Ohio State WR Xavier Johnson declares for 2024 NFL Draft

Under offensive coordinator Brian Hartline, come on the Ohio State Buckeyes wide receiver room has been chalked full of talent. However, one Buckeyes wideout will not be with the program next season after making a critical decision about his future. On Monday, receiver Xavier Johnson announced from his social media account that he will be declaring for the 2024 NFL Draft. Johnson made the announcement with a heartfelt letter penned to Ohio State and the Buckeyes nation.

Johnson has spent the entirety of his collegiate career at Ohio State since joining the program back in the summer of 2019. However, his usage did not pick up until the 2022 campaign, one year after being moved to wide receiver. It was then that Johnson saw more opportunities come his way.

In 2022, Johnson played in 13 games for the Buckeyes, recording 13 catches for 151 yards with two receiving touchdowns. He also had 12 rushing attempts for 146 yards and one rushing touchdown. However, in 2023, while his number of total touches nearly doubled, going from 25 to 41, there was only a slight increase in his yards from scrimmage, going from 297 to 368. Johnson also finished 2023 without a single touchdown, receiving or rushing, on the season.

More on the 2024 NFL Draft

The 2024 NFL Draft will be held in Detroit, Michigan, with the first round on Thursday, April 25, the second and third rounds on Friday, April 26, and the fourth through seventh rounds on Saturday, April 27.

Players will have the opportunity to solidify their draft stock at the 2024 NFL Scouting Combine, to be held in Indianapolis, Indiana from February 26 through March 4.

The three-day event will be broadcasted throughout the weekend on 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.

Last season, 69 players were granted special eligibility for the 2023 NFL Draft. 13 underclassmen who had completed their college degrees were also deemed eligible to be selected.

The deadline to declare for the 2024 NFL Draft is on January 15. NFL teams will receive a full list of eligible players in the class on January 19.