Heading into the 2019 NFL Combine, 10 former Ohio State football players had high expectations. Many of those expectations were met and pro stock shot upward for several of the players.
Expectations for the Ohio State football players included top-10 draft potential for both Dwayne Haskins and Nick Bosa, with Bosa being tabbed by many to be the Number 1 overall selection in April.
The Buckeye DE answered many questions about his health after suffering a core injury last September, passing the test most scouts were focused on more than the drills, his physical. He showed the readiness of his core by performing impressively in both the 3-cone drill and 20-yard shuttle, which require activation of the core.
Haskins proved his stock as a Top-10 pick but has been overshadowed by the rising stock of Kyler Murray. The Oklahoma QB could be taken first overall by Arizona to play for former Texas Tech head coach Kliff Kingsbury.
While Haskins did not participate in all of the drills, his throwing ability was widely on display and he impressed many of the scouts in Lucas Oil Stadium.
Although he played as a defensive lineman for Ohio State, Dre’Mont Jones took on the Combine as a linebacker. Like Bosa, he was exceptional in the shuttle drills and posted a 4.53 time in the 3-cone drill, which is important in determining the agility of a player.
At the running back position, Mike Weber displayed his strength and speed, completing 22 reps at the bench press and achieving a 4.47 time in the 40-yard dash. He may not be a first-round selection like Bosa or Haskins but should find a home in the second or third.
Two players who helped Weber find running room at Ohio State, Michael Jordan and Isaiah Prince, also performed well. Jordan posted an impressive 4.71 in the 20-yard shuttle and displayed his athleticism in the long and broad jump. Prince pushed out 23 reps at the bench while placing in the top-10 of offensive linemen with a time of 5.09 in the 40 .
Before we get to the most impressive group at the Combine, it is important to identify the one unfortunate shortcoming for Ohio State. Defensive back Kendall Sheffield suffered a Torn Pec (which will not require surgery), and was unable to participate during the DB drills .
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Now to the most impressive group, the wideouts. Terry McLaurin and Johnnie Dixon performed impressively in the 40-yard dash and showed off their pass catching ability during their drills. However, the MVP of the entire Combine for Ohio State was Parris Campbell.
Adored by many during his time in Columbus, Parris Campbell continued impressing Buckeye fans with an outstanding performance at the Combine. He tied with Andy Isabella from UMASS for the fastest 40 time from a wideout (t-3rd overall) with a 4.31, reminding many fans of his breakaway run against a certain team from up north in November.
He also leaped to success, with the fifth-highest vertical and the third-longest broad jump, and tied for the third fastest 20-yard shuttle overall. However, his most impressive display was a over-the-shoulder circus catch along the sideline that quickly went viral on the NFL social media pages.
Overall, Bosa and Haskins showed that they are indeed top-10 draft material, Campbell may have moved himself near the first round, and the rest showed that Ohio State is and will remain an NFL factory.
The way Ohio State players performed at the Combine showed that come April there will be 10 new Buckeyes in the NFL.