There were 10 Ohio State players selected during this year’s NFL draft, a number that was surpassed only by LSU’s 14.
And while it is uncertain when these players will officially get acclimated with the teams due to the COVID-19 pandemic, each of them have selected their jersey numbers for the upcoming season.
- Defensive end Chase Young, who was selected second overall by the Washington Redskins, is moving from No. 2 to No. 99 at the next level.
- Cornerback Jeff Okudah, who went right after Young with the third pick in the first round to the Detroit Lions, will be staying at No. 1 for the time being. He will wear that number in the preseason, but he is the only former Buckeye that was drafted to not currently have a permanent number.
- Cornerback Damon Arnette, who surprised many when he was taken 19th overall in the first round by the Oakland Raiders, will move from No. 3 to No. 20 under head coach Jon Gruden.
- Running back J.K. Dobbins, who went in the second round, 55th overall, to the Baltimore Ravens, is exchanging his No. 2 for a No. 27. The reason for this selection, despite the negative history the number holds due to former Ravens running back Ray Rice, was because of Dobbins’ late father. “I always wore it in pee wee football. It was my dad’s number,” Dobbins said in a press release. “My dad passed when I was 15. So the reason why I wear No. 27 is to honor my father.”
- Defensive tackle DaVon Hamilton was taken with the 73rd pick overall in the third round by the Jacksonville Jaguars, and will switch from No. 53 to No. 52.
- Offensive guard Jonah Jackson was taken two picks later at 75 by the Lions, and will remain wearing No. 73 at the next level.
- Linebacker Malik Harrison also went in the third round at the 98th pick by the Ravens, and will be joining Dobbins in Baltimore in a No. 40 jersey, switching from his No. 39 with the Buckeyes.
- After two rounds with no Ohio State players selected, safety Jordan Fuller was taken with the 199th pick in the sixth round by the Los Angeles Rams. He will switch from No. 4 to No. 32 for the 2018 NFC champs.
- Wide receiver K.J. Hill, who some considered the steal of the draft when he fell to the Los Angeles Chargers in the seventh round with the 220th pick, will go from No. 14 to No. 84.
- Defensive tackle Jashon Cornell was the third Ohio State player selected by the Lions in the draft with the 235th pick, and is moving on from No. 9 to don No. 96.
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