This evening the 2016 NFL Draft will commence in what could be a record setting day for Ohio State's football program. Many experts believe five Buckeyes will have their name called tonight. There is a small possibility that six Ohio State players could get selected in the first round. The excitement heading into this year's draft brought up recollections of the 2006 draft.
Ten years ago many fans were excited about the 2006 NFL Draft. Much of the talk leading up to that draft was about how many Buckeyes would get selected in the first round. Sound familiar? That year AJ Hawk, Donte Whitner, Bobby Carpenter, Santonio Holmes and Nick Mangold set Ohio State's record for players picked in the first round. Let's take a look back at the Ohio State and NFL careers of the record breaking five.
AJ Hawk // Green Bay // 5th Pick
Ohio State Career: Hawk finished his senior season with multiple awards. He won the 2005 Lombardi Award, Big Ten Defensive Player of the Year and was named Defensive MVP of the Fiesta Bowl. Hawk also led the Buckeyes in tackles the three seasons he was a starter. The 141 tackles Hawk recorded in 2004 were the most a Buckeye had in a single season since a guy named Chris Spielman in 1986.
Draft Hype: Hawk's impressive Ohio State career had him near the top of many draft expert's lists. This is what Larry Weisman of USA Today had to say about Hawk:
An aggressive and efficient tackler who covers a lot of ground. Finds the ball and fends off blockers well. Very good in pass coverage, but he also shows a knack for getting to the passer when he blitzes. A little shorter than the norm.
NFL Career: Green Bay was home for AJ Hawk from the day he was drafted through 2014. In 2010 Hawk started for the Packers in Super Bowl XLV. Green Bay defeated the Steelers 31-25 in Hawk's only Super Bowl victory. In 2015 he signed with the Cincinnati Bengals who released him after one year. To date AJ Hawk has started in 147 of his 158 career games.
Verdict: Do ten solid years make Hawk worthy of the No. 5 pick? Definitely, maybe.
Fun Fact: Hawk led the Packers in tackles his rookie season.
| GP | GS | TKL | AST | SACKS | INT | FF | FR |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 158 | 147 | 644 | 306 | 20.0 | 9 | 4 | 5 |
Donte Whitner // Buffalo // 8th Pick
Ohio State Career: During his three years with the Buckeyes the team went 29-8 and won three bowl games. Whitner was named to the All-American and All-Big Ten teams in 2005. Whitner left Columbus for the NFL after his junior season.
Wiesman's Draft Hype:
Good tackler in the open field. Good blitzer. Strong in coverage. Has the speed to stay with receivers deep. A little short and light to be the eighth man in the box but could probably add 10 pounds without hurting his speed and quickness. Has been an outstanding special-teams player. A film junkie. Could start in Week 1.
NFL Career: Donte Whitner has played in three Pro Bowls, named an All-Pro in 2013 and made the All-Rookie team in 2006. To date he has played for the Bills (2006-2010), 49ers (2011-2013) and Browns (2014-2015). Whitner started at strong safety for San Francisco in Super Bowl XLVII. He is currently a free agent after being released by the Browns.
Verdict: Whitner proved worthy of the ninth pick in 2006.
Fun Fact: Whitner's first interception in the league was against Tom Brady.
| GP | GS | TKL | AST | SACKS | INT | FF | FR |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 146 | 143 | 618 | 237 | 3.0 | 11 | 10 | 6 |
Bobby Carpenter// Dallas Cowboys // 18th Pick
Ohio State Career: Carpenter was named second team All-Big Ten twice (2004 and 2005). Ohio State was 43-8, won four bowl games and a national championship during his time with the team. His senior season the defense led the Big Ten in total defense, rushing defense and sacks.
Wiesman's Draft Hype:
Athletic player who might be more athlete than player. Would fit best playing over the tight end, where he is aggressive in challenging the receiver at the line. Does not, however, excel in coverage. Broken ankle raised medical red flags. The son of former NFL RB Rob Carpenter, who played for Bill Parcells with the New York Giants.
NFL Career: Between 2006 and 2012 Carpenter played games for Dallas (2006-2009), Detroit (2010-2011), Miami (2010) and New England (2012). He started in 10 of the 93 games he played in. Arguably the highlight of Carpenter's NFL career was his interception return for a touchdown against Dallas. The Lions were losing 27-3 in the second half when Carpenter picked off the Romo pass and scored. That play sparked Detroit and the Lions came back to beat Carpenter's former team 34-30.
Verdict: 10 starts in 93 games is not what you expect from the 18th selection of the draft. On the bright side, Carpenter had a stellar Ohio State career and is having success on the Columbus airwaves.
Fun Fact: Carpenter's dad played running back in the NFL and is the head football coach at Lancaster High School. If you're in the Columbus area you can listen to Bobby Carpenter weekdays at 1:00 on 97.1 The Fan.
| GP | GS | TKL | AST | SACKS | INT | FF | FR |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 93 | 10 | 126 | 41 | 3.5 | 1 | 0 | 1 |
Santonio Holmes // Pittsburgh Steelers // 25th Pick
Ohio State Career: Holmes bypassed a chance to play for the Buckeyes during the remarkable 2006 season when he left for the NFL Draft after his red-shirt junior season. Imagine that offense with Santonio Holmes, Ted Ginn Jr. and Anthony Gonzalez. Holmes finished his Ohio State career ranked fifth all-time with 3,496 yards and 245 receptions.
Wiesman's Draft Hype:
Can turn the quick hitch into a big play. A willing blocker downfield. Gets off the line well and can beat press coverage. Shows a knack for finding the soft areas of a zone and getting deep. Has shown a tendency to drop passes, but that might be concentration more than his hands. The Steelers need to replace Antwaan Randle El.
NFL Career: Holmes played between 2006 and 2014 for the Steelers, Jets and Bears. He averaged 15.5 yards per reception and could stretch the field. Holmes' NFL career is most remembered for his performance in Super Bowl XLIII. The Steelers were losing late to the Arizona Cardinals when Holmes' caught a toe-tapping touchdown with 35 seconds left in the game. He gained 73 of his 131 receiving yards during the game-winning drive. For his efforts Holmes was named the MVP of Super Bowl XLIII
Verdict: The Steelers stole Santonio Holmes with the 25th pick.
Fun Fact: Santonio Holmes won titles at every level. He won two state football titles in high school, was a member of the 2002 Ohio State championship team and won Super Bowl XLIII.
| GP | GS | YARDS | REC | TD |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 112 | 91 | 6,030 | 389 | 36 |
Nick Mangold // NY Jets // 27th Pick
Ohio State Career: Nick Mangold took over the center position during the second game of his sophomore season. Mangold performed so well that When Alex Stepanovich returned from injury he could not get his starting job back. In 2004 and 2005 Mangold was named second-team All-Big Ten.
Draft Hype: Entering the draft Mangold was considered the No. 1 center in 2006. His stock was bolstered from his play and practice for the Senior Bowl.
NFL Career: Mangold has been a dominant force since arriving in New York. He was named to the All-Rookie Team in 2006. Mangold earned first-team All-Pro honors in 2009 and 2010 and was named second-team All-Pro in 2011. Between 2008 and 2015 he made seven Pro Bowl teams. Mangold has started in every game he has played (156).
Verdict: The last 2006 Buckeye selected in the first round has had the best pro career. Mangold could possibly finish his career with a plaque in Canton.
Fun Fact: Nick's sister, Holly, can kick your ass.
Tonight we'll find out where Ohio State's 2016 NFL Draft class will rank among the all-time greats.
