Hankins slipping in the Draft

By buckupnorth -09 February 2013
24 Comments
- Football

Over the past few weeks I've seen mock drafts move Big Hank lower and lower. In Mel Kiper's most recent Mock Draft, he has Hank going 25th! If he has an average to below average showing at the combine he might not go in the first round. Now, I'm not knocking Hank in any way, but was wondering whether or not he has hired an agent/if he could come back to OSU if he wanted. It would just be a real shame for him to declare based on being a projected top 5-10 pick and then not be drafted until the 2nd round. Thoughts?

BuddhaBuck on 9 Feb 2013 - 11:52am #

I might be in the miniority, but I'd rather see Big Hank go to a playoff contender (a la SEA, GB, IND, DEN) later in the draft than get stuck playing on a crappy team. First Round draft status is still prestigious, especially given the high volume of underclassment that declared for this year's draft.

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OurHonorDefend09 on 9 Feb 2013 - 11:56am #

I agree completely. I thought his performance wasn't nearly as strong at the end of the year as it was in the beginning of the year where he seemed to be the only one playing defense. However, until the combine, I don't really understand how anyone could move up or down the boards unless they did something to hurt their reputation so negatively that coaches want to stay away.

I think he'll show that he is an excellent athlete for his size at the combine and this will be all water under the bridge when he goes 1st round.

Don't give up... Don't ever give up.

Dr. House on 9 Feb 2013 - 12:55pm #

honestly if he landed with indy i think the fans here will hate it they were burned alittle too much by former ohio state player Hall, gonzo, and quinn. now I will love it because A) it fills a need and B) Ohio State playing for the Colts makes it great.

at least he's still in the first round i'm going to be watching the draft to see how far tao falls

kevinfrenchfry on 9 Feb 2013 - 5:58pm #

good team, pretty good money>bad team, good money (to a certain amount)

ALL DAY

buckupnorth on 9 Feb 2013 - 11:58am #

I agree from a fans' standpoint that I would love to see him compete in the playoffs, however it seems that he is losing money and would be better served to come back and compete for a NC. I was happy to see him leave as a top 5 pick, but as a borderline 1st rounder it isn't as clear a choice imo. The concern about him coming back was that he could hurt his stock, but currently it seems like coming back could only help him.

VintonCountyBuck on 9 Feb 2013 - 5:33pm #

I for one would've loved to see him come back especially if there was even a question, but sadly, there are rules against it:

The deadline for underclassmen, sophomores and juniors, to declare themselves eligible for the NFL draft is in January. Once a player declares for the draft, they forego their remaining eligibility to play college football, which means that once they declare for the draft they cannot return to play in college.

http://entertainment.howstuffworks.com/nfl-draft4.htm

“Right now, Michigan is not at the pinnacle of college football, and that’s all Urban Meyer cares about...He’s been there and knows what it takes to get there.”

Statutoryglory on 9 Feb 2013 - 12:05pm #

Well it's a damn good thing that mock drafting sports pundits don't do the actual drafting. Look at Tyson Alualu, stunningly picked with the #10 selection by the Jags. Bruce Irvin, unexpectedly picked #15 by the Seahawks. It all depends on who a GM actually likes as opposed to publicly pretending to like. I doubt either of those GMs shared the inside info with local and national scribes before making those surprise high picks. Hankins will be just fine.

Bj Mullens over... on 9 Feb 2013 - 12:18pm #

I wouldn't worry till after the combine. If Kiper was really any good at scouting players he'd have gotten a gm job a long time ago.

Favorite Buckeye: Obviously BJ Mullens

OurHonorDefend09 on 9 Feb 2013 - 12:20pm #

Sadly, he probably makes way more at ESPN doing what he does than any team would pay him as a GM.

Don't give up... Don't ever give up.

Dr. House on 9 Feb 2013 - 12:57pm #

this is very true. i still laugh at kiper for saying Ryan Leaf was the better QB than Peyton Manning bet he wishes he could take that one back

steensn on 9 Feb 2013 - 1:35pm #

With the new rookie salary caps there isn't as big a drop-off as their once was. Frankly, it is causing a lot of kids to come out earlier because there is no big payday to stay longer. What that means is that you can get even better value in the draft late first roudn early second round because the kids have not fully developed. It also means guys who would be picked up nad ruined by (my) Detroit Lions and (your) Cleveland Browns can now go to teams that can win (their) Pittsburg Steelers and (their) New England Patriots. He has a much higher chance of being successful and getting paid more long term going to those teams than our teams because he can be moore successful and not a one man show. Frankly, I would love to see all of the OSU guys get drafted late first round for the next ten years (but still first round for stats :) ) and succeed rather than go early and not live up to the hype on teams that aren't worth crap.

chicagobuckeye on 9 Feb 2013 - 1:43pm #

I was talking to my friends recently about this. How can you fall in a draft when you haven't done anything since November. Because he didn't play in a bowl game it's out of sight out of mind currently. The players (regardless of talent) who played in the NCG seem better, and scouts have seen what they can do. Wait until the combine before making any assumptions is my philosophy because how can he get worse when he hasn't been playing.

DetroitBuckeye on 9 Feb 2013 - 2:22pm #

It's probably better for him that he ends up going to a contender, it's pretty obvious how talented he is. The only thing that matters with the draft is money as long as he takes advantage of his opportunities he should have no problem in having a phenomenal nfl career.

KateUptonsLowerBack on 9 Feb 2013 - 3:20pm #

Hankins to the Steelers as Casey Hampton's future replacement.

cajunbuckeye on 9 Feb 2013 - 4:07pm #

Not so fast, my friend. Hank is heading to the Big Easy.

An angry fan...rooting for an angry team...led by angry coaches

BuddhaBuck on 9 Feb 2013 - 4:17pm #

That's where McShay has him going..

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Aesculus. on 9 Feb 2013 - 4:03pm #

Kiper killed us on this one. If he doesn't make Hankins his draft darling, then Big Hank is back for this year. I mean it's incredible how one guy has soooo much influence.

"There is a force that makes us all brothers, no one goes his way alone, all that we send into the life of others comes back into our own." -WWH

Buckeye06 on 9 Feb 2013 - 4:04pm #

People have been questioning his work ethic, which I have never ever heard issues about. I don't really remember him playing without effort, or "taking plays off." Not saying he didn't do it, but it wasn't like I was yelling at the TV like I was when Gholston was around

I think he has a good combine effort and is around the middle of the 1st round, right where he belongs IMO

D. Anthony on 9 Feb 2013 - 5:10pm #

Someone must have put Big Hank on the Troy Smith Post Season workout regiment aka "The In-N-Out Burger Plan"

D. Anthony

buckeye76BHop on 11 Feb 2013 - 2:19pm #

I'm not sure why he's slipping...he was a top 10 draft pick in November and OSU went 12-0...he had good stats. I'll believe it when the draft hits and the first round is over...I think he'll go in the twenty's in first round...IMO of course. I'm not Kiper or McShay...but I tend to think he'll be a first rounder.

"There's nothing that cleanses your soul like getting the hell kicked out of you."
"I love football. I think it is most wonderful game in world and I despise to lose."
Woody Hayes 1913 - 1987

gobucks96 on 11 Feb 2013 - 3:05pm #

Quick, get him a roster spot!! lol....

Knarcisi on 11 Feb 2013 - 3:18pm #

Yeah, very early gents. Not even in the combine yet. Big Hank is really athletic for a big guy. You can't tell by looking at him, but the cone drills, running, and vertical leap drills will be strengths for him. Especially after spending a year + with Marotti.

Squirrel Master on 11 Feb 2013 - 3:19pm #

Disregard the pundits. They are rarely accurate and Hankins provides a great player at a very much needed position for lots of the top draft picks. I'm sure he will go to the combine and show some skills that will move him back up the draft board some more.

and if not, I will gladly take him for my Chiefs at #34 and make him a 3-4 DE and have the stoutest 3-4 ever with him, Dontari Poe and Glenn Dorsey. With those 3, they should be able to eat up all 5 Olinemen. That will leave the edges open for the pass rush.

Not to mention Hankins was OSU's run defense! At the very least, he fits the Carolina Panthers to a tee.

BrewstersMillions on 11 Feb 2013 - 3:31pm #

He's an any system guy. 3-4 teams can probably put him anywhere on the line. He may have to gain some weight to play in the middle-but he's really suited well as an athletic nose in a 4-3 system too. He's going to fit just fine.

4-6 seconds from point A to point B and when you get to point B, be pissed off