Ohio State was the best team in college football last season, and it showed in Thursday night’s first round of the 2025 NFL draft.
Ohio State was the only school to have four players selected in the first round of the 2025 NFL draft as wide receiver Emeka Egbuka (No. 19 overall, Tampa Bay Buccaneers), guard Donovan Jackson (No. 24 overall, Minnesota Vikings), defensive tackle Tyleik Williams (No. 28 overall, Detroit Lions) and offensive tackle Josh Simmons (No. 32 overall, Kansas City Chiefs) were all among the draft’s first 32 picks.
Georgia and Michigan tied for the second-most picks on Thursday night with three apiece.
It’s the first time in three years that any school has had four first-round picks. The last team to hit that number before Thursday was Georgia, which had five first-rounders in the 2022 NFL draft.
It’s the fourth time Ohio State has had four or more first-round picks. Ohio State had five first-round picks in both 2016 and 2006 and four first-round picks in 1971.
| Year | Picks | Players |
|---|---|---|
| 2025 | 4 | WR Emeka Egbuka (19), G Donovan Jackson (24), DT Tyleik Williams (28), OT Josh Simmons (32) |
| 2016 | 5 | DE Joey Bosa (3), RB Ezekiel Elliott (4), CB Eli Apple (10), OT Taylor Decker (16), LB Darron Lee (20) |
| 2006 | 5 | LB A.J. Hawk (5), S Donte Whitner (8), LB Bobby Carpenter (18), WR Santonio Holmes (25), C Nick Mangold (29) |
| 1971 | 4 | RB John Brockington (9), DB Jack Tatum (19), DB Tim Anderson (23), RB Leo Hayden (24) |
With its four first-round picks, Ohio State extended its all-time lead for the most first-round picks to 95. Ohio State has now had nine more first-round picks than any other school; USC has the second-most with 86.
As successful as Thursday night’s first round was for the Buckeyes, it’s only the beginning of what could be Ohio State’s most prolific NFL draft ever.
Running backs TreVeyon Henderson and Quinshon Judkins and defensive ends JT Tuimoloau and Jack Sawyer are all candidates to hear their names called in Friday night’s second round. Quarterback Will Howard, defensive backs Denzel Burke, Jordan Hancock and Lathan Ransom, center Seth McLaughlin, defensive tackle Ty Hamilton and linebacker Cody Simon are also all expected to be drafted. If all of them are, Ohio State would tie Georgia’s record (also in 2022) for the most players selected in a seven-round NFL draft with 15.
Stay tuned with Eleven Warriors for much more coverage of Ohio State’s 2025 NFL draft picks as the draft continues Friday (Rounds 2-3 starting at 7 p.m.) and Saturday (Rounds 4-7 starting at noon).
