Ohio State and the NFL Draft: A Look at the Buckeyes Selected and Comparing OSU to Michigan (2024)

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 draftfestivities, 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.

Most NFL Draft Picks
TEAMPICKS
Notre Dame523
USC516
Ohio State472
Oklahoma400
Michigan388

All-Time Draft Selections

With 472draft 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 523selections andUSC is breathing down their neck with 516picks.

Time to put somepositive 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

Most DBs Drafted
TEAMPICKS
Ohio State64
USC60
Notre Dame54
LSU53
Texas51

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-roundersareseven more than second-place Miami and Texas.

Is there any debate Ohio State isDBU? No.

Second and Climbing

Wide Receivers

Most WR Draft Picks
TEAMPICKS
USC49
Ohio State47
Miami44
Florida43
Tennessee42

The race between USC and Ohio State for the most receivers ever selected got a bit tighter on Thursday. To the surprise of many, DrakeLondon 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 twoof the No. 1 position. With Jaxon Smith-Njigba, Marvin Harrison Jr., Emeka Egbuka and the rest of thetalented players oozing out ofBrian Hartline's receiver room, Ohio State could be at the top very soon.

RELATED Garrett Wilson, Chris Olave Celebrate Dream Come True Together As Back-to-Back Picks in 2022 NFL Draft

Running Backs

Most RB Draft Picks
TEAMPICKS
Oklahoma45
USC45
Nebraska44
Ohio State43
Penn State42

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.

RELATED Ohio State's First-Round NFL Draft History Entering the 2022 NFL Draft

Ohio State vs. Michigan

The Buckeyes have ownedtheir rival on the fieldsince 1936. Ohio State'sdominance over Michigan has also carried over to draft day.

Overall Picks

NFL Draft Positional Breakdown 2000-Last Night
POSOSUUMDIF
C96+3
DB3215+17
DE178+9
DT99+0
G48-4
K11+0
P11+0
QB65+1
RB136+7
T96+3
TE66+0
WR2215+5
TOTAL153103+50

1936-Last Night:All-time, 472Ohio 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 153overall 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 aLB inthe NFL draft, although Houston was an endfor 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 endwith 13.
  • In 1989, Everett Ross became theonly Ohio State player to be Mr. Irrelevant.
Ohio State's All-Time Picks By Team
TEAMPICKSLATEST PICKFIRST PICKHIGHEST PICK21ST CENTURYBUCKEYES ON CURRENT ROSTER
49ERS11Trey Sermon (2019)Dan James (1959)Nick Bosa (2nd, 2019)53
BEARS31Justin Fields (2021)Gus Zarnas (1938)Don Clark (7th, 1959)51
BENGALS20Michael Jordan (2019)Steve Howell (1969)Dan Wilkinson (1, 1994)55
BILLS12Adolphus Washington (2016)Jan White (1971)Tom Cousineau (1st, 1979)70
BRONCOS12Baron Browning (2021)Mike Current (1967Randy Gradishar (14th, 1974)63
BROWNS34Tommy Togiai (2021)Walt Kievay (1952)Denzel Ward (4th, 2018)42
BUCCANEERS3Will Allen (2004)Aaron Brown (2004)Will Allen (111th, 2004)10
CARDINALS18Beanie Wells (2009)Gomer Jones (1936)David Boston (8th, 1999)20
CHARGERS11K.J. Hill (2020)Keith Ferguson (1981)Joey Bosa (3rd, 2016)52
CHIEFS5Donald Washington (2009)Bruce Jankowski (1971)Donald Washington (1971)10
COLTS22Parris Campbell (2019)Bob Myers (1955)Art Schlichter (4th, 1982)92
COMMANDERS19Chase Young (2020)Steve Andrako (1940)Chase Young (2nd, 2020)44
COWBOYS14Mike Weber (2019)Jimmy Harris (1972)Ezekiel Elliott (4th, 2016)84
DOLPHINS15Isaiah Prince (2019)Bruce Elia (1975)Ted Ginn Jr. (9th, 2007)61
EAGLES22Brian Rolle (2011)Jim Hague (1950)Jim McDonald (2nd, 1938)30
FALCONS11Kendall Sheffield (2019)Vic Koegel (1974)Michael Jenkins (29th, 2004)31
GIANTS21Eli Apple (2016)Dick Heekin (1936)John Hicks (3rd, 1974)22
JAGUARS3Luke Farrell (2021)Michael Bennett (2015)DaVon Hamilton32
JETS13Garrett Wilson (2022)Matt Snell (1964)Chris Ward (4th, 1978)71
LIONS27Jashon Cornell (2020)Charley Hamrick (1937)Jeff Okudah and Hopalong Cassady (3rd, 2020 and 1956)45
PACKERS25Josh Myers (2021)Merle Wendt (1937)A.J. Hawk (5th, 2006)71
PANTHERS5Curtis Samuel (2017)Matt Finkes (1997)Chris Gamble (28th, 2004)43
PATRIOTS5Nate Ebner (2012)Pete Cusick (1975)Terry Glenn (7th, 1996)12
RAIDERS10Damon Arnette (2020)Jack Tatum (1971)Rickey Dudley (9th, 1996)51
RAMS28Jordan Fuller (2020)Inwood Smith (1937)Orlando Pace (1st, 1997)71
RAVENS5Shaun Wade (2021)Troy Smith (2007)J.K. Dobbins (2020)53
SAINTS17Chris Olave (2022)Jim Otis (1970)Marshon Lattimore and Chris Olave (11th, 2017 and 2022)116
SEAHAWKS6Jamarco Jones (2018)Ray Jackson (1988)Shawn Springs (3rd, 1997)30
STEELERS22Doran Grant (2015)Jack Dugger (1945)Bob Ferguson (5th, 1962)83
TEXANS3Braxton Miller (2016)Jonathan Wells (2002)DeVier Posey (2012)31
TITANS5Rob Reynolds (2004)Jerome Foster (1983)Eddie George (14th, 1996)21
VIKINGS13Wyatt Davis (2021)Leo Hayden (1971)Robert Smith (21st, 1993)62
Ohio State and the NFL Draft: A Look at the Buckeyes Selected and Comparing OSU to Michigan (2024)

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