Five Buckeyes Included Among Top 100 Draft Prospects

The Athletic’s Dane Brugler has released his updated list of top 100 prospects ahead of the 2023 NFL Draft, and five Buckeyes are considered among the best of this upcoming crop of draftees.

The highest ranked was quarterback C.J. Stroud, who checked in at No. 7 overall and as the second-best quarterback behind Alabama’s Bryce Young, who was No. 3. The rest of the top five was rounded out by Georgia defensive tackle Jalen Carter at No. 1, Alabama defensive end Will Anderson at No. 2, Northwestern offensive lineman Peter Skoronski at No. 4 and Oregon cornerback Christian Gonzalez at No. 5.

The next Buckeye was not far behind, with offensive tackle Paris Johnson Jr. cracking the top 10 at No. 9. Johnson is viewed as the second-best tackle in the class behind Skoronski.

Next up for Ohio State was wide receiver Jaxon Smith-Njigba at No. 26. Despite missing almost all of his junior season, Smith-Njigba is still considered the fourth-best wideout in the draft, behind TCU’s Quentin Johnston (No. 25), Tennessee’s Jalin Hyatt (No. 22) and USC’s Jordan Addison (No. 20).

The remaining offensive player on the list for the Buckeyes was offensive tackle Dawand Jones, who checked in at No. 52. While not projected as a first-round pick like Johnson, Jones is still expected to become one of four offensive tackles drafted from Ohio State over the last two drafts.

The final player on the list for Ohio State and the lone defensive prospect was defensive end Zach Harrison, who landed at No. 66. This slots Harrison in as the No. 11 defensive end in the draft after a senior season in which Harrison finished with 34 tackles – eight for loss – with 3.5 sacks, an interception and three forced fumbles.

These Buckeyes will hope to hear their names called when the NFL Draft takes place in Kansas City from April 27-29, with the draft set to be broadcast on ABC, ESPN and NFL Network.