How Ohio State Could Make History in the 2025 NFL Draft

The Ohio State Buckeyes are no strangers to producing NFL talent. From Hall of Famers like Orlando Pace and Cris Carter to recent first-round picks like Justin Fields, Garrett Wilson, and C.J. Stroud, the Scarlet and Gray have long been a staple of the NFL pipeline. But as the 2025 NFL Draft approaches, Ryan Day’s program stands on the verge of something truly historic.

This year’s draft could be remembered as the most dominant Buckeye showcase of all time, potentially setting multiple program, Big Ten, and even national records in a single weekend. With elite talent at nearly every position—headlined by generational wide receiver Marvin Harrison Jr.—Ohio State is poised to make a thunderous statement about its place in the college football hierarchy.

Let’s break down exactly how the Buckeyes could etch their names into NFL Draft history in 2025.

A Historic First Round in Sight

Multiple First-Round Picks

Ohio State has had three players selected in the first round of the NFL Draft on three separate occasions (2006, 2016, 2020). That record may not just be tied in 2025—it could be obliterated.

Realistic projections have four to six Buckeyes landing in the first round:

1. Marvin Harrison Jr. (WR) – A lock for the top five, possibly as high as No. 2.
2. Emeka Egbuka (WR) – Once viewed as a top-15 prospect, he’s healthy again and surging.
3. JT Tuimoloau (EDGE) – Has first-round traits and could shine in pre-draft workouts.
4. Jack Sawyer (EDGE) – A strong 2024 campaign put him back in the conversation.
5. Donovan Jackson (OG) – An athletic interior lineman with Day 1 starter potential.
6. TreVeyon Henderson (RB) – With the right fit, he could sneak into the back of Round 1.

If five or more Buckeyes go in the first round, it would break the school record and match or exceed the all-time record of six first-rounders from a single school, set by Miami in 2004 and matched by Alabama in 2021.

Ohio State may also become the first school in NFL history to have two wide receivers drafted in the top 15 in back-to-back years, following 2024’s pairing of Marvin Harrison Jr. and Emeka Egbuka.

Marvin Harrison Jr. Could Make History on His Own

There’s a good reason Harrison Jr. is the centerpiece of this draft for Ohio State. The All-American wideout is not only the best receiver prospect in years—he’s potentially one of the highest-drafted Buckeyes ever.

Highest Buckeye Draft Picks

• Orlando Pace – No. 1 overall in 1997 (St. Louis Rams)
• Nick Bosa – No. 2 in 2019 (San Francisco 49ers)
• Chase Young – No. 2 in 2020 (Washington)

If Harrison is selected No. 2 overall—or, in a shock, No. 1—he will tie or break the mark for the highest-drafted wide receiver in school history and potentially tie Pace as the school’s only No. 1 overall pick in the modern era.

He would also become the first wide receiver since Keyshawn Johnson in 1996 to be taken first overall, should a team value him over the quarterbacks.

Drafting Domination by Position

Wide Receiver U Ascending

The Buckeyes’ claim to “Wide Receiver U” status could be cemented with Harrison and Egbuka both going in Round 1. This would mark the third straight draft with at least one Ohio State wide receiver taken in the first round, following Garrett Wilson and Chris Olave (2022), and Jaxon Smith-Njigba (2023).

Here’s a recent breakdown of Ohio State WRs drafted in Round 1:

• 2022: Garrett Wilson (Jets), Chris Olave (Saints)
• 2023: Jaxon Smith-Njigba (Seahawks)
• 2024: Marvin Harrison Jr. (Projected top-five)
• 2025: Emeka Egbuka (Projected top-20)

That’s five first-round receivers in four years, a run that no other program can match, including Alabama and LSU.

Defensive Line Rebirth

Once a dominant factory for edge rushers like the Bosa brothers and Chase Young, Ohio State has seen a relative lull in DL draft production. But 2025 could mark a resurgence.

• JT Tuimoloau – A former five-star recruit who possesses elite strength and versatility.
• Jack Sawyer – Another five-star who showed flashes of dominance in 2024.

If both edge rushers land in Round 1, it would be the first time since 2016 that Ohio State produced multiple defensive linemen in the first round. That year featured Joey Bosa (No. 3) and Adolphus Washington (Round 3), part of a dominant defensive class.

Total Draft Picks: Could Ohio State Break Its Own Record?

The Buckeyes’ program record for most draft picks in a single year is 14, set in 2004 under Jim Tressel. That included three first-rounders and a wave of Day 2 and Day 3 selections.

This year’s roster is deep enough to challenge or break that mark, especially with players from every position group drawing mid-to-late round interest:

• Tommy Eichenberg (LB) – Gritty, productive inside linebacker.
• Josh Proctor (S) – Physical safety with Day 3 appeal.
• Tyleik Williams (DL) – Versatile lineman who impressed scouts during Senior Bowl week.
• Matthew Jones (OL) – Reliable interior lineman with guard/center flexibility.
• Cade Stover (TE) – Former linebacker turned tight end with sneaky athleticism.
• Lathan Ransom (S) – When healthy, a fearless tone-setter.

Add in potential undrafted free agents who could be late risers, and it’s feasible Ohio State sends 12 to 15 players to the NFL this year. If they hit 15, it would tie LSU (2020) and match Georgia’s 2022 output, which holds the all-time record at 15 picks.

First at Their Positions?

There’s also potential for three Buckeyes to be the first players taken at their positions:

• Marvin Harrison Jr. – Widely expected to be the first WR off the board.
• Donovan Jackson – Could sneak in as the first interior lineman selected if teams prioritize athleticism.
• TreVeyon Henderson – With a shallow RB class, he could be the first back taken.

If this occurs, Ohio State would become just the third program ever to produce the top WR, OL, and RB in a single draft—joining Alabama (2021) and Miami (2004).

Historical Comparison to 2016

The 2016 NFL Draft remains the gold standard for Ohio State:

• 12 players drafted
• 5 first-rounders, including Joey Bosa, Ezekiel Elliott, and Eli Apple
• Several long-time pros and Pro Bowlers emerged

2025 has the potential to surpass even that legendary class, both in top-end talent and total selections. It may lack the quarterback component, but the balance across offense and defense makes this class arguably more complete.

NFL Team Impact

Which Teams Are Watching Closely?

Several NFL franchises with high picks and receiver needs are circling the Buckeye talent:

• Arizona Cardinals (No. 2, No. 19) – Widely projected to take Harrison.
• Chicago Bears (No. 9) – Could pair Egbuka with DJ Moore and Keenan Allen.
• New England Patriots (No. 3) – Need skill players and could surprise with a WR early.
• Tennessee Titans, Cincinnati Bengals, Dallas Cowboys – All possible fits for Tuimoloau or Sawyer.

If a team double-dips on Buckeyes—as the Jets and Saints did in 2022—it would only enhance the storyline.

What It Means for Ohio State and the Big Ten

From a program perspective, such a historic showing would reinforce Ohio State’s NFL development pipeline in the NIL and transfer portal era. It would give Day another major recruiting tool and could help keep elite talent flowing into Columbus.

For the Big Ten, Ohio State’s success at the draft would bolster the conference’s claim to being the best football conference in America—especially as USC, UCLA, Oregon, and Washington join the fold in 2024.

If Ohio State dominates while Michigan, Penn State, and USC also produce multiple picks, it could mark a turning point in draft dominance away from the SEC and toward the newly-expanded Big Ten.

Conclusion: A Draft to Remember?

There’s no denying the 2025 NFL Draft could become one of the most important weekends in Ohio State football history. Between a potential top-two pick, multiple first-rounders, and possibly a record-setting number of total draftees, the Buckeyes are perfectly positioned to remind the football world of their dominance.

While championships are the ultimate goal on the field, the NFL Draft offers a different kind of victory—a validation of talent, development, and culture. And in 2025, Ohio State might just win it all on that front.