Four Ohio State linemen will participate in drills at the NFL and one, Dre’Mont Jones, will have a chance to prove he is worthy of being a first round pick.
Ohio State linemen, Nick Bosa, Dre’Mont Jones, Michael Jordan and Isaiah Prince will have a chance to impress scouts and general managers at the NFL Combine. As I wrote previously, Bosa is assured of being a high draft pick if he just answers questions about his health, which he should.
Of the other three, Jones may have the most to gain. If he performs well he could end up being a first round pick.
There are plenty of outstanding defensive linemen in this year’s draft but few have the potential to play either inside or out like the Ohio State defensive tackle.
At 6 ft. 3, 286 pounds most have Jones pegged as playing as a three technique defensive tackle or possibly at end in a 3-4 scheme. If he performs well in speed and agility drills at the Combine, I think scouts may envision him playing on the edge in a 4-3 defense as well.
General managers and coaches love versatile linemen. The NFL season is a grind and players get nicked up, so a player who can move around and play different positions is a valuable commodity.
A good performance at the Combine, to go along with Jones’ 43 tackles with 13 for a loss and 8.5 sacks last season, could push him up in the draft order to become a first day pick.
Now for the big guys on the offensive side of the ball. It appears Jordan and Prince have passed the first test at the Combine.
More from Ohio State Football
- Ohio State Football: How Denzel Burke has bounced back so far this season
- Ohio State Football rolling into form at the perfect time
- How Ohio State football has done historically versus new Big 12
- Ohio State Football: We need to see “Killer Ryan Day” at South Bend
- Ohio State Football vs. Notre Dame Prediction, Odds, Spread and Over/Under for College Football Week 4
Here are their measurables as reported by Patrick Murphy of 247Sports.
- Michael Jordan: 6 ft. 5 ⅞ inches, 312 pounds, hand size 10 inches, arm length 34 2/8 inches and wingspan 83 inches
- Isaiah Prince: 6 ft. 6 4/8 inches, 305 pounds, hand size 10 ⅛ inches, arm length 35 4/8 inches and wingspan 84 4/8 inches
General managers pay close attention to arm length especially when it comes to an offensive tackle like Prince. They want a player with long arms who can get a hand on an edge rusher before he gets a head of steam.
Both offensive linemen can improve their draft stock by performing well in the bench press and agility drills. But as far as projecting where these players will land is difficult.
If an offensive lineman isn’t a lock to be drafted in the first round he can often slide to a team who has a need at his position. Since both Jordan and Prince were All-Big Ten performers last season, with an impressive Combine they could be chosen high in the draft.
I am as interested in when the Ohio State big guys will be drafted as much as the speedy guys and the quarterback with a cannon. I think it could be another draft where people will talking about Ohio State football players when everything is said and done.
Everybody knows Nick Bosa will be a draft choice, but what if Dre’Mont Jones impresses the scouts at the Combine and becomes a first day pick. Tell me that wouldn’t be another feather in the cap of Larry Johnson who has probably sent more defensive lineman to the NFL as 1st round picks than any other coach in college football history.