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Scarlet Sunrise: PFF has five Buckeyes players in first round of way-too-early 2024 mock draft

IMG_7408by:Andy Backstrom•05/01/23•

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Marvin Harrison Jr. by Tommy Gilligan-USA TODAY Sports
Ohio State wide receiver Marvin Harrison Jr. runs after the catch at Maryland during the 2022 season. Harrison was a Biletnikoff Award finalist last year. ( Tommy Gilligan-USA TODAY Sports)

Good morning, Ohio State fans, and welcome to the Scarlet Sunrise. Football will always be our focus, but every day we’ll cover news, notes and analysis from across Buckeyes sports. Join us each morning to get caught up on everything you missed in the world of Buckeyes football, recruiting, basketball and more in Scarlet Sunrise.

PFF has five Buckeyes players in first round of way-too-early 2024 mock draft

Pro Football Focus isn’t wasting any time. PFF has already released a way-too-early 2024 mock draft. It features five Ohio State players in the first round.

That would be the Buckeyes’ most first-round picks in a single year since 2016 when defensive end Joey Bosa went No. 3, running back Ezekiel Elliott went No. 4, cornerback Eli Apple went No. 10, offensive tackle Taylor Decker went No. 16 and linebacker Darron Lee went No. 20.

Here are the current Buckeyes players PFF projects landing in the first round of next year’s draft:

This projection gives Ohio State three first-round picks on the defensive side of the ball. That would be welcomed for a program that hasn’t seen a defensive player selected on Day One since the 2020 draft.

There really could be more than five Buckeyes standouts picked in the first round. Other candidates for next year’s Day One include offensive lineman Donovan Jackson, running back TreVeyon Henderson, defensive end Jack Sawyer and, of course, quarterback Kyle McCord — that is, if he wins the job and puts together a Heisman Trophy campaign like the last three Buckeyes signal callers.

Ohio State leads the country with 90 first-round picks all-time. The next-closest school is USC with 85.

RELATED

San Diego State transfer OT Josh Simmons commits to Ohio State

Ohio State added a transfer offensive tackle Sunday. Former San Diego State right tackle Josh Simmons committed to the Buckeyes. Simmons visited Ohio State this weekend before announcing his decision.

The La Mesa, California, native was a four-star prospect coming out of Helix High School, where he became the No. 24 interior offensive lineman in the 2021 class, according to the On3 Industry Ranking.

Back then, Simmons was offered by now-Buckeyes O-Line coach Justin Frye when Frye was coaching UCLA’s offensive line.

For more on Simmons and how he could factor in at Ohio State, go here.

Buckeyes wide receiver Kaleb Brown enters transfer portal

Ohio State added a player Sunday in San Diego State transfer offensive tackle Josh Simmons, but the Buckeyes also lost a player to the transfer portal: second-year wide receiver Kaleb Brown entered his name in the final hours of the spring window, which ran from April 15 to April 30.

Brown will have four years of eligibility wherever he chooses to carry on his college career. He’s the second Buckeyes wideout to hit the portal since the end of spring ball. The first was classmate Caleb Burton.

Brown didn’t see the field much as a true freshman in 2022, but he was competing to be Ohio State’s starting punt returner this offseason.

For more on Brown’s decision, go here.

Counting down

Buckeyes vs. Indiana: 125 days

Buckeyes vs. Michigan: 209 days

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