Ohio State has adopted the term, “developed here,” when referring to the boatload of former Buckeyes who have thrived in the NFL since donning the Scarlet and Gray, and that is no different this upcoming NFL season with 49 former Ohio State players making the 53-man 2024 rosters of NFL teams on Tuesday.
This number does not include players who began their NFL careers at Ohio State but transferred elsewhere to close out their collegiate careers, such as Cincinnati Bengals quarterback Joe Burrow, who transferred to LSU from Ohio State in 2018, winning a Heisman Trophy and national title with the Tigers in 2019, and Detroit Lions wide receiver Jameson Williams, who transferred to Alabama for the 2021 season.
There are plenty of Buckeyes spread throughout the NFL, but nowhere more than in New Orleans and Seattle, who each have four former Ohio State players on their 53-man rosters, including Zach Harrison, Marshon Lattimore, Chris Olave, Pete Werner on the Saints and Jerome Baker, Jonathan Hankins, Jaxon Smith-Njigba and Dre’Mont Jones on the Seahawks.
Several of Ohio State’s drafted rookies also made their respective 53-man rosters, including first-round pick and Arizona Cardinals wide receiver Marvin Harrison Jr., Houston Texas tight end Cade Stover and Oakland Raiders linebacker Tommy Eichenberg. Cleveland Browns second-round draft selection Michael Hall Jr., who played three seasons for Ohio State at defensive tackle, starts his rookie season on the commissioner’s exempt list as the investigation continues into his domestic violence case that caused him to be arrested earlier this month.
A number of former Buckeyes were also released this week as NFL teams were required to cut their rosters down to 53 players, including: wide receivers Noah Brown (Texans), Parris Campbell (Eagles) and Xavier Johnson (Bills); offensive linemen Wyatt Davis (Browns), Jamarco Jones (Lions) and Matthew Jones (Dolphins); defensive linemen Jalyn Holmes (Jets) and Tommy Togiai (Falcons); linebackers Tyreke Smith (Cardinals) and Steele Chambers (Patriots) cornerbacks Kendall Sheffield (Jets) and Shaun Wade (Patriots) and safeties Josh Proctor (Jaguars) and Tanner McCalister (Broncos).
These players still could find themselves back on NFL rosters for Week 1 if they are to be picked up by other teams, as each team will add 16 players to its practice squad before then. Players who made the initial 53-man roster could also be released if their teams sign players who were released by other teams this summer.
The 2024 NFL season will begin Sept. 5 when the reigning Super Bowl champion Chiefs face off against former Ohio State defensive end Malik Harrison and the Baltimore Ravens.
