Scarlet Sunrise: Three Buckeyes players picked Day One in Todd McShay's first mock draft

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Three Buckeyes players picked Day One in Todd McShay’s first mock draft

There are still four months before the 2023 NFL Draft in Kansas City. There are still 43 bowl games that need to be played. And a College Football Playoff champion needs to be crowned. But mock draft season has already started. ESPN NFL Draft analyst Todd McShay released his first mock draft this week, and it featured three Buckeyes players in the opening round.

• QB C.J. Stroud – No. 4 overall to the Detroit Lions
• OT Paris Johnson Jr. – No. 9 overall to the Pittsburgh Steelers
• WR Jaxon Smith-Njigba – No. 22 overall to Tennessee Titans

If the draft unfolds that way, it will be reminiscent of 2020 when the Buckeyes last had three players go in the first round. That year, Ohio State also had two players in the top 10, however, they — defensive end Chase Young and cornerback Jeff Okudah — went No. 2 and No. 3, respectively.

Here’s what McShay said about Stroud at No. 4 to the Lions: “Everything fell perfectly for the Lions here, allowing them to draft their signal caller of the future without moving up. Stroud has thrown 37 touchdown passes this season — and still has as many as two games left — and is third in the nation in QBR (87.7). Jared Goff has played well under center of late, but he’s not the long-term answer. Stroud — who makes good decisions with the football, displays great touch and has a big arm — could learn behind Goff for a season before Detroit moves on and builds around a talented passer on a rookie deal. Detroit has a top-five offense right now (26.2 points per game), and a very good supporting cast is already in place.”

That would make Stroud Ohio State’s highest-selected quarterback since Art Schlichter went No. 4 to the Baltimore Colts in 1982.

C.J. Stroud goes to bat for Jaxon Smith-Njigba, speaks out about social media criticism

Speaking of Stroud, the redshirt sophomore went to bat for Smith-Njigba this week when asked about his teammate’s decision to opt out of the CFP because of a nagging hamstring injury that has sidelined him for all but three games this season.

Smith-Njigba has received criticism from fans — as well as McShay — for not returning to the field in 2022 after his star-studded 2021 season that made him a Biletnikoff Award favorite this year.

“Y’all have no idea the stuff that he’s been through this year,” Stroud said in a passionate two-plus minute answer. “Like no clue. Who are people to talk about my brother like that. You know what I mean? It kind of gets me a little angry that people try to make it seem like he’s not a team player and that he doesn’t care about his teammates. That’s the total opposite. Wrong.”

You can read the rest of what Stroud had to say about Smith-Njigba and, more generally, outside critics (particularly on social media), here.

Ohio State reveals its Peach Bowl uniforms

Ohio State is bringing back its 2002 throwback uniforms for the Peach Bowl, complete with the modified Northwestern striping that features the grey sleeves the Buckeyes have showcased in the CFP. The jerseys also have “FIGHT” — one of the program’s core values — sewn to the back collar.

playoff threads 🍑#gobucks pic.twitter.com/nmhhOnueep

— Ohio State Football (@OhioStateFB) December 15, 2022

Lettermen Lounge: A wonderful Wednesday for Ohio State

Ohio State had itself a day Wednesday. The Buckeyes got their quarterback for the 2023 class, as four-star Pierre (S.D.) T.F. Riggs signal caller Lincoln Kienholz flipped his commitment from Washington to Ohio State. And then 2024 five-star Hollywood (Fla) Chaminade-Madonna Prep wide receiver Jeremiah Smith pledged to the Buckeyes.

Once again, the Buckeyes have scooped up a quarterback late in the cycle — this time for a 2023 class that ranks third nationally. Meanwhile, Smith is a key piece of a 2024 class that also includes five-star Chandler (Ariz.) quarterback Dylan Raiola.

Lettermen Row staffers Matt Parker and Spencer Holbrook hop back into the Lettermen Lounge to talk about the latest developments for the Buckeyes in the recruiting sphere, less than a week before the initial signing period begins for the 2023 class.

READ: Who’s next? Predicting next three commitments to Ohio State

Counting down

Peach Bowl: 15 days away

Buckeyes vs. Michigan: 344 days

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