2025 NFL Draft: Ohio State ties own Big Ten record for most players drafted in one year

Following a national championship, Ohio State was set to have a historic weekend at the 2025 NFL Draft. Plenty of Buckeyes had a chance of their name being called from Lambeau Field. They went on to deliver as well, breaking one of the program’s own records.

Fourteen total Ohio State players were taken throughout the course of the week. It ties the Big Ten record, one the program previously held. Unfortunately, the Buckeyes did come up short on the national level. Georgia will continue to hold the all-time record with 15 players taken.

“Now the stories of these guys will be told because they’ve cemented themselves in Ohio State history, the ninth national champ and the third really in the last 50 years,” Ohio State head coach Ryan Day said after the national championship win vs. Notre Dame. “There’s been some great, great teams in the last 50 some-odd years at Ohio State. Great teams, great players. Only three of them have been national champs, and these guys are one of them.”

Emeka Egbuka got the party started on Thursday night, going 19th to the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. Three others wound up being selected in the first round, all of whom came from the line of scrimmage. Donovan Jackson, Tyleik Williams, and Josh Simmons made it four within the first 32 for Ohio State.

Quarterback Will Howard will not be going too far, either. Howard was taken in the sixth round by the Pittsburgh Steelers, a franchise currently dealing with a lot of questions at the position. Plenty of Ohio State fans cheer for the Steelers as their NFL team too, producing a bit of a crossover.

Teams were incredibly high on the two running backs, Quinshon Judkins and TreVeyon Henderson. Both had to endure a short wait in the second round but eventually got what they wanted heading into the event. Judkins will begin his career with the Cleveland Browns and Henderson is heading to the Northeast to play for the New England Patriots.

Moving to Day 3, the Buckeyes went on a bit of a defensive run in the fourth round. Cody Simon, Lathan Ransom, and Jack Sawyer were all taken. Sawyer will have a familiar face when he arrives in Pittsburgh, remaining teammates with Howard.

People in Columbus are going to remember this past Ohio State team for a long time. Winning a national championship is quite special on its own. But getting validation from the NFL is a solid cherry on top.