Scarlet Sunrise: Three Buckeyes players receive first-round grade from ESPN NFL Draft analyst

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Three Buckeyes players receive first-round grade from ESPN NFL Draft analyst

Not every player that’s picked in the first round of the NFL Draft should be picked in the first round of the NFL Draft. To that point, ESPN draft analyst Matt Miller came up with a list of 20 players he has given a true first-round grade. As Miller explains in the intro of his article, NFL teams create similar boards of players who are worthy of an opening-round selection.

Miller noted that his “rule of thumb” for determining if a player is deserving of a first-round grade is if they would go on Day One of the draft in each of the past five classes.

Former Buckeyes players account for three of the 20 first-round grades Miller has handed out.

QB C.J. Stroud (No. 4 overall)

Miller: “At 6-3 and 215 pounds, Stroud has really good touch accuracy to all levels of the field. He’s also an above-average runner and mover in the pocket when given room to operate. The hardest thing about evaluating Stroud is extrapolating his talent from the Buckeyes’ scheme and figuring out what he can do without that system around him.”

Miller’s NFL comparison for Stroud: Dallas Cowboys QB Dak Prescott

OT Paris Johnson (No. 9 overall)

Miller: “Johnson was arguably Ohio State’s best lineman during the 2021 season while playing out of position at right guard. He moved to his natural position of left tackle for 2022 and allowed just two sacks. The 6-6, 310-pound junior has solid quickness and balance while also playing with poise and power. He’s still ironing out his technique, but Johnson’s ceiling is potentially the best of any 2023 offensive lineman.”

Miller’s NFL comparison for Johnson: Miami Dolphins OT Terron Armstead

WR Jaxon Smith-Njigba (No. 13 overall)

Miller: “It makes for a fascinating evaluation, but the 6-foot-1, 200-pound Smith-Njigba can still find himself in the top 15 picks. He shows excellent concentration and body control, and he can still get open even when the defense is keyed to stop him.”

Miller’s NFL comparison for Smith-Njigba: Dallas Cowboys WR CeeDee Lamb

The Tim May Show: Talking with Buckeyes athletic trainer Doug Calland

This week’s episode of The Tim May Show focuses on an overlooked aspect of college athletics: the life of an athletic trainer. The 40-year Buckeyes football reporter is joined by Ohio State athletic trainer Doug Calland, who has been with the Buckeyes training staff since 1995. Before that, Calland spent 11 years at Washington. At both schools, he has helped athletes on and off the field.

Calland is an Ohio State alum who is now in responsible for “overseeing the football program and all aspects of athletic training in the Ohio State athletics department.”

Tim and Doug cover it all, shedding light on what being an athletic trainer entails. Check it out:

Ohio State plagued by shooting woes in setback at Illinois

It appeared as if Ohio State had left its offensive slump in the past. But, three days removed from posting their fifth 90-point game of the season, the Buckeyes took a step back at Illinois with a 69-60 loss that wasn’t as close as the score suggested. For the fourth time in the last five games, Ohio State recorded a sub-40% field goal percentage.

What’s more, the Buckeyes missed eight free throws for the second time in the last three outings. Ohio State got a combined four first-half points from captains Zed Key, Justice Sueing and Isaac Likekele. Key, who played despite his late-game injury scare against Iowa, didn’t score for the first 27-plus minutes of game action.

A 10-0 Illinois run blew the game open in the second half. The Fighting Illini were led by Texas Tech transfer guard Terrence Shannon Jr., who registered a game-high 17 points. But versatile big man Coleman Hawkins was often the conductor of Illinois’ transition offense. He finished with 11 points, nine rebounds and six assists.

For the full game story, go here.

Counting down

Buckeyes vs. Indiana: 220 days

Buckeyes vs. Michigan: 304 days

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