Michigan didn't beat Ohio State on the field last fall but there will be a stronger hue of maize and blue than scarlet and gray at the NFL Scouting Combine.
The NFL invited 14 Wolverines to its showcase of talent, more than any other college football program for this year's combine. The league let the list slip last week before releasing it in its entirety on Wednesday. That was when we learned of the eight Buckeyes who received invitations to take part in the most intense job interview of their lives at Lucas Oil Stadium. The eight:
- Wide receiver Noah Brown
- Wide receiver Curtis Samuel
- Cornerback Gareon Conley
- Cornerback Marshon Lattimore
- Safety Malik Hooker
- Center Pat Elflein
- Linebacker Raekwon McMillan
- Punter Cameron Johnston
The eight players rank second in the Big Ten behind Michigan. In all, 51 Big Ten players received invitations which is third-most. The SEC leads with 66 and ACC is second with 60.
From the Big Ten, Wisconsin is next with six, Illinois and Iowa each have four, three apiece from Minnesota and Michigan State, and two players each from Nebraska, Penn State, Northwestern and Indiana. William Likely is the lone representative from Maryland. Purdue and Rutgers did not have a player invited to the combine.
Last year, Ohio State tied a record with 14 players invited to Indianapolis. The previous mark was also set by the Buckeyes, back in 2004. Michigan's 14 this season obviously ties it. Of the 14 Buckeyes last year, 12 got drafted — all in the first four rounds. Only safety Tyvis Powell and wide receiver Jalin Marshall did not. Both made NFL rosters after signing as free agents, however.
Ohio State's 2016 NFL Draft haul was historic, with five first-round picks including three in the top-10. Running back Ezekiel Elliott won the fan vote as the FedEx Ground Player of the Year, while defensive end Joey Bosa took home Defensive Rookie of the Year honors despite only playing in 12 games due to a contract dispute.
Cornerback Eli Apple ran the fastest 40-yard dash among Buckeyes last season, clocking in at 4.4 seconds at the combine. The New York Giants selected him 10th overall. Curtis Samuel, Gareon Conley and Marshon Lattimore all could threaten that mark this time around.
Marshall provided the highest vertical jump of the Ohio State participants in 2016 at 37.5 inches. Samuel could best that, as well as Noah Brown or Malik Hooker, though the latter probably won't do much physical work after he underwent surgery for a torn labrum and hernia.
Darron Lee shredded his on-field tests in Indianapolis, posting a 133-inch broad jump, a 4.20-second shuttle run, 4.43-second 40-yard dash and 35.50-inch vertical leap. His broad jump ranked second of all participants last year behind Jalen Ramsey and Daniel Lasco, who each jumped 135 inches.
Can anyone sniff that mark from this year's crop of Ohio State players? Maybe Samuel or Brown. But it won't be easy.
Other Ohio State highs from a year ago: Joey Bosa's 24 reps on the bench press, Adolphus Washington's 34.5-inch arms and Braxton Miller's 4.07-second 20-yard shuttle run.
This year's Ohio State representatives won't live up to what their teammates did a year ago but the Buckeyes are set to be well-represented once again at the NFL Combine.
