2024 NFL Draft: Marvin Harrison Jr., Olu Fashanu highlight Ohio State-Penn State battle

Ohio State and Penn State are no strangers to having players taken early in the NFL Draft. The Buckeyes sent at least one player to the first round each of the past eight cycles. The Nittany Lions, on the other hand, have 17 players selected in the first two days of the last eight events.

2024 NFL Draft: Ohio State vs. Penn State Offers A Glimpse At Future NFL Superstars

Some of the names from Ohio State include C.J. Stroud, Chris Olave, Garrett Wilson, Chase Young, and Nick Bosa. The prospects from Penn State are well known across the league as well, with Micah Parsons and Saquon Barkley serving as the headliners. What do these two rosters hold for the 2024 NFL Draft?

Let’s begin with the stacked assortment of talent at Ohio State.

WR Marvin Harrison Jr.

Marvin Harrison Jr. is by far the biggest name in the upcoming battle between these two Big Ten powerhouses. The son of a Hall of Famer, Harrison Jr. boasts the same pristine route running as his father, but stands much taller at 6-foot-4, while also weighing north of 200 pounds. All these traits, combined with some of the best hands and body control I’ve ever evaluated, make MHJ a can’t-miss prospect next Spring.

CB Denzel Burke

Denzel Burke broke out as a true freshman in 2021 but witnessed a disastrous campaign last season. Luckily for Buckeye fans, Burke has regained form in 2023. He looks confident and trusts his instincts more, using superb technique to terrorize his assignments downfield. If Burke continues this level of play, he will be firmly in Round 1 discussions. It will be a tough task against the high-powered Nittany Lion offense.

LB Tommy Eichenberg

The most slept-on player in Columbus is linebacker Tommy Eichenberg. He will never be an earth-shattering athlete, which will undoubtedly push him down NFL Draft boards, but his teach-tape form as a tackler, combined with his extensive experience, should have Eichenberg on the Day 2 radar.

DL J.T. Tuimoloau

A player that I struggle to see the Round 1 hype with is J.T. Tuimoloau. Granted, from a talent standpoint, JTT has everything necessary to be a star at the next level. However, an inconsistent motor clouds his projection, as the tape shows Tuimoloau taking numerous snaps off. When he’s locked in, he’s as dominant as anyone. It won’t matter until consistency follows.

WR Emeka Egbuka & RB TreVeyon Henderson

Emeka Egbuka is a bonafide first-rounder, even in a stacked wide receiver class. TreVeyon Henderson is amongst the best ball carriers in the country, although his 2023 campaign hasn’t been the breakout many envisioned. Either way, each guy is crucial to the success of the offense. Neither played last week vs. Purdue, so keep a close eye on the injury report prior to kickoff.