As an Ohio State fan, I'm sure the off-season has been as long and grueling on you as it has been on me. With the NFL Draft starting on Thursday let's take a look at how Ohio State players have performed on selection day.
Ohio State players have made their mark in the NFL draft over the years. 347 Buckeyes have been selected in the draft since its inception in 1936. 69 of the players were first-round draft picks. Information in this article came from The 2013 Ohio State Football Team Guide.
Over the next five days I will share with you the 347 Buckeyes who have been lucky enough to get their name called on draft day. Today we will start with the 1930s and 1940s. At the bottom of the article you will find the schedule for this series.
Before we get to the 48 players from the '30s and '40s here is some trivia.
Cliff Clavin's Trivia Corner
Since 1940, there has only been one draft that an Ohio State player was not selected. What year was the Buckeye draft day goose egg?
Halfback James McDonald was Ohio State's first 1st-round draft pick. What year was McDonald selected by the Eagles?
How many Buckeyes have been drafted in the first round?
Buckeyes Drafted in the 1930s
1936 8th Dick Heekin (B) ..................New York Giants
1937 6th Merle Wendt (E) ................Green Bay Packers
1938 1st James McDonald (HB) .......Philadelphia Eagles
1938 3rd Gust Zarnas (G).................Chicago Bears
Buckeyes Drafted in the 1940s
1940 3rd Esco Sarkkinen (E) .......Green Bay Packers
1940 15th Steve Andrako (C)........Washington Redskins
1941 3rd Don Scott (B) .................Chicago Bears
1941 20th Jim Strasbaugh (B) ......Green Bay Packers
1942 10th Jim Daniell (T) .............Chicago Bears
1942 14th Tom Kinkade (B) ..........Green Bay Packers
1943 11th Don McCafferty (T) ......New York Giants
1944 9th Lin Houston (G) .............Chicago Bears
1945 2nd Gordon Appleby (C).......New York Giants
1945 2nd Jack Dugger (E) ........... Pittsburgh Steelers
1945 11th Bill Hackett (B)..............Green Bay Packers
1945 15th Bob Jabbusch (G) ........New York Giants
1945 23rd Cy Souders (E) ............Washington Redskins
1945 29th John Friday (B) ............Green Bay Packers
1946 6th Joe Waisler (B)...............Los Angeles Rams
1946 9th Tom Phillips (B) ..............Los Angeles Rams
1946 11th Warren Amling (G) ........New York Giants
1947 10th Tony Adamle (C) ..........Chicago Bears
1947 10th Dante Lavelli (E) ..........Los Angeles Rams
1947 28th Dean Hall (G) ...............Los Angeles Rams
1948 4th Bob Brugge (B) ..............Chicago Bears
1948 8th Dick Flanagan (E) ..........Chicago Bears
1948 12th Ollie Cline (B) ...............Chicago Bears
1949 6th Jerry Krall (B) .................Chicago Bears
Through Thursday I will post an article about Ohio State players and the NFL Draft:
Sunday- 1930s and 1940s
Monday- 1950s and 1960s
Tuesday- 1970s and 1980s
Wednesday- 1990s and 2000s
Thursday- 2010s and Recap
Cliff Clavin's Trivia Corner Answers
Since 1940, there has only been one draft that an Ohio State player was not selected. What year was the Buckeye draft day goose egg?
Answer: 1998 (Surprising isn't it?)
Halfback James McDonald was Ohio State's first 1st-round draft pick. What year was McDonald selected by the Eagles?
Answer: 1938
How many Buckeyes have been drafted in the first round?
Answer: 70 (If you read the first paragraph you knew this.)