Ohio State RT Dawand Jones declares for NFL Draft
COLUMBUS — Ohio State right tackle Dawand Jones declared for this year’s NFL Draft Wednesday. The senior’s decision doesn’t come as much of a surprise considering he accepted an invitation to the Reese’s Senior Bowl last month.
Jones joins left tackle Paris Johnson Jr. and center Luke Wypler as the third Buckeyes offensive lineman to declare for the draft this offseason.
The 6-foot-8, 359-pound Jones had one year of eligibility remaining, but ESPN NFL Draft analyst Mel Kiper Jr. ranks him the No. 10 overall offensive tackle prospect in the 2023 class. Plus, Jones is coming off a stellar 2022 season, during which he was a first-team All-American.
Jones and Johnson made up arguably the best offensive tackle tandem in the country.
Johnson became the first Ohio State offensive tackle to be crowned a consensus All-American this season since Orlando Pace got the unanimous tag in not only 1995 but also 1996. Jones, meanwhile, registered the highest Pro Football Focus pass blocking grade (79.5) of his career. What’s more, his five pressures allowed were tied for the third-fewest given up by a tackle with 500-plus blocking snaps this season.
Jones’ PFF run blocking grade dipped from 90.6 in 2021 to 85.0 in 2022, however, that mark was still 17th nationally among all offensive tackles.
He was especially effective on zone runs this season — according to PFF, he posted a 90.8 run blocking grade on those plays, the third-highest score of any tackle in that department in 2022.
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Jones was sidelined for the Indiana game, and Josh Fryar started in his place, but Jones played in the Buckeyes’ other 12 games this season. He rounded out his Ohio State career with 26 starts.
Jones started all 13 games in 2021 and was recognized by the media as a second-team All-Big Ten selection. He played 788 snaps, the third most of any Buckeyes offensive or defensive player that year.
He got his first career start during the shortened COVID-19 season. It was at Michigan State, where he logged a PFF offensive grade of 76.2 and conceded just one pressure.
With Jones and Johnson moving on to the NFL, Ohio State will have to replace both of its starting offensive tackles next season, all while a new quarterback takes the reins under center.
