The 2020 NFL Draft kicks off tonight. To get you ready for the festivities, you will find Ohio State specific notes below. If things go as planned, the Buckeyes will become the all-time leading program with 83, possibly 84, players drafted in the opening round.

First Round All-Time Selections

Ohio State is currently tied with USC for the all-time lead in opening round selections. Both schools currently have 81, but the Buckeyes are expected to have at least two players selected Thursday night.

Simply The Best
Since 1936, the Buckeyes have the most players selected in the first round in the following positions:
Defensive Back…..18
Running Back……..11*
Defensive End…….8*
Center……………......3*
*Tied for first

Closing In
Alabama is the current leader with 12 linebackers drafted in the first round. Ohio State is currently in second place with 11.

At wide receiver, Ohio State is currently tied for second with 8 players picked in the first round. Tennessee is the leader with 11 selections.

First Round Selections This Century
Entering Thursday night, Ohio State and Alabama are tied with the most first round draft picks since the turn of the century. Both programs have 31 players selected in the opening round.

Since the year 2000, the Buckeyes have the most first round selections in the following positions:
Defensive Back…..11
Defensive End…….6
Wide Receiver…….4*
Center…………………..2
*Tied for first with Clemson, LSU and Miami

Closing In Part 2
At the linebacker position, Alabama (5) is one pick ahead of the Buckeyes (4) and three other schools since the year 2000.

All-Time Top 3 Draft Picks

Nine Ohio State players have been selected in the first three picks of an NFL Draft. In 1997, Orlando Pace (1st) and Shawn Springs (3rd) became the first Buckeyes to be drafted in the Top 3 of the same draft.

B1G Statement
Ohio State (1997), Michigan State (1967)*, Nebraska (1984)* and Penn State (2000)* are the only programs with two Top 3 selections in the same draft. If Young and Okudah are both selected in the Top 3, the Buckeyes will become the first team to have this rare feat happen in two separate drafts.

*Had the No. 1 and No. 2 players selected

All-Time Top 5 Draft Picks

16 Buckeyes have been selected as a Top 5 pick; Four of the 16 (25%) have occurred since 2016.

Two Top 5 Draft Picks In The Same Draft
If Young and Okudah are selected in the Top 5, Ohio State will become the first program to have two players selected in the Top 5 in three separate NFL Drafts.

Teams with two players Top 5 selected in the same draft: Ohio State (1997, 2016), Nebraska (1984, 1991), Oklahoma (1976, 2010) and Penn State (1995, 2000).

If Young and Okudah hear their names in the Top 3, the Buckeyes will be the first school to have two Top 3 picks in the same draft on two separate occasions.

Teams with two players Top 5 selected in the same draft: Ohio State (1997, 2016), Nebraska (1984, 1991), Oklahoma (1976, 2010) and Penn State (1995, 2000).

All-Time Top 10 Draft Picks

33 Buckeyes have been selected as a top 10 pick; the first was Jim McDonald (1938, 2nd) and the last was Nick Bosa (2019, 2nd).

Years in which 2 or More Buckeyes were selected in the Top 10 (five times, first was 1959, last 2016)
2016…..3 (Joey Bosa, Ezekiel Elliott, Eli Apple)
2006…..2 (AJ Hawk, Donte Whitner)
1997…..2 (Orlando Pace, Shawn Springs)
1996…..2 (Terry Glenn, Rickey Dudley)
1959…..2 (Don Clark, Dan James)

All-Time Top 10 Draft Picks: Position Breakdown (Based on NFL Position)
RB….…6
B………4
DB……4
OT……4
WR….4
DE……3
LB…….3
C………1
DT…….1
QB……1
OG……1
TE…….1

Ohio State’s Four Top 10 DB Selections
Denzel Ward………2018 (4th) Browns
Eli Apple………….....2016 (10th) Giants
Donte Whitner…....2006 (8th) Bills
Shawn Springs……1997 (3rd) Seahawks
Jeff Okudah………..2020 (?)
 

Ohio State’s Three Top 10 DE Selections
Nick Bosa…………....2019 (2nd) 49ers
Joey Bosa…………....2016 (3rd) Chargers
Vernon Gholston…..2008 (6th) Jets
Chase Young…….....2020 ()
 

Ohio State’s Six Top 10 RB Selections
Ezekiel Elliott…………....2016 (4th) Cowboys
Keith Byars………….......1986 (10th) Eagles
John Brockington......1971 (9th) Packers
Tom Matte…………....….1961 (7th) Colts
Don Clark………….....…..1959 (7th) Bears
Hopalong Cassady…..1956 (3rd) Lions
 

Ohio State’s Four Top 10 Draft Pick OTs
Orlando Pace…..1997 (1st) 1997
Chris Ward……...1978 (4th) 1978
Bob Vogel……….1963 (5th) 1963
Jim Parker………1957 (8th) 1957
 

Ohio State’s Four Top 10 Draft Pick WRs
Ted Ginn……...……2007 (9th) Dolphins
David Boston….…1999 (8th) Cardinals
Terry Glenn…….…1996 (7th) Patriots
Joey Galloway…..1995 (8th) Seahawks
 

Ohio State’s Three Top 10 Draft Pick LBs
A.J. Hawk………....…2006 (5th) Packers
Tom Cousineau…..2006 (1st) Bills
Jim Houston………..1960 (8th) Browns
 

Total 1st Round Picks By Decade

The Buckeyes have 81 1st Round NFL Draft picks.
2010s: 15
2000s: 16
1990s: 15
1980s: 5
1970s: 15
1960s: 8
1950s: 5
1940s: 1
1930s: 1

The Colts have selected 6 Buckeyes in the 1st Round. More than any other NFL team.
The Jets and Saints have selected 5 Buckeyes in the 1st Round.

81 First Round NFL Draft Selections

1st Round DBs (18)
Denzel Ward……….....….2018, Browns 4th pick
Marshon Lattimore…..2017, Saints 11th pick
Malik Hooker…..……...…2017, Colts 15th pick
Gareon Conley…..…...…2017, Raiders 24th pick
Eli Apple…..…..………......2016, Giants 10th pick
Bradley Roby……..…......2014, Broncos 31st pick
Malcolm Jenkins…..…..2009, Saints 14th pick
Donte Whitner……........2006, Bills 8th pick
Chris Gamble………....…2004, Panthers 28th pick
Nate Clements……….....2001, Bills 21st pick
Ahmed Plummer…........2000, 49ers 24th pick
Antoine Winfield……...…1999, Bills 23rd pick
Shawn Springs……….....1997, Seahawks 3rd pick
Vinnie Clark…….………....1997, Packers 19th pick
Tim Fox…………..…….....…1976, Patriots 21st pick
Neil Colzie…………….......1975, Raiders 24th pick
Jack Tatum……………......1971, Raiders 19th pick
Tim Anderson………........1971, 49ers 23rd pick
 

1st Round Tackles (13)
Taylor Decker…........2016, Lions 16th pick
Orlando Pace….....…1997, Rams 1st pick
Korey Stringer….......1995, Vikings 24th pick
Jim Lachey……....…..1985, Chargers 12th pick
William Roberts…....1984, Giants 27th pick
Chris Ward……...…….1978, Jets 4th pick
Kurt Schumacher…..1975, Saints 12th pick
Doug France……..…..1975, Rams 20th pick
Rufus Mayes…..……..1969, Bears 14th pick
Dave Foley……...…….1969, Jets 26th pick
Bob Vogel……..……...1963, Colts 5th pick
Daryl Sanders……..…1963, Lions 12th pick
Jim Parker……...……..1957, Colts 8th pick
 

1st Round Linebackers (11)
Darron Lee…….....………2016, Jets 20th pick
Ryan Shazier……....……2014, Steelers 15th pick
A.J. Hawk……………......2006, Packers 5th pick
Bobby Carpenter….....2006, Cowboys 18th pick
Andy Katzenmoyer…..1999, Patriots 28th pick
Craig Powell………...…..1995, Browns 30th pick
Tom Cousineau…..…….1979, Bills 1st pick
Bob Brudzinski……..…..1977, Rams 23rd pick
Rick Middleton……….....1974, Saints 13th pick
Randy Gradishar…….....1974, Broncos 14th pick
Jim Houston…………......1960, Browns 8th pick
 

1st Round Running Backs (11)
Ezekiel Elliott……........2016, Cowboys 4th pick
Beanie Wells…............2009, Cardinals 31st pick
Eddie George……........1996, Oilers 14th pick
Robert Smith…..…......1993, Vikings 21st pick
Keith Byars…………......1986, Eagles 10th pick
Archie Griffin……..........1976, Bengals 24th pick
John Brockington….....1971, Packers 9th pick
Leo Hayden………....…..1971, Vikings 24th pick
Tom Matte…………...…..1961, Colts 7th pick
Don Clark………….........1959, Bears 7th pick
Hopalong Cassady…..1956, Lions 3rd pick
 

1st Round Defensive Ends (8)
Nick Bosa…………....2019, 49ers 2nd pick
Joey Bosa…………....2016, Chargers 3rd pick
Vernon Gholston…..2008, Jets 6th pick
Will Smith…………....2004, Saints 18th pick
Ryan Pickett………...2001, Rams 29th pick
Alonzo Spellman…..1992, Bears 22nd pick
Eric Kumerow……....1988, Dolphins 16th pick

1st Round WRs (8)
Anthony Gonzalez…..2007, Colts 32nd pick
Ted Ginn Jr………...…..2007, Dolphins 9th pick
Santonio Holmes……2006, Steelers 25th pick
Michael Jenkins……..2004, Falcons 29th pick
David Boston…….…...1999, Cardinals 8th pick
Terry Glenn………..…..1996, Patriots 7th pick
Joey Galloway…….....1995, Seahawks 8th pick
Paul Warfield………....1964, Browns 11th pick
 

1st Round “Backs” (4)
Bob Ferguson………...…...1962, Steelers 5th pick
Fred “Curly” Morrison…..1950, Bears 10th pick
Don Scott……………….......1941, Bears 9th pick
Jim McDonald…………......1938, Eagles 2nd pick
 

1st Round Centers (3)
Billy Price…..…….2018, Colts 21st pick
Nick Mangold…..2006, Jets 29th pick
Dan James….…..1959, 49ers 8th pick
 

1st Round Quarterbacks (2)
Dwayne Haskins…..2019, Redskins 15th pick
Art Schlichter…..……1982, Colts 4th pick
 

1st Round Defensive Tackles (1)
Dan Wilkinson…..1994, Bengals 1st pick
 

1st Round Guards (1)
John Hicks…..1974, Giants 3rd pick
 

1st Round Tight Ends (1)
Rickey Dudley……1996, Raiders 9th pick

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