Ohio State's 2016 NFL Draft class was historic. That isn't exactly breaking news.
But while there were big expectations for the 12-man group heading into their rookie seasons, the former Buckeyes somehow managed to exceed those.
Former running back Ezekiel Elliott took the NFL by storm and led the league in rushing with 1,631 yards and 15 touchdowns. He lost out on Offensive Rookie of the Year honors to teammate Dak Prescott, but claimed plenty of other hardware. Former defensive end Joey Bosa, despite missing the first four games of the season, was named the NFL's Defensive Rookie of the Year after recording 10.5 sacks in 12 games.
There were other big performances, too. And that's why NFL.com's All-Rookie team had a very heavy Ohio State flavor to it.
Released Friday, the NFL.com team featured six former Buckeyes on the list. That's 50 percent of Ohio State's 2016 NFL Draft class. All of which are listed below.
| position | player | team |
|---|---|---|
| RB | Ezekiel Elliott | Dallas Cowboys |
| WR | Michael Thomas | New Orleans Saints |
| OT | Taylor Decker | Detroit Lions |
| DE | Joey Bosa | Los Angeles Chargers |
| LB | Darron Lee | New York Jets |
| CB | Eli Apple | New York Giants |
Another former Buckeye, Tampa Bay Buccaneers defensive lineman Noah Spence, was also named to the team.
Thomas had a historic season for the Saints, catching 92 passes for 1,137 yards and nine touchdowns. Football Outsiders recently declared Thomas' rookie season the best for a wide receiver since Randy Moss.
Decker started every game for the Lions at left tackle this season — including a playoff start. According to the Detroit Free Press, Decker didn't miss a single snap this year as he figures to be a mainstay on the Lions' offensive line.
The 20th overall pick in the 2016 NFL Draft, Lee finished his rookie season second on the Jets with 73 tackles. Apple started 11 games for the Giants — another playoff team — and made 41 tackles and one interception with seven passes defended.
