Now that the 2024 Ohio State NFL Draft class is finalized, four former Buckeyes heard their names called. Those four were the fewest in a single draft class since 2011. Naturally, there are plenty of explanations for this small crop. Perhaps the most paramount reason is that a number of draft-eligible players elected to return and will have their names called next year.
In addition to the four selections, four players signed as undrafted free agents: Steele Chambers (Detroit Lions), Mattew Jones (Miami Dolphins), Josh Proctor (Jacksonville Jaguars), and Xavier Johnson (Buffalo Bills). Miyan Williams, however, has yet to sign anywhere or be invited to rookie camp. That injury he sustained during the 2023 season must be weighing on the minds of NFL clubs.
It’s often said that Ohio State doesn’t rebuild. It reloads. The 2024 season has the opportunity to do just that and put through an actual record-breaking class in the 2025 NFL Draft.
The 2024 Ohio State NFL Draft Class and Who’s Next
Marvin Harrison, Jr.: Arizona Cardinals, Fourth Overall
Next up: Emeka Egbuka
Much has been said about the impact of Marvin Harrison, Jr. over the last two-plus years at Ohio State. He broke out in that 2021 Rose Bowl that also saw Jaxon Smith-Njigba break records of his own. Then, as Smith-Njigba missed the bulk of the 2022 season with injuries, Harrison stepped up. In 2023, he showed that he was quarterback-proof as he was able to replicate his success with the departure of future second-overall pick, C.J. Stroud.
In his two years as a full-time starter, Harrison led the way with 144 catches, 2,474 yards, and 28 touchdowns. At times in 2023, Harrison was the entire Ohio State offense. Replacing him will not be easy. However, Ohio State has lost first-round receivers and has been fine. The depth of the receiver room is potentially solid, albeit inexperienced. The leader of the next crop has to be Emeka Egbuka.
Egbuka took over as a full-time starter as well in 2021 and was the team’s leading receiver in the slot. He posted an impressive 15.6 yards per catch on the year with double-digit touchdowns. He headed into the 2023 season with first-round hype. Alas, it was not to be as he battled injuries. His production took quite the hit, dropping from 74 catches to 41, 1,151 yards to 515, and 10 scores to just four. It was due to this he elected to return.
As the fully healthy leader of the Buckeyes’ receiver room, he has the opportunity to break records and regain that first-round hype. He will be pushed by talented sophomore Carnell Tate and the top-rated freshman of the 2023 cycle, Jeremiah Smith. Not to mention the handful of four and five-star depth behind them, of course.
Michael Hall, Jr.: Cleveland Browns, 54th Overall
Next Up: Tyleik Williams
The next pick in the smaller Ohio State NFL Draft class was Michael Hall, Jr., the impressively athletic defensive tackle. He was a full-time member of the defensive line rotation over the last two years. One of the things about Hall was that his talent was evident when on the field. He often flashed and showed that NFL-worthy skill and wrecked drives. On the other side, he either disappeared or was just not on the field.
His on-field productivity was not the draw for the Browns or other teams who had him on their board. Over two-plus years, Hall amassed 45 tackles, 10 tackles for loss, six sacks, and a recovered fumble. On the contrary, it was his athletic profile and testing that had him lighting things up. Of all of the Buckeyes who tested (Harrison and Williams did not), Hall was easily the most athletic with a 9.57 RAS.
When it comes to replacing the Ohio State NFL Draft picks, this will likely be the smoothest transition. Tyleik Williams already led the defensive line in snaps last year. He actually had the fourth-most snaps of any player on the defense.
Williams has all of the tools to be able to take over the interior defensive line and make the linebackers’ jobs that much easier. He’s coming off his career-best season thus far with 53 tackles, 10 tackles for loss, and a trio of sacks. Williams even added five pass breakups and scored on a fumble recovery in the win over Western Kentucky.
Naturally, projecting the 2025 NFL Draft is about as sure-fire as predicting the weather a month out. Even then, Williams is projected as a first-round talent. If he replicates his 2023 success, replacing Hall should be easier.
Cade Stover: Houston Texans, 123rd Overall
Next Up: Gee Scott, Will Kacmarek
The Ohio State offense has not been conducive to tight-end production for a while. Cade Stover, despite being a linebacker convert, finished his career as one of the most prolific tight ends in program history. He developed into a fan favorite and even had the attention of NFL Network’s Rich Eisen. The Michigan alumnus couldn’t help himself and had the network replay the video of Stover massaging a cow.
He became Ohio State’s full-time tight end in 2022 and accounted for 982 yards and 10 touchdowns off of 77 receptions since. He was often Stroud and Kyle McCord‘s security blanket. Despite his history as a defender, Stover developed into a reliable receiver and will get to reunite with Stroud in Houston.
Considering the Buckeyes recruit at a high level at the tight end position. there has to be someone who can step up. With the conclusion of Spring practice, there has not been a tight end to separate himself from the pack. On one hand, Will Kacmarek transferred in from Ohio to compete. On the other, former five-star receiver Gee Scott, Jr. is the incumbent and has been with the program since 2020.
Kacmarek was the leading tight end with the Bobcats over the last two seasons, totaling 507 yards and two touchdowns off of 42 receptions. Taking any stock in stats from the Spring Game is superficial but Kacmarek beat out Scott with 24 yards and two catches versus 18 yards off of one catch.
In his time, Scott hasn’t taken hold just yet. Overall, he amassed 140 yards and two scores off of 20 receptions. He’s a big-body receiver who made the transition before the 2021 season with that five-star pedigree. The battle between these two will be an intriguing one to watch when Fall camp opens up.
Tommy Eichenberg: Las Vegas Raiders, 148th Overall
Next Up: Sonny Styles
Finally, Ohio State will need to reload both linebacker positions with Tommy Eichenberg being drafted and Chambers on his way to Detroit. This competition is about as open as any on the roster with three likely candidates battling for two spots.
Eichenberg was an uber-productive member of the Buckeyes’ defense over the last three years. In that time, he accounted for 266 tackles, 21 tackles for loss, 3.5 sacks, two interceptions (one pick-six against Iowa), five pass breakups, a forced fumble, and a recovered fumble. He takes with him two First-Team All-Big 10 selections as well as the Butkus-Fitzgerald Linebacker of the Year award.
Ohio State should be well-equipped to replace Eichenberg and Chambers. Between the three likely next men up, they have 14 247Sports stars. Sonny Styles comes into the competition with the most 2023 snaps, although they were at safety. In those 537 snaps, Styles added 62 tackles, 5.5 tackles for loss, two sacks, a pass breakup, and a forced fumble. Of the three, Styles looks to be the most athletic and should have a leg-up on the competition. The move to linebacker was made official with the addition of Caleb Downs via the transfer portal.
Next Up: Cody Simon/C.J. Hicks
Cody Simon comes in with the most snaps of the remaining crop by far. In his time with Ohio State, Simon has been a rotational piece, appearing in 42 games in four years. Of those, he has 10 starts, all of which came in 2021. For fans who were uninspired with the linebacker duo often called for more playing time for Simon. In his limited time, Simon flashed well enough to have a legitimate shot his year.
Finally, the biggest unknown of all of the Ohio State NFL Draft replacements. To this point, C.J. Hicks has been hyped beyond measure. Considering he was a five-star recruit in the 2022 cycle and was the highest-rated linebacker recruit in program history according to 247Sports. With two stalwarts ahead of him over the last two years, this is the first opportunity for Hicks to show if he’s worth the hype. He may have shown a little bit of what he can do in the Spring Game as he led all defenders with eight tackles.
