NFL Preseason Review: Top Storylines & Highlights from Former Buckeyes During the NFL Preseason

Football is officially here. The current Buckeyes took the field Saturday and 40 former Buckeyes will take the field later this week with their respective NFL squads.

With the preseason officially behind us, we take a look back at some of the top moments and storylines for former Buckeyes now in the NFL.

John Simon: Touchdown Machine

Texans linebacker John Simon had the most impressive preseason of any former Buckeye and it's really not that close. Simon found the endzone twice in just four weeks, scoring on a scoop-and-score after a Carlos Hyde fumble (some Buckeye on Buckeye crime) as well as on a ridiculous tipped pass interception of Carson Palmer.

Simon finished the NFL preseason with 12 points – he plays defense.

Position Changes

Ohio State has three quarterbacks in the NFL, but two of them play wide receiver.

By all accounts, Braxton Miller and Terrelle Pryor's position switches appear to be going quite swimmingly thus far.

Pryor has been putting on quite a show these past few weeks, beginning with his return to Ohio Stadium in June. The former Buckeye quarterback accounted for two touchdown passes including one 75-yarder which can be seen at the 35 minute mark of this video captured by ABC6 in Columbus.

His explosiveness continued to the preseason, where he led the team in receiving, catching five passes for 122 yards and a touchdown.

Miller, not to be outdone, leads the Texans in receptions, tallying 10 for 97 yards. He also put together a nice string of highlights this preseason.

Getting Paid

Contracts were in the news more than one particular Buckeye would have liked.

After months of negotiations and drama, former Ohio State standout defensive-end Joey Bosa and the San Diego Chargers finally came to terms, agreeing to a four-year $25.8 million deal.

Bosa was not the only Buckeye to get paid – the contracts of the 12 drafted players are worth a combined $111.2 million.

#DevelopedHere pic.twitter.com/oPAOzOK66J

— Ohio State Football (@OhioStateFB) August 29, 2016

Making The Cut

Perhaps the most exciting news of the offseason came Saturday evening when it was announced that undrafted free agents Jalin Marshall and Tyvis Powell had survived cuts and made the initial 53-man rosters for their respective NFL teams.

For both of them, special teams play seemed to be the difference (listen up, kids). Marshall made a few eye-popping plays as a kick returner while Powell decleated a man on kick coverage.

This is a dream come true for both these players and is the culmination of years of work. Congratulations to them on earning a place among the elite of the elite.

Along with Marshall and Powell, 38 other former Buckeyes survived cuts and found an NFL home following the preseason. Here's the complete list, and where you'll find them this fall.