The 2022 NFL Draft has wrapped, and it was another successful outing for Ohio State as six former Buckeyes heard their names called during the three-day event from April 28-30.
It didn’t take long for the first Buckeyes to come off the board, as wide receivers Garrett Wilson and Chris Olave were taken back-to-back with the No. 10 and No. 11 overall picks. Wilson is headed to the New York Jets, while Olave will join several former Buckeyes playing for the New Orleans Saints. Though it does not count for Ohio State, the next pick was former Buckeye and Crimson Tide receiver Jameson Williams, who went No. 12 overall to the Detroit Lions.
Ohio State went without a draftee in the second round for the first time since 2011, but bounced back with two selections in the third round. Offensive tackle Nicholas Petit-Frere was taken No. 69 overall by the Tennessee Titans, joining former Buckeye and current Titans head coach Mike Vrabel. Tight end Jeremy Ruckert then came off the board near the end of the third round, joining Wilson in New York with the No. 101 overall pick.
The next day, defensive end Tyreke Smith became the first Ohio State defender that was drafted, going to the Seattle Seahawks with the No. 158 overall selection. It was the latest that the first Ohio State defender had been taken since 2010.
The final selection from Ohio State was offensive lineman Thayer Munford, who the Las Vegas Raiders used a flyer on at No. 238 overall, midway through the seventh round.
With just six selections, Ohio State tied with three other schools – including Baylor, Ole Miss and UCLA – for the seventh-most selections from a school. Ohio State’s long-standing record of the most draftees from a school – set with 14 selections in 2004 – was snapped by Georgia, who had 15 former Bulldogs hear their names called.
It was the fewest draftees for Ohio State since the 2015 NFL Draft, when just five former Buckeyes heard their names called. Additionally, it was the first time that only one defender was taken since the 2012 NFL Draft in which safety Nate Ebner was the only player taken on that side of the ball from Ohio State.
Following the draft’s conclusion, the league still was not done taking a chance on former Ohio State players.
Defensive tackle Haskell Garrett signed an undrafted free agent contract with the Tennessee Titans, joining Petit-Frere and Vrabel, while running back Master Teague signed an undrafted free agent contract with the Chicago Bears, joining former teammate Justin Fields in the Windy City.
Several former Buckeyes also received invitations to NFL rookie minicamps, including wide receiver Chris Booker, defensive tackle Antwan Jackson and do-it-all Demario McCall. Booker received an invitation from the Arizona Cardinals, Jackson will get his shot with the New York Giants, and McCall will also be headed to Chicago.
