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.
James Franklin’s Penn State squad has its fair share of elite NFL Draft talent, too.
Now, for the Nittany Lions! Interestingly, several of the premier players at Penn State are not draft-eligible until 2025. Drew Allar, Nick Singleton, and Abdul Carter will all garner first-round praise, with Allar and Carter in play as early as No. 1 overall. But what about the 2024 crop of talent?
OT Olumuyiwa Fashanu
Olu Fashanu could have declared for the 2023 NFL Draft. He likely would have been the first offensive tackle off the board, even at the young age of 19. Alas, Fashanu returned to Penn State to finish his degree and develop more. The star lineman is already an elite pass protector, and thanks to his size and strength, it is only a matter of time before he transforms into a dominant run blocker, too. If Fashanu is the first non-QB off the board, do not be surprised.
CB Kalen King
Arguably the best cornerback in the 2024 NFL Draft, Kalen King hopes to break a dubious record for Penn State. There has never been a Nittany Lion cornerback taken on Day 1 of the draft. Joey Porter Jr. came within one selection of making it happen last cycle, but King will finish the job. He is sticky in coverage and loves to let his assignments know when they get shut down. CB1 material.
EDGE Chop Robinson
Chop Robinson is a no-nonsense, throwback type of player. He doesn’t wear gloves, sleeves, or any of the fancy accessories that players regularly sport these days. Instead, Robinson only cares about one thing: collapsing the pocket. The Penn State product boasts arguably the best first step in the class and is still adding pass-rushing moves to his arsenal. He is an easy Round 1 grade on my big board.
LB Curtis Jacobs
Following the trio of Day 1 prospects, Curtis Jacobs is often forgotten about in NFL Draft discussions. He stands 6-foot-1 and weighs 229 pounds, but still is fleet of foot, evidenced by his reported 4.5 speed. Jacobs’ instincts allow him to create big plays, but he can get caught reacting slowly, leading to poor pursuit angles. Nonetheless, his build and athleticism are worth betting on midway through the event; a creative playcaller can carve out a niche role for him.