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Buckeyes litter latest NFL Draft position rankings

IMG_7408by:Andy Backstrom•11/03/22•

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C.J. Stroud is one of nine Buckeyes ranked inside the Top 10 of Mel Kiper Jr.'s NFL Draft position rankings. (Ben Jackson/Getty Images)

COLUMBUS — Ohio State had six players hear their names called in the 2022 NFL Draft. This time around, though, the Buckeyes are flirting with double-digit draftees.

Nine Ohio State standouts were recognized inside the the Top 10 of their respective positions in ESPN Draft Analyst Mel Kiper Jr.’s latest player rankings.

QB CJ Stroud (1st)

C.J. Stroud is tied for the nation’s lead with 29 touchdown passes. He’s also completing north of 71% of his passes for the second season in a row. It’s worthing noting, however, Tennessee signal caller Hendon Hooker has passed Stroud up as the Heisman Trophy favorite, according to BetMGM.

WR Jaxon Smith-Njigba (3rd)

Because of a nagging hamstring injury that he suffered in the season opener against Notre Dame, Jaxon Smith-Njigba has played only 162 snaps this season, per Pro Football Focus. Still, Kiper has the Buckeyes star ranked third among all prospective receivers.

TE Cade Stover (8th)

Cade Stover is coming off his most impressive performance of the season: a 6-catch, 78-yard game against Penn State, where he broke three tackles en route to the end zone on a fourth quarter touchdown that gave the Buckeyes some much-needed breathing room.

OT Paris Johnson (2nd)

Left tackle Paris Johnson was recognized as a Lombardi Award semifinalist this week, and for good reason. He hasn’t given up a sack all season while protecting Stroud’s blind side. In fact, Johnson hasn’t allowed a sack since his freshman year.

OT Dawand Jones (9th)

Right tackle Dawand Jones also hasn’t let up sack this season, and, actually, he’s conceded five fewer pressures (three) than Johnson (eight), per PFF. Additionally, Jones’ 80.7 PFF run blocking grade is second on the team.

OG Matthew Jones (7th)

Matthew Jones has taken a step back in the run blocking department this season. His PFF grade there has dipped from 89.4 in 2021 to 71.3 in 2022, and that’s been part of the reason why Ohio State has struggled to get the ground game going at times this season. But he’s been solid in pass protection, conceding just three pressures all year.

C Luke Wypler (4th)

No Buckeyes player has been better in pass protection this year than Luke Wypler. The third-year center has allowed a mere two pressures this season, per PFF, plus he’s only been penalized once.

DE Zach Harrison (5th)

Zach Harrison is better than his 14 total tackles, 2.0 TFLs and one sack suggest. The athletic Buckeyes defensive end, who picked off a pass last week at Penn State, has generated the second-most pressures (19) of any Ohio State player this season, per PFF, not to mention he’s forced two fumbles.

LB Tommy Eichenberg (8th)

Tommy Eichenberg has already set a career high with 72 total tackles this season. He’s provided help in pass rush, too, registering 15 pressures, according to PFF, and 2.5 sacks through eight games.

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