NFL Draft Notebook: Marvin Harrison Jr. leads a loaded Ohio State draft class

The Ohio State Buckeyes had two players drafted in the top ten of the2023 NFL Draft and had a total of six players selected.

This year Ohio State could have the most players taken in the 2024 NFL Draft. Going into the season I have 18 Buckeyes with draftable grades, and while some of the players listed will likely head back to school in 2024 they still will compete with Georgia’s 2022 team that had 15 players selected for most players ever selected from one school.

Along with looking at Ohio State’s draft prospects, this week’s NFL Draft Notebook also previews the 2024 defensive tackle class, looks back at the 2020 interior defensive line group, and much more.

Ohio State NFL Draft Prospects

Marvin Harrison Jr., WR, First Round

There is no doubt who the top prospect at Ohio State is this year, and that is All-American wide receiver Marvin Harrison Jr. What makes Harrison such a special prospect starts with his strong hands that consistently allow him to make the tough catch in traffic. He also shows impressive agility for a 6-foot-4 wide receiver, and this allows him to have a tremendous catch radius. Look for Harrison to be one of the top five players drafted next April, and to become one of the best wide receivers in the NFL.

JT Tuimoloau, DE, First Round
JT Tuimoloau who is the highest-rated defensive prospect to sign with Ohio State in the modern recruiting era has a mid-first round grade on my board. The reason he carries this grade is his ability to play the run displaying a strong punch and the overall strength to consistently set the edge. While I have a top 20 grade on Tuimoloau, I don’t see him as a top ten pick like some draftnicks do, because he is not an elite pass rusher who lacks the burst off the ball the top edge rushers have.

Emeka Egbuka, WR, First Round
Ohio State is proving why they are considered Wide Receiver U with Marvin Harrison Jr. and Emeka Egbuka who are my top two receivers in the 2024 NFL Draft and make the best college wide receiver duo since Ja’Marr Chase and Justin Jefferson. Egbuka is one of the better playmakers in college football having averaged 15.6 yards per reception last year and also finishing ninth nationally with 46 receptions of 10-or-more yards. In addition to his game-breaking ability as a wide receiver, he is also a proven kick returner who has experience returning both kickoffs and punts.

Donovan Jackson, OG, First Round
My second-rated guard in the NFL Draft is Donovan Jackson. The reason I am so high on him is his impressive strength that allows him to hold his ground as a pass blocker and control his man in the running game. He also moves well for someone 320 pounds and displays the versatility to play in either a power or zone run scheme.

Denzel Burke, CB, Second Round
A player who has the potential to be a high-quality starting corner in the NFL is Ohio State’s, Denzel Burke. In order to live up that potential though he will need to improve his footwork and ball skills.

Tommy Eichenberg, MLB, Second Round
Ohio State linebacker Tommy Eichenberg has a good chance of being the first middle linebacker drafted in the 2024 NFL Draft, after recording 120 tackles and 12 tackles for loss last year. What will attract scouts to Eichenberg is his well-rounded game. He shows a nose for the ball in the run games and also does a great job of shedding blocks. Against the pass, he is one of the better athletes in this year’s linebacker class which allows him to hold his own in coverage.

Michael Hall Jr, DT, Second Round
Ohio State’s Michael Hall Jr. is an explosive defensive tackle who tends to win with speed. This quickness allowed him to rack up 4.5 sacks last year, despite starting only five games. The biggest concern with his game is how will he hold up vs. the run due to his lack of size coming in at only 285 pounds. Another concern is that he battled injuries last year, so he will need to stay healthy this season to have any shot of being a first-round pick.

TreVeyon Henderson, RB, Second Round
Expectations were high for TreVeyon Henderson last season after he rushed for 1,248 yards in 2021. Unfortunately, Henderson battled injuries most of last season which caused him to miss five games last year. If Henderson can remain healthy this year he will likely be one of the first running backs drafted in the 2024 NFL Draft. As a pro prospect, he is a bigger back who shows surprising quickness and agility for someone 214 pounds. He also has the ability to help out in the passing game catching 27 passes for 312 yards in 2021. One area he will need to work on this season though is being a more aggressive blocker in pass protection.

Jack Sawyer, DE, Third Round
A player who was forced to play out of position last year was Jack Sawyer who saw time as both a defensive end and outside linebacker in Ohio State’s defense. This year Sawyer will be focused on defensive end which should help him improve on the 24 tackles and 4.5 sacks he posted last year.

Lathan Ransom, S, Fourth Round
Ohio State safety Lathan Ransom had a strong bounce-back season last season, after breaking his leg in the previous year’s Rose Bowl. Overall on the year he accounted for 74 tackles and showed he is not afraid to come down and be a force vs. the run. He also displayed the ability to hold up in coverage routinely shutting down opposing teams’ tight ends. One area he will need to impress scouts with this year is his ability to play the ball since he only has one career interception.

Miyan Williams, RB, Fourth Round
Ohio State’s leading rusher last season was Miyan Williams who rushed for 825 yards last season while averaging an impressive 6.4 yards per carry. However, the most impressive statistic Williams put up last season was 14 rushing touchdowns, including five against Rutgers. One of the reasons he was able to be such a threat in the red zone is his physical running style that makes the 5-foot-9 225-pound back extremely hard to bring down.

Tyleik Williams, DT, Fourth Round
A player who has the potential to be dominant yet has to consistently dominate at the college level Tyleik Williams. Part of the reason for this is that his practice habits have not allowed him to consistently earn playing time according to Ohio State defensive coordinator Jim Knowles. This issue will surely hurt him in the draft process if he continues to have that problem this year. The reason he does carry a fourth-round grade though is impressive athletic ability. He fires off the ball extremely well for someone 320 pounds and also has the agility to consistently make plays.

Ty Hamilton, DT, Fifth Round
Although Ty Hamilton starts over Tyleik Williams, he carries a slightly lower draft grade. The main reason for this is he doesn’t have the natural ability Williams has. However, he doesn’t have any personality concerns and shows a relentless motor play after play. Another positive with him is his strength which allows him to be a force vs. the run. Look for Hamilton to be a good rotational defensive tackle in the NFL.

Steele Chambers, OLB, Fifth Round
Steele Chambers started his Ohio State career off as a running back before switching to linebacker two years ago. Despite his limited experience at the position Chambers has already established himself as one of the Big Tens better linebackers. His top trait as a pro prospect is how comfortable he operates in space displaying the agility to hold up in coverage, and also the speed to make plays sideline to sideline.

Cade Stover, TE, Fifth Round
An Ohio State prospect I am lower on than other people is tight end, Cade Stover. The reason I am not sold on Stover is his lack of upside as a prospect. He is only an average athlete and also doesn’t have the speed to stretch a defense. On the positive side, he is a good blocker, and his defensive background should help him contribute on special teams.

Julian Fleming, WR, Sixth Round
Coming out of high school Julian Fleming was rated as the top high school wide receiver after setting Pennsylvania state record in receiving yards and touchdowns. Unfortunately, he has not been able to live up to that billing though due to numerous injuries he has suffered during his Ohio State career. If he can stay healthy Fleming should be able to find a home in the NFL as a number three or four wide receiver.

Josh Fryar, OT, Seventh Round
This will be a big year for Ohio State offensive tackle Josh Fryar as he moves into the starting lineup as the team’s first-string left tackle. His top traits as a pro prospect are his strength and ability to play either offensive tackle or guard in the NFL. He will need to do a better job of not lunging this season though if he wants to be anything more than a late draft pick.

Jordan Hancock, CB, Ohio State
A player who earns a seventh-round grade based on his potential instead of his production is cornerback Jordan Hancock. Going into the 2023 season Hancock has a total of nine tackles and one pass deflections. However, this season could be a breakout year for him since he is currently projected to start alongside Denzel Burke in Ohio State’s defense.