athletic skills. One of the things to watch when the Buckeyes take on the Texas Longhorns will be how he does against Kelvin Banks Jr. and Cam Williams. Still, Sawyer has the leadership qualities and skill set to be a top player in the NFL. The NFL Draft combine will likely determine whether he goes in the first round or not.
3. Emeka Egbuka, Wide Receiver
2024 Stats: 70 receptions, 896 receiving yards, 10 receiving touchdowns, 20 rushing yards
Death, taxes, and the Ohio State Buckeyes having NFL talent at the wide receiver position. Egbuka is a refined player at the receiver position. He sets up defensive backs with a variety of head fakes and changes of speed. He has been described as slippery, with defenders losing him in coverage often. His hands are elite, making him a quarterback’s best friend. While his career stats don’t jump off the page, he has always been behind generational talents at Ohio State.
There are two main concerns for his NFL Draft stock. He may be off of some draft boards entirely because of his injury history. Egbuka has had lower body injuries, which affects his explosiveness. The second concern is his catch radius. While he has elite hands, he isn’t a player who goes up and plucks the ball out of the air. Many teams may view him as a great WR2, which is fine but maybe not worth spending a first round pick on.
4. Tyleik Williams, Defensive Line
2024 Stats: 38 tackles, 12 solo tackles, 7 tackles for loss, 2.5 sacks
Williams is one of the many Ohio State Buckeyes players who will likely hear their name called at the NFL Draft. He is an ultra-athletic lineman who uses good hand technique to effectively engage and disengage blockers. Williams can knock offensive linemen backward with a powerful bull rush. Like so many players on the Ohio State defense, he is a high-IQ player who can diagnose plays well. If teams try to throw screens, Williams can often disrupt the play before it gets started.
Williams is too inconsistent from play to play. While he possesses the necessary physical traits to be a dominant player, he can disappear for multiple drives. The NFL is all about consistency. Teams want players who can make an impact throughout the game, not just on a handful of drives. His lateral movement could use some work as well. However, teams often look to build the trenches in the NFL Draft. Williams is a great prospect who could turn into a dominant defensive lineman.
5. JT Tuimoloau, Defensive End
2024 Stats: 49 tackles, 29 solo tackles, 17 tackles for loss, 10.0 sacks, 3 passes deflected, 2 forced fumbles
Tuimoloau is a fun player to watch for the Ohio State Buckeyes. He is explosive off the line and has a knack for creating turnovers. He has long arms and uses them to gain good leverage on the line. In the pass rush, NFL scouts love his spin move as he shows good body control. Too often, players get out of control, and it leads to mistakes. Tuimoloau also has some impressive tape, especially against Penn State this year. Furthermore, he hasn’t missed a game in college, showing off his durability.
He needs to improve his arsenal of pass-rush moves. His moves will often get stale throughout the game, and offensive linemen can figure him out. He doesn’t have a great bend around the edge, either, which is why he isn’t a surefire first-round talent. Still, edge rusher is a premium position in the NFL, and teams will love the tape they see on Tuimoloau.
Final Thoughts
The Ohio State Buckeyes are full of NFL talent. These were only the top five. There are a slew of quality players on this roster, which is one of the reasons many had them as a preseason favorite. The matchup against the Texas Longhorns will be a fun one for NFL Draft fans. Both teams have talent up and down the rosters. Ohio State will take on Texas at the Cotton Bowl on Friday night.
