Ohio State Buckeyes: How Are They Doing In the N.F.L.?

Ohio State is one of the most accomplished College Football Programs in the Nation, and one of the most successful colleges of the past decade appearing in multiple BCS National Championship Games. Has that College success led to N.F.L. Glory? I’m going to take a look at the players that were able to get drafted and their impact in the N.F.L. right now. In our N.F.L. Depth chart series.

Ohio State’s main rivals, Michigan has LOADS of talent in the N.F.L. and so far early in this process are the team that has put the best players in the N.F.L.. They are not focused in one one area either, the players are nearly all positions: Tom Brady, Jake Long, Steve Hutchinson, Mario Manningham and Braylon Edwards, Brandon Graham, David Harris, Lamarr Woodley, Leon Hall, and Charles Woodson are the best of those players).

Quarterback

Troy Smith

Smith had a great college career, but hasn’t been great in the N.F.L. Now, as a spot starter he’s been serviceable and on a team with excellent surrounding pieces could be serviceable.

Running Back

Beanie Wells

The Cardinals hoped they had a steal with the physically gifted Chris “Beanie” Wells when they used a late first round pick to select him in the 2009 N.F.L. Draft, but he’s been a major disappointment, he only has two starts since being drafted and averaged 3.4 yards per carry last season with a long of 24 and only two touchdowns.

Wide Receiver

Santonio Holmes, Michael Jenkins, Anthony Gonzalez, Ted Ginn Jr, Brian Robiskie, Brian Hartline,

This would be a very solid starting receiving corps if this was the receiving corps of your favorite team. Holmes isn’t a great number one wide receiver, but he’s pretty good as a number one wide receiver. Michael Jenkins and/or Brian Hartline are ok number two wide receivers and Jenkins and Gonzalez can be very good number three wide receivers. And Ted Gin Jr. is a good return man. All in all a solid receiving corps.

Tight End

Ben Hartstock

Hartstock only had 1 catch for 7 yards for the Jets last year, but that’s not his game. He’s an average #2 tight end in the league who can block.

Offensive Line

Nick Mangold, Rob Simms

Ohio State hasn’t put a lot of good offensive linemen into the league, but the two that have stuck around are pretty darn good. Mangold is probably the best center in the league, and Simms started a lot of games last year.

Defensive Line

Thadeus Gibson, Doug Worthington (Cameron Heyward)

Heyward has a chance to be a pretty good defensive linemen in the N.F.L. and is going to the right team to maximize his talents, but other than that the Buckeyes haven’t put successful defensive linemen in the league.

Linebacker

A.J. Hawk, Bobby Carpenter, Mike Vrabel, Na’il Diggs, Matt Wilhelm, Larry Grant (Ross Homan, Brian Rolle)

Mike Vrabel has had a very solid career in the N.F.L.. A.J. Hawk is a good N.F.L. player even if he hasn’t lived up to his draft slot. Bobby Carpenter has been a flat out bust. Larry Grant played sparingly with the Rams last year and did all right. Brian Rolle and Ross Homan were players who were drafted much later than I thought they deserved to be and I’m interested in seeing how they will do in the N.F.L.

Cornerbacks

Antoine Winfield, Nate Clements, Will Allen, Chris Gamble, Ahston Youboty, (Chimidi Chekwa)

Winfield and Clements, at a time were two of the better cornerbacks in the league (and both played for the Bills defense). They are no longer those kind of players though Winfield is still pretty good.

Safeties

Donte Whitner, Malcolm Jenkins, Kurt Coleman (Jermale Hines)

Whitner and Jenkins were both high first round picks. Whitner has had an uneven career in Buffalo, though he’s not a bust-he was just over-drafted. He is very good in run support, but only has five career interceptions, and if you draft a safety in the top 10, you’re looking for more than that. Jenkins has been pretty good in the N.F.L. in his young career and could have a break out year this year. Jenkins had to move to safety in the N.F.L. where he now plays with the Saints, but with two years of experience and good natural ability could be a good player in the N.F.L. for some time.

Special Teams

K Mike Nugent,

Conclusion

The N.F.L. impact of former Ohio State Buckeyes is not off-the charts, but it’s nothing to sneeze at either, what it does lack is the top player impact that has come from some of the other colleges we’ve looked at early in this process. As mentioned above the Wolverines have put a lot of pro-bowlers and even some All-pro players (Charles Woodson, Tom Brady, Steve Hutchinson; Ohio State has Mangold) into the league, where as the Buckeyes don’t have that caliber of a player in the N.F.L. What is interesting is that the Buckeyes have really owned the Wolverines lately, but the Wolverines have still put better players into the N.F.L..

What was really interesting to me was that the focus of players from Ohio State in the N.F.L is at the WR position and in the secondary. When I think Big 10 I don’t usually think Wide Receivers and cornerbacks, but in Ohio State’s case that seems to be where they have their best players (and they could have another high pick at WR this year in Devier Posey).

What are your thoughts?

Is the N.F.L. Caliber talent of the Buckeyes overrated or pretty representative?

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