Another year, another crop of Ohio State NFL Draft prospects is set to further their football careers. This year, there are nine total former Buckeyes with NFL hopes. Six players are currently projected to be selected with three on the fringe of seventh-round and undrafted free agent pedigree. There is a healthy range of landing spots in those six likely selections with one player hyped as the potential first non-quarterback taken.
Heading into the 2024 NFL Draft, Ohio State is third in history with a total of 485 draft picks. That puts them behind Notre Dame (525) and USC (523). In terms of first-round talents, Ohio State sits atop the leaderboard with 90 with at least one more expected this year.
Last year, six Ohio State NFL Draft prospects were selected with three first-rounders, led by eventual Offensive Rookie of the Year, C.J. Stroud. This year will be the ninth consecutive year a Buckeye will be drafted in the first round and the 10th time in 11 years.
A Rundown of the 2024 Ohio State NFL Draft Prospects
Marvin Harrison, Jr., Wide Receiver
Easily the crown jewel of the Ohio State NFL Draft prospect list, Marvin Harrison, Jr. is just the latest in a recent run of first-round wide receivers. Coming to Ohio State, Harrison. was a four-star recruit and was considered the 21st-best receiver in the nation.
As a true freshman, Harrison appeared in 11 games and was primarily used in mop-up duty up until the Rose Bowl. With Garrett Wilson and Chris Olave opting out, Harrison was presented with an opportunity. Of his 11 catches, 139 yards, and three touchdowns he amassed in 2021, six catches, 71 yards, and all three touchdowns were from the Rose Bowl.
Following his breakout performance, Harrison turned into the top receiver for the Ohio State offense. In 2022, he added 1,263 yards and 14 touchdowns with Stroud. Then, despite a drop-off at quarterback, Harrison maintained his production with another 1,211 yards and 14 touchdowns.
Career Honors:
- First-Team All-American (2022, 2023)
- First-Team All-Big Ten (2022, 2023)
- Big Ten Richter-Howard Receiver of the Year (2022, 2023)
- Biletnikoff Award (2023)
- Chicago Tribune Silver Football (2023)
- Big Ten Graham-George Offensive Player of the Year (2023)
Full Marvin Harrison, Jr. Scouting Report
Projection: First Round (first non-quarterback drafted)
Michael Hall, Defensive Tackle
An integral part of the Ohio State defensive turnaround, Michael Hall was a dominant defensive tackle over the last few years. In terms of pass-rush win rate, Hall ranked among the elites, catching the eye of draft scouts.
After redshirting in 2021, Hall took on a larger role in 2022. In 266 snaps, Hall contributed 19 tackles, 7.5 tackles for loss, 4.5 sacks, and he recovered a fumble. Last season, Hall took another step forward. In total, he accounted for 24 tackles, two tackles for loss, and a sack off of 419 snaps, second on the team.
Hall was not nearly as productive as one would expect from a top prospect in his position. However, Hall was better than what his statistics seem to suggest. He had an impressive Pro Day where he logged a 4.75 40 time. At his size, his speed is among the elites as he’s only one of four prospects to run a 4.75 or better at 290 pounds or more.
Career Honors:
- Third-Team All-Big Ten (2022, 2023)
Full Michael Hall Scouting Report
Projection: Second Round
Cade Stover, Tight End
Prior to the 2021 season, there was a need at tight end and Cade Stover switched from his linebacker position. As a linebacker, Stover appeared in three games in his first two years before the switch. Then, despite the transition, there was a sudden void at linebacker for the Rose Bowl against Utah and Stover switched back for the game and ended up with six tackles.
Then, Stover became the top tight end on the roster in 2022 and continued to develop into an above-average player. In one of the nation’s top offenses, Stover recorded 406 yards and five touchdowns off of 36 receptions. It marked the first time since 2011 that an Ohio State tight end scored at least four touchdowns and was the most yards since 1995.
Then, he improved in 2023 as Kyle McCord‘s safety net. His 576 yards were the most by an Ohio State tight end since 1983 and the third-best mark all-time. Additionally, his five scores catapulted Stover into third-most touchdowns by a tight end in program history.
Career Honors:
- Team Captain (2022, 2023)
- Third-Team All-Big Ten (2022)
- First-Team All-Big Ten (2023)
- Big Ten Kwalick-Clark Tight End of the Year (2023)
Full Cade Stover Scouting Report
Projection: Third Round
Tommy Eichenberg, Linebacker
Ole “Tommy Two Thumbs” Tommy Eichenberg was a stalwart of the Buckeyes’ defense over the last three years. After appearing in just five games on special teams in his first two seasons, Eichenberg took on a larger role in 2021. In his first season with significant playing time, Eichenberg accounted for 64 tackles, 6.5 tackles for loss, two pass breakups, an interception, and a recovered fumble.
Eichenberg was an integral part of the Ohio State defense’s turnaround in 2022. He had a career year and added 120 tackles, 12 tackles for loss, 2.5 sacks, three pass breakups, and a pick-six against Iowa. Then, in 2023, Eichenberg battled injuries and missed a trio of games. Despite that, the veteran linebacker amassed 82 tackles, 2.5 tackles for loss, a sack, and a forced fumble in the win over Youngstown State.
Career Honors:
- Team Captain (2022, 2023)
- First-Team All-Big Ten (2022, 2023)
- Big Ten Butkus-Fitzgerald Linebacker of the Year (2023)
Full Tommy Eichenberg Scouting Report
Projection: Fourth Round
Josh Proctor, Safety
One of the elder statesmen of the program, Josh Proctor was one of the final active Buckeyes who was recruited by Urban Meyer. The hard-hitting safety appeared in 53 games in his career which translates to Proctor appearing in 71% of all games since stepping on campus. He appeared in 11 games four times but missed 11 games in 2021.
In his first three years, which includes the COVID season, Proctor accounted for 44 tackles, a tackle for loss, two interceptions, four pass breakups, and a fumble recovery. After his two-game 2021 season, Proctor added 21 tackles, 1.5 tackles for loss, a sack, and two pass breakups in 2022.
2023 was easily Proctor’s most productive as a member of the Buckeyes. The sixth-year safety broke out to the tune of 47 tackles, four tackles for loss, eight pass breakups, and added a pick-six in the win over Maryland.
Career Honors:
- Third-Team All-Big Ten (2023)
Full Josh Proctor Scouting Report
Projection: Sixth Round
Steele Chambers, Linebacker
The final realistic Ohio State NFL Draft prospect is Steele Chambers, the fifth-year running back-turned-linebacker. Chambers was a four-star recruit in the 2019 recruiting cycle but was buried on the depth chart for his first two years. Then, as Stover did, Chambers made the transition to a different position to help out the team. Oddly enough, Barton Simmons, formerly of 247Sports, described Chambers as an “inside linebacker or a big back role on offense” back in 2019 in his initial scouting report as a recruit.
As a linebacker, Chambers appeared in 39 games with 29 starts in three years. In his first season in 2021, Chambers amassed 47 tackles, five tackles for loss, a sack, two pass deflections, an interception, and a forced fumble. Then, the linebacker continued to improve with the defense in 2022. Chambers accounted for 77 tackles, 6.5 tackles for loss, two sacks, two interceptions, two pass breakups, and scored on a fumble recovery in the win over Maryland.
Last year, Chambers had a career year with 83 tackles and added 1.5 tackles for loss, another interception, and a pass breakup.
Career Honors:
- Third-Team All-Big Ten (2023)
Full Steele Chambers Scouting Report
Projection: Seventh Round
Potential Undrafted Free Agents
With the three top Ohio State NFL Draft hopefuls. there is a trio of former Buckeyes who may be relying on the post-draft free agency to continue their careers.
Miyan Williams is perhaps the highest-profile Ohio State alumnus who is teetering on the edge. Williams was consistently a solid change-of-pace running back over the last four years. He was rarely the go-to starter and was even usurped in his breakout game in 2021 with the emergence of TreVeyon Henderson. In total, Williams totaled 1,555 yards and 20 touchdowns (14 in 2022). Despite being considered a fringe prospect, Williams has a solid contingent of NFL Draft analysts expecting him to have a 2020 James Robinson-esque breakout.
Matthew Jones was also a member of the 2018 recruiting class with Proctor. In total, he appeared in 47 games and was the starting guard over the last two-plus seasons and earned an All-Big Ten Honorable Mention in 2021 and Second-Team All-Big Ten in 2022. Jones was also at the center of confusion during last season’s Cotton Bowl. With the sudden unavailability of Carson Hinzman, Jones slid over to center.
Finally, one of the better success stories within the program, Xavier Johnson earned team captain status after working his way up from being a walk-on. Johnson earned a regular role as a sort of hybrid running back/wide receiver H-back before the 2022 season. In his last two years, Johnson accounted for 665 yards from scrimmage and a total of three touchdowns.
