Ohio State Sees Three Drafted To Extend Lead For Most First Rounders

The opening night of the NFL Draft was a success for Ohio State, which saw three Buckeyes hear their names called as first-round selections.

That list includes quarterback C.J. Stroud, who was taken No. 2 overall by the Houston Texans; offensive tackle Paris Johnson Jr. at No. 6 by the Arizona Cardinals; and wide receiver Jaxon Smith-Njigba, who was picked at No. 20 by the Seattle Seahawks.

Ohio State entered the draft already holding the record for most all-time first-round draft selections, with 87 former Buckeyes having heard their names called in the first round ahead of this year’s festivities. USC was the next closest with 84, followed by Alabama with 75 and Notre Dame with 70.

The additions of Stroud, Johnson and Smith-Njigba bring that number to an even 90 first-rounders now for Ohio State. Of the previous list, Alabama added three first-rounders – tied for the most along with the Buckeyes and Georgia – and USC added one first-rounder in wide receiver Jordan Addison, meaning Ohio State has five more first-rounders than the next best program in college football.

Ohio State’s three first-round selections in this year’s draft is the most for the program since 2020, when defensive end Chase Young and cornerbacks Jeff Okudah and Damon Arnette all went in the first round. The most first-rounders in a single draft for Ohio State is five, achieved in both 2006 and 2016.

More Buckeyes will hope to hear their named called on Friday during the second and third rounds, with offensive tackle Dawand Jones, defensive end Zach Harrison and center Luke Wypler among those projected in those rounds.