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LGHL Which former Buckeye(s) could be a steal in the mid-to-late rounds of the 2023 NFL Draft?
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Which former Buckeye(s) could be a steal in the mid-to-late rounds of the 2023 NFL Draft?
Josh Dooley via our friends at Land-Grant Holy Land
Visit their fantastic blog and read the full article (and so much more) here
Photo by Justin Casterline/Getty Images
C.J. Stroud, Jaxon Smith-Njigba, and Paris Johnson Jr. are all expected to go in the first round, with Dawand Jones potentially joining them. But which Day 2 or Day 3 picks could provide tremendous value relative to their draft position?
If you’ve happened to stumble across 7 Cent Drafts, you know that yours truly has been on a real value kick lately — especially as it pertains to the NFL Draft. Which player provided the highest return on investment: The first-rounder who played eight seasons, appeared in two career playoff games, and made three Pro Bowls? Or the sixth-rounder who made one (Pro Bowl) but provided exemplary leadership and did the dirty work for three Super Bowl champions?
These types of questions keep me up at night, especially a few weeks out from the draft. So I wanted to take a look at former Buckeyes in this 2023 class, but not for comparison purposes. I have no idea how valuable C.J. Stroud or Luke Wypler is going to be, and frankly I don’t (currently) care. I hope all these guys get drafted into great situations and enjoy long, prosperous NFL careers.
But I do want to look at “steal” potential. Which projected mid to late-rounder has the potential to make their organization look like Mensa International for landing such a productive talent so late in the draft?
Projected first-rounders were nixed, because how am I supposed to sell you on Stroud being a steal at No. 1 overall? Do I think he’ll be awesome? Abso-freaking-lutely. But he sure as hell isn’t going to sneak up on anybody. He will enter the NFL with sky-high expectations, and if he meets them, then congrats, he did what he was supposed to do. A bit of a burden if you ask me, but I believe Stroud will rise to the occasion.
But that would not make him a steal. That would make him a very good quarterback who is owed $200 million in his second contract. Doesn’t sound very cheap (or free), does it?
A steal is a player who far exceeds expectations for their draft slot. Think Kurt Coleman (7th round) or Nate Ebner (6th round). Few expected those guys to have much of an impact at the next level, if any. But they worked their tails off, cost their organization(s) no money early on, and helped their respective teams win a bunch of games. So who are those former Buckeyes in this 2023 draft class? Let’s take a look at a few of the candidates.
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Photo by Scott Taetsch/Getty Images
Harrison is a Columbus (OH) native who stayed home to don scarlet and gray in The Shoe and will now be playing his home games outside the city for the first time in many years. A consensus five-star recruit, Harrison never really achieved stardom for Ohio State, but he did play his best ball as a senior. He displayed versatility throughout his four seasons as a Buckeye and profiles as a potential multi-position defender at the next level. However, there are some who see Harrison as having a low ceiling, which could ultimately push him down to the middle rounds of the draft.
I am bullish on Harrison’s NFL potential, so I absolutely view him as a potential steal in this draft. While he was a bit of an underachiever in college, he was at least consistent. And flashed brilliance in short, sporadic bursts. He has NFL strength, tremendous size, and performs well against both the run and pass. The latter is what gives me great optimism RE: Harrison’s future. He is not a one-trick pony, so there exists a world in which he is a three-down lineman.
Most projections have Harrison going somewhere in the second or third round, while a few have him falling to Day 3. Now tipping the scales at 270+, I believe he can play inside or out, which should make him an attractive option for each and every team. With that sort of versatility, I expect Harrison to be drafted in Round 3 at the latest and become an early contributor. If he does so and is available to his team on all three downs, then I think he will be viewed as a steal.
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Photo by Frank Jansky/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images
Hickman is a solid all-around safety whose performance fell off in 2022. Whether that dip was due to changes in the OSU defense or a “last day of school” mentality, we may never know. I tend to believe the former, because he was used as a bit of a chess piece and not asked to play around the line of scrimmage nearly as much. Others around Hickman (namely Tommy Eichenberg and Steele Chambers) also improved their play drastically, all but eliminating the need for Hickman to act as Mr. Cleanup.
Brian Dawkins or Sean Taylor he is not, but Hickman will run downhill and lay the boom on opposing ball carriers. He has no fear when playing near the LOS or blitzing, which is actually something I wish he could have done more of for the Buckeyes. He can cover a ton of ground and is a sure tackler when playing under control. One area where Hickman needs to improve is pass coverage, but I think NFL teams will study and know his limitations there.
Hickman will not be an ideal fit for every team, but in my opinion, he plays like a less-disciplined version of another former Buckeye safety: Vonn Bell. And the latter has enjoyed quite an NFL career. Hickman is commonly projected as a Day 3 pick, which sounds about right to me. I do not see a huge role in Year 1... However, if he is given ample opportunity to learn and develop in one system – with a defined role – then I think he can develop into a Vonn Bell-type. And that would be great value for a fourth, fifth, or sixth-round pick.
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Photo by G Fiume/Getty Images
Putting Wypler behind the others in terms of steal potential because I think NFL teams just really like him. And I have seen him mocked as high as pick No. 65, which is a big investment to make in a center. But while Ohio State has gained notoriety for being DB U in the past or WR U in the present, they have also churned out a bunch of solid centers. So if Wypler follows in the footsteps of a Nick Mangold or Corey Linsley, then said investment becomes a pretty safe one.
I am far from an expert on the center position, so I will just say that Wypler was a heck of a leader for the Buckeyes, anchored offensive lines which underwent significant change(s), and for what it’s worth, was an all-state tackle in high school. To me, that means he has sort of been there, done that in terms of offensive line play and experience.
Unless Wypler becomes Mangold or Jason Kelce, I am going to have trouble ever referring to him as a steal if selected in the first 75 or so picks. But if he becomes a late 3rd/early 4th guy, then I do believe he has steal potential. Think Linsley, who was taken in the fifth round and has since been named to two All-Pro teams.
Continue reading...
Josh Dooley via our friends at Land-Grant Holy Land
Visit their fantastic blog and read the full article (and so much more) here
Photo by Justin Casterline/Getty Images
C.J. Stroud, Jaxon Smith-Njigba, and Paris Johnson Jr. are all expected to go in the first round, with Dawand Jones potentially joining them. But which Day 2 or Day 3 picks could provide tremendous value relative to their draft position?
If you’ve happened to stumble across 7 Cent Drafts, you know that yours truly has been on a real value kick lately — especially as it pertains to the NFL Draft. Which player provided the highest return on investment: The first-rounder who played eight seasons, appeared in two career playoff games, and made three Pro Bowls? Or the sixth-rounder who made one (Pro Bowl) but provided exemplary leadership and did the dirty work for three Super Bowl champions?
These types of questions keep me up at night, especially a few weeks out from the draft. So I wanted to take a look at former Buckeyes in this 2023 class, but not for comparison purposes. I have no idea how valuable C.J. Stroud or Luke Wypler is going to be, and frankly I don’t (currently) care. I hope all these guys get drafted into great situations and enjoy long, prosperous NFL careers.
But I do want to look at “steal” potential. Which projected mid to late-rounder has the potential to make their organization look like Mensa International for landing such a productive talent so late in the draft?
Projected first-rounders were nixed, because how am I supposed to sell you on Stroud being a steal at No. 1 overall? Do I think he’ll be awesome? Abso-freaking-lutely. But he sure as hell isn’t going to sneak up on anybody. He will enter the NFL with sky-high expectations, and if he meets them, then congrats, he did what he was supposed to do. A bit of a burden if you ask me, but I believe Stroud will rise to the occasion.
But that would not make him a steal. That would make him a very good quarterback who is owed $200 million in his second contract. Doesn’t sound very cheap (or free), does it?
A steal is a player who far exceeds expectations for their draft slot. Think Kurt Coleman (7th round) or Nate Ebner (6th round). Few expected those guys to have much of an impact at the next level, if any. But they worked their tails off, cost their organization(s) no money early on, and helped their respective teams win a bunch of games. So who are those former Buckeyes in this 2023 draft class? Let’s take a look at a few of the candidates.
Zach Harrison — Defensive line
Harrison is a Columbus (OH) native who stayed home to don scarlet and gray in The Shoe and will now be playing his home games outside the city for the first time in many years. A consensus five-star recruit, Harrison never really achieved stardom for Ohio State, but he did play his best ball as a senior. He displayed versatility throughout his four seasons as a Buckeye and profiles as a potential multi-position defender at the next level. However, there are some who see Harrison as having a low ceiling, which could ultimately push him down to the middle rounds of the draft.
I am bullish on Harrison’s NFL potential, so I absolutely view him as a potential steal in this draft. While he was a bit of an underachiever in college, he was at least consistent. And flashed brilliance in short, sporadic bursts. He has NFL strength, tremendous size, and performs well against both the run and pass. The latter is what gives me great optimism RE: Harrison’s future. He is not a one-trick pony, so there exists a world in which he is a three-down lineman.
Most projections have Harrison going somewhere in the second or third round, while a few have him falling to Day 3. Now tipping the scales at 270+, I believe he can play inside or out, which should make him an attractive option for each and every team. With that sort of versatility, I expect Harrison to be drafted in Round 3 at the latest and become an early contributor. If he does so and is available to his team on all three downs, then I think he will be viewed as a steal.
Ronnie Hickman — Safety
Hickman is a solid all-around safety whose performance fell off in 2022. Whether that dip was due to changes in the OSU defense or a “last day of school” mentality, we may never know. I tend to believe the former, because he was used as a bit of a chess piece and not asked to play around the line of scrimmage nearly as much. Others around Hickman (namely Tommy Eichenberg and Steele Chambers) also improved their play drastically, all but eliminating the need for Hickman to act as Mr. Cleanup.
Brian Dawkins or Sean Taylor he is not, but Hickman will run downhill and lay the boom on opposing ball carriers. He has no fear when playing near the LOS or blitzing, which is actually something I wish he could have done more of for the Buckeyes. He can cover a ton of ground and is a sure tackler when playing under control. One area where Hickman needs to improve is pass coverage, but I think NFL teams will study and know his limitations there.
Hickman will not be an ideal fit for every team, but in my opinion, he plays like a less-disciplined version of another former Buckeye safety: Vonn Bell. And the latter has enjoyed quite an NFL career. Hickman is commonly projected as a Day 3 pick, which sounds about right to me. I do not see a huge role in Year 1... However, if he is given ample opportunity to learn and develop in one system – with a defined role – then I think he can develop into a Vonn Bell-type. And that would be great value for a fourth, fifth, or sixth-round pick.
Luke Wypler — Center
Putting Wypler behind the others in terms of steal potential because I think NFL teams just really like him. And I have seen him mocked as high as pick No. 65, which is a big investment to make in a center. But while Ohio State has gained notoriety for being DB U in the past or WR U in the present, they have also churned out a bunch of solid centers. So if Wypler follows in the footsteps of a Nick Mangold or Corey Linsley, then said investment becomes a pretty safe one.
I am far from an expert on the center position, so I will just say that Wypler was a heck of a leader for the Buckeyes, anchored offensive lines which underwent significant change(s), and for what it’s worth, was an all-state tackle in high school. To me, that means he has sort of been there, done that in terms of offensive line play and experience.
Unless Wypler becomes Mangold or Jason Kelce, I am going to have trouble ever referring to him as a steal if selected in the first 75 or so picks. But if he becomes a late 3rd/early 4th guy, then I do believe he has steal potential. Think Linsley, who was taken in the fifth round and has since been named to two All-Pro teams.
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LGHL Hangout in the Holy Land Podcast: Bravely making NFL comps for Stroud, Smith-Njigba, other Ohio State draftees
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Hangout in the Holy Land Podcast: Bravely making NFL comps for Stroud, Smith-Njigba, other Ohio State draftees
Josh Dooley via our friends at Land-Grant Holy Land
Visit their fantastic blog and read the full article (and so much more) here
Adam Cairns/Columbus Dispatch / USA TODAY NETWORK
On this episode, Josh and new co-host Chuck discuss Class of 2024 commitments before turning their attention to the 2023 NFL Draft.
The latest episode of Land-Grant Holy Land’s flagship podcast is here! Join LGHL’s Josh Dooley and Chuck Holmes as they cover Ohio State football, basketball, recruiting, and much, much more! Come for the hot takes, stay for the warm ones.
Listen to the episode and subscribe:
The Hangout boys are back... Different ones, though. On this triumphant return episode of Hangout in the Holy Land, Josh Dooley is joined by new co-host Chuck Holmes as they dive into recent moves on the recruiting trail and wonder aloud when (or whether) Ohio State will pick up commitments on the defensive side of the ball.
The guys then pivot to NFL Draft talk, boldly making player comps for Buckeyes slated to be taken during the first few rounds. Is C.J. Stroud more of a Jared Goff-type, or a future Hall of Famer? And does JSN have a Cooper Kupp-level ceiling?
Gather round the ol’ podcast machine and listen to these NFL comps which are guaranteed to be proven accurate.
Then make sure to like, rate, review, and subscribe to the podcast! And as always, Go Bucks!
Connect with Josh Dooley
Twitter: @jdooleybuckeye
Connect with Chuck Holmes
Twitter: @ctholmes3
Continue reading...
Josh Dooley via our friends at Land-Grant Holy Land
Visit their fantastic blog and read the full article (and so much more) here
Adam Cairns/Columbus Dispatch / USA TODAY NETWORK
On this episode, Josh and new co-host Chuck discuss Class of 2024 commitments before turning their attention to the 2023 NFL Draft.
The latest episode of Land-Grant Holy Land’s flagship podcast is here! Join LGHL’s Josh Dooley and Chuck Holmes as they cover Ohio State football, basketball, recruiting, and much, much more! Come for the hot takes, stay for the warm ones.
Listen to the episode and subscribe:
Subscribe: RSS | Apple | Spotify | Stitcher | Google Podcasts | iHeart Radio
The Hangout boys are back... Different ones, though. On this triumphant return episode of Hangout in the Holy Land, Josh Dooley is joined by new co-host Chuck Holmes as they dive into recent moves on the recruiting trail and wonder aloud when (or whether) Ohio State will pick up commitments on the defensive side of the ball.
The guys then pivot to NFL Draft talk, boldly making player comps for Buckeyes slated to be taken during the first few rounds. Is C.J. Stroud more of a Jared Goff-type, or a future Hall of Famer? And does JSN have a Cooper Kupp-level ceiling?
Gather round the ol’ podcast machine and listen to these NFL comps which are guaranteed to be proven accurate.
Then make sure to like, rate, review, and subscribe to the podcast! And as always, Go Bucks!
Connect with Josh Dooley
Twitter: @jdooleybuckeye
Connect with Chuck Holmes
Twitter: @ctholmes3
Continue reading...
LGHL After four-star linebacker Payton Pierce, who could be Ohio State’s next commitment?
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After four-star linebacker Payton Pierce, who could be Ohio State’s next commitment?
Matt Tamanini via our friends at Land-Grant Holy Land
Visit their fantastic blog and read the full article (and so much more) here
The Buckeyes have picked up a ton of crystal balls recently, who could bring the BOOM?
Yesterday, the Ohio State Buckeyes landed the 10th player in their 2024 recruiting class and their fifth in the past three weeks. Payton Pierce is a four-star linebacker from Lucas, Texas who picked the Buckeyes over Notre Dame, Oklahoma, Tennessee, Texas, and Texas A&M. Immediately after his commitment, the LB told Rivals that he was immediately going into recruiting mode. Having moved up to the No. 2 class in the country, the Buckeyes are looking to climb even further, and if Pierce can bring some home cooking to the mix, no one in Buckeye Nation will be upset.
He said that he was going to focus on four-star defensive lineman Nigel Smith, who is from neighboring Melissa, Texas. Currently, the No. 52 player in the country has two crystal ball predictions to Oklahoma, but they are from last fall, and the Sooners are currently seen to be the leaders, but Ohio State and Texas A&M.
So, while Smith is going to be Pierce and Larry Johnson’s priority, there are a number of other prospects who could be Buckeye bound in the near future. There are a handful of players who have recently picked up Buckeye crystal balls who could generate a massive BOOM at any point. Let’s take a look at the four most recent prospects to get an OSU CB, and one other player who would “break the internet” if he committed to Ohio State.
To date, 247 doesn’t list any other schools as being warm in the Chandler, Ariz. native’s recruitment, so it seems like the Buckeyes are solidly in the lead for Lockhart’s services. While the 247Sports Composite Ratings have Lockhart as the No. 375 player and No. 31 cornerback in the country, that is being dragged down by the always bass-ackwards ESPN ratings, which have him unranked. 247’s in-house numbers have him substantially higher at No. 196 overall and No. 18 at his position.
Lockhart is scheduled for an official visit on June 16, less than three weeks before his scheduled commitment date. So, while we likely won’t get a BOOM from him anytime soon, everything is moving in the right direction for him.
While we likely won’t get Lockhart’s commitment for a few more months, there is starting to be some substantial smoke around an even more highly rated-CB. The Cleveland Glenville prospect picked up his first Ohio State crystal ball in December 2021, with another in early 2022, but three 247 analysts — including director of football recruiting Steve Wiltfong — have logged OSU predictions since Saturday.
Three other Big Ten schools are in heavy contention for the top-50 corner, with Michigan, Michigan State, and Penn State also at the top. However, the pull of Ohio State’s decades-long connection to Ted Ginn Sr.’s program is almost certainly too strong to break, and with West planning a June 23 official to Columbus, I would imagine that his BOOM will be coming no later than that.
Speaking of the Glenville-to-Ohio State pipeline, next up is 6-foot-4, 215-pound tight end Damarion Witten — no relation to Jason, as far as I know. Similarly to Lockhart, Witten is much higher ranked in the industry-best 247 ratings than the composites, because ESPN is pretty much worthless and has him unranked.
On 247’s list, Witten is the No. 190 player in the country and No. 11 tight end nationally. 247 currently doesn’t have any other teams considered “Warm” other than the Buckeyes, so, this feels like a pretty sure thing.
Is he as highly ranked as fellow wide receivers Jeremiah Smith (No. 2 nationally) or Mylan Graham (No. 27), but if Brian Hartline thinks that he is deserving of a spot in his room, who am I to argue? In the past week, the St. Louis WR has picked up crystal balls from the Dean of Wiltfong and OSU recruiting Bill Kurelic, and no other school is considered warm according to 247Sports.
With two top-notch receivers already in the fold, McClellan would be a fantastic addition to the WR class as a player that can round out the group.
Now, this final potential player doesn’t have any crystal balls for Ohio State — in fact, his only CB is to the Hurricanes from January. However, his Chaminade-Madonna Prep High school teammate just so happens to be the Buckeyes’ top player in the class, Jeremiah Smith.
In what is likely just a meaningless Twitter interaction, Trader told Smith that he was trying to break the internet. Could that mean that he is about to become the third WR in the top 30 to join Hartline’s 2024 class? That would certainly make college football collective head explode.
While Miami is in the lead in terms of crystal ball predictions, the Buckeyes and Florida State are also in contention for the Hollywood, Fla. native. So while it is most likely that he will stick to one of the Sunshine State schools, if anyone is going to pull a top-20 wide receiver out of the warm weather, it’s going to be Hartline.
Continue reading...
Matt Tamanini via our friends at Land-Grant Holy Land
Visit their fantastic blog and read the full article (and so much more) here
The Buckeyes have picked up a ton of crystal balls recently, who could bring the BOOM?
Yesterday, the Ohio State Buckeyes landed the 10th player in their 2024 recruiting class and their fifth in the past three weeks. Payton Pierce is a four-star linebacker from Lucas, Texas who picked the Buckeyes over Notre Dame, Oklahoma, Tennessee, Texas, and Texas A&M. Immediately after his commitment, the LB told Rivals that he was immediately going into recruiting mode. Having moved up to the No. 2 class in the country, the Buckeyes are looking to climb even further, and if Pierce can bring some home cooking to the mix, no one in Buckeye Nation will be upset.
He said that he was going to focus on four-star defensive lineman Nigel Smith, who is from neighboring Melissa, Texas. Currently, the No. 52 player in the country has two crystal ball predictions to Oklahoma, but they are from last fall, and the Sooners are currently seen to be the leaders, but Ohio State and Texas A&M.
So, while Smith is going to be Pierce and Larry Johnson’s priority, there are a number of other prospects who could be Buckeye bound in the near future. There are a handful of players who have recently picked up Buckeye crystal balls who could generate a massive BOOM at any point. Let’s take a look at the four most recent prospects to get an OSU CB, and one other player who would “break the internet” if he committed to Ohio State.
No. 375 Miles Lockhart | Four-Star Cornerback
Crystal Balls: Ohio State 100% | Commitment Date: July 6
To date, 247 doesn’t list any other schools as being warm in the Chandler, Ariz. native’s recruitment, so it seems like the Buckeyes are solidly in the lead for Lockhart’s services. While the 247Sports Composite Ratings have Lockhart as the No. 375 player and No. 31 cornerback in the country, that is being dragged down by the always bass-ackwards ESPN ratings, which have him unranked. 247’s in-house numbers have him substantially higher at No. 196 overall and No. 18 at his position.
Lockhart is scheduled for an official visit on June 16, less than three weeks before his scheduled commitment date. So, while we likely won’t get a BOOM from him anytime soon, everything is moving in the right direction for him.
No. 49 Bryce West | Four-Star Cornerback
Crystal Balls: Ohio State 100%
While we likely won’t get Lockhart’s commitment for a few more months, there is starting to be some substantial smoke around an even more highly rated-CB. The Cleveland Glenville prospect picked up his first Ohio State crystal ball in December 2021, with another in early 2022, but three 247 analysts — including director of football recruiting Steve Wiltfong — have logged OSU predictions since Saturday.
Three other Big Ten schools are in heavy contention for the top-50 corner, with Michigan, Michigan State, and Penn State also at the top. However, the pull of Ohio State’s decades-long connection to Ted Ginn Sr.’s program is almost certainly too strong to break, and with West planning a June 23 official to Columbus, I would imagine that his BOOM will be coming no later than that.
No. 351 Damarion Witten | Four-Star Tight End
Crystal Balls: Ohio State 100%
Speaking of the Glenville-to-Ohio State pipeline, next up is 6-foot-4, 215-pound tight end Damarion Witten — no relation to Jason, as far as I know. Similarly to Lockhart, Witten is much higher ranked in the industry-best 247 ratings than the composites, because ESPN is pretty much worthless and has him unranked.
On 247’s list, Witten is the No. 190 player in the country and No. 11 tight end nationally. 247 currently doesn’t have any other teams considered “Warm” other than the Buckeyes, so, this feels like a pretty sure thing.
No. 177 Jeremiah McClellan | Four-Star Wide Receiver
Crystal Balls: Ohio State 100%
Is he as highly ranked as fellow wide receivers Jeremiah Smith (No. 2 nationally) or Mylan Graham (No. 27), but if Brian Hartline thinks that he is deserving of a spot in his room, who am I to argue? In the past week, the St. Louis WR has picked up crystal balls from the Dean of Wiltfong and OSU recruiting Bill Kurelic, and no other school is considered warm according to 247Sports.
With two top-notch receivers already in the fold, McClellan would be a fantastic addition to the WR class as a player that can round out the group.
No. 18 Joshisa Trader | Five-Star Wide Receiver
Crystal Balls: 100% Miami
Now, this final potential player doesn’t have any crystal balls for Ohio State — in fact, his only CB is to the Hurricanes from January. However, his Chaminade-Madonna Prep High school teammate just so happens to be the Buckeyes’ top player in the class, Jeremiah Smith.
In what is likely just a meaningless Twitter interaction, Trader told Smith that he was trying to break the internet. Could that mean that he is about to become the third WR in the top 30 to join Hartline’s 2024 class? That would certainly make college football collective head explode.
While Miami is in the lead in terms of crystal ball predictions, the Buckeyes and Florida State are also in contention for the Hollywood, Fla. native. So while it is most likely that he will stick to one of the Sunshine State schools, if anyone is going to pull a top-20 wide receiver out of the warm weather, it’s going to be Hartline.
Continue reading...
