NFL Draft analyst Dane Brugler has five Ohio State Buckeyes in his latest NFL Draft Top 50.
Tied for the most in CFB with Georgia and Alabama.
#2 - WR Marvin Harrison Jr.
The best wide receiver prospect that I have evaluated over the last decade, Harrison (48 catches for 889 yards and eight TDs) offers a rare package of physical traits and savvy, and it has made him nearly uncoverable at the college level. His athletic dexterity and instincts, both as a route runner and at the catch point, are what really separate him — especially for a 6-foot-4 receiver.
Although he isn’t as physically imposing as Julio Jones, there are several similarities between the two, including the way they play strong to the football.
#20 - WR Emeka Egbuka
An ankle injury sidelined Egbuka (22 catches for 303 yards, three TDs) for most of October, but the Ohio State offense looks much different when he’s on the field. In fact, the Buckeyes probably wouldn’t have beaten Notre Dame without him.
He is a magnet that can open voids in the defense, and he shows innate ball-judgement skills and hand strength. His skill set is more subtle than Marvin Harrison Jr.’s, but Egbuka is a pro-ready receiver.
#23 - EDGE JT Tuimoloau
A physical presence for all four quarters, Tuimoloau (5.0 tackles for loss, 4.0 sacks) wins the point of attack with aggressive hands and by using body leverage to pry open pass-rush lanes.
He needs to work on becoming more deceptive (like he was on his fake stunt against Olu Fashanu) to consistently beat NFL tackles, but his baseline traits make him a next-level starter.
#36 - EDGE Jack Sawyer
While J.T. Tuimoloau receives most of the attention on the Ohio State defensive line, Sawyer’s impact has been instrumental to the Buckeyes’ success.
Built the right way at 6 feet 4 and 265 pounds, Sawyer (26 tackles, 2.0 tackles for loss, 1.5 sacks) is more good than great in several categories. He is well-rounded, though, and could be a valuable piece to an NFL defensive line with his aggressive and always-alert play style versus both run and pass.
#37 - CB Denzel Burke
The Big Ten leader in pass breakups (nine), Burke is a good-sized athlete with the feet to stay on top of routes. His aggressive tendencies downfield with his back to the football lead to volatility in his game, but his competitive makeup and movement skills are traits that can be coached up in the NFL.
Hard to find someone more respected than Dane Brugler in the NFL Draft space.
Brugler watches a ton of film and tends to shy away from the clickbait, headline-grabbing takes his peers often make. He also has an excellent pulse on how the league views prospects.
You could make the case for several other Buckeyes to make this list too - this year's team is loaded with blue chip players.
