Ohio State Football: Leaving after 3 years paid off for these Buckeyes
Ohio State football players have been moving on to the NFL early for a couple of decades but after Urban Meyer took over it has picked up.
Since players have been allowed to enter the NFL draft after three years of college ball there have been Ohio State football players willing to take the leap to the pros. After Urban Meyer took over as head coach there have been several you have to admit made the right decision.
The first to leave after three years was Johnathan Hankins who only played one season for coach Meyer. Some had Hankins being a first round pick but he was chosen in the second by the New York Giants with the 49th pick.
Hankins has had a nice career and is now playing for the Oakland Raiders.
Here is a look at players who definitely made the right decision to turn pro, at least from a financial standpoint. According to Statista.com the average NFL career is 3.3 years and these players were guaranteed four years of paychecks regardless.
They weren’t small ones either. Let’s first take a look at another of Jim Tressel’s recruits.
I will round off the contracts. You can get the full details at Over The Cap.com.
2014 Draft
Ryan Shazier #15, Pittsburgh Steelers $9,000,000: Shazier was having a fine career before unfortunately suffering a spinal injury. The Steelers have been gracious to say the least by keeping Shazier on the payroll while he attempts to come back from his injury.
Now a look at players recruited by Urban who were drafted in the first round.
2016
- Joey Bosa #3, San Diego Chargers $25,000,000: Of course he hit the ground running winning the NFL Defensive Rookie of the Year award and has been attacking quarterbacks since.
- Ezekiel Elliott #4, Dallas Cowboys $25,000,000: What a start to an NFL career rushing for 4,000 yards and added another 1,000 yards receiving his first three seasons.
- Eli Apple #10, New York Giants $15,000,000: It looks like he may have found a home in New Orleans with his college teammates.
- Darron Lee #20, New York Jets $10,000,000: Lee has had an up and down career so hopefully being traded to the Kansas City Chiefs will give him a new lease on life.
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2017 Draft
- Marshon Lattimore #11, New Orleans Saints $14,000,000: Like Bosa, Lattimore was named NFL Defensive Rookie of the Year.
- Malik Hooker #15, Indianapolis Colts $12,000,000: Hooker is also off to a nice start with 43 tackles and 5 interceptions his first two NFL seasons.
2018
- Denzel Ward # 4, Cleveland Browns $29,000,000: Ward played well as a rookie but had injury issues.
2019
- Nick Bosa #2, San Francisco 49ers (Projected Salary $33,000,000): Sign the contract Nick.
- Dwayne Haskins #15 Washington Redskins $14,000,000: Even though he slid in the draft Haskins will certainly be paid well.
Next. Rushing attack has to be strong this season. dark
I would have to say these former Ohio State football players made the right move to turn pro after three years. Next time I’ll look at the others who didn’t return for their fourth season and see how they fared.