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Ohio State offensive tackle Paris Johnson Jr. declares for 2023 NFL Draft

On3-Social-Profile_GRAYby:On3 Staff Report•01/10/23
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Ohio State tackle Paris Johnson is balancing charity work and playing at a high level. (Icon Sportswire / Getty Images)

Ohio State offensive tackle Paris Johnson Jr. has officially made a decision on his future and whether to enter the 2023 NFL Draft. The 2021 second-team All-Big Ten selection will be heading to the NFL next season.

Johnson Jr. played some as a true freshman for the Buckeyes, seeing time in five games at guard, including in the College Football Playoff championship game against Alabama in 2020.

He then became a regular starter as a second-year player in 2021, starting all 13 games at right guard.

And the 2022 season will give NFL Draft scouts and analysts alike a lot to love; Johnson Jr. slid out to tackle. A 6-foot-6, 310-pound lineman with some real versatility, he worked his way into being a midseason All-American for multiple outlets, as well as a Rotary Lombardi Award semifinalist.

Given his versatility and the level of competition he has faced in college, many NFL Draft analysts love how Johnson Jr. might translate to the next level. Several analysts have him as a potential first-round pick, including all three of CBS Sports’ most prominent draft analysts.

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More on the 2023 NFL Draft

The 2023 NFL Draft is set to take place from Thursday, April 27 through Saturday, April 29 in Kansas City, Missouri. The event will be held at the plaza just outside of Union Station.

Round 1 of the NFL Draft is set to begin at 8 p.m. ET on Thursday, Apr. 27. Rounds 2-3 will begin at 7 p.m. ET on Friday, Apr. 28, and Rounds 4-7 will begin at 12 p.m. ET on Saturday, Apr. 29. The draft will be broadcasted throughout the weekend on both ESPN and NFL Network.

To be eligible for the NFL Draft, players must be at least three years removed from their final year of high school while having used up their collegiate eligibility. Underclassmen are able to request league approval to become eligible for the draft, as are players who have graduated prior to using up all of their collegiate eligibility. 100 underclassmen were approved for last year’s draft. 73 of those 100 underclassmen were granted special eligibility while 27 of them were underclassmen who had completed their college degrees.

The 2023 NFL scouting combine will take place from Feb. 28 through March 6 in Indianapolis.