Which former Ohio State football players are NFL free agents in 2021?

At the beginning of the 2020 NFL season, there were a total of 50 former Ohio State football players on an NFL roster. 12 of those 50 Buckeyes now find themselves as free agents and will be in search of a new contract. Let’s take a look at the available Buckeyes.

RB Carlos Hyde– Seattle Seahawks- Age: 29

Carlos Hyde is a name that will always be remembered in Columbus. His successor, Ezekiel Elliott, may have stolen some fame from Hyde, but he still is one of the best running backs in recent Ohio State football history. Hyde ranks in the top-10 in rushing yards and rushing touchdowns in Ohio State history. He has spent his career with San Francisco, a short stint with Cleveland and Jacksonville, a year with the Texans, and a year with the Seahawks.

C Corey Linsley- Green Bay Packers- Age: 29

Linsley was Carlos Hyde’s teammate at Ohio State and was drafted in the fifth round of the 2014 NFL Draft. He has become a very reliable NFL center and signed a three-year, $25.5 million contract extension back in 2017.

WR Curtis Samuel– Carolina Panthers- Age: 24

Curtis Samuel made one of the most memorable plays in Ohio State history. No one could forget his walk-off touchdown in the double-overtime win over Michigan in 2016. Still just 24-years-old and with a decent past four years, Samuel will have the chance to make even more money than the $1.2 million he made with the Panthers in 2020.

WR Austin Mack- New York Giants- Age: 23

If there is one word to describe Austin Mack’s college career, it’s “underappreciated”. Due to injuries and boatloads of talent at the same position, Mack did not see as much playing time as others. He went undrafted in last year’s draft and signed on with the Giants practice squad. He was activated to the NFL roster late in the season.

S Malik Hooker– Indianapolis Colts- Age: 24

One of the most exciting secondary players in Buckeye history, Malik Hooker, is a free agent. At Ohio State, Hooker was a pick-six waiting to happen. He was a top-15 draft pick in 2017 and has had a good four years with the Colts. He is expected to earn more than the $2 million he made in 2020.

DT Johnathan Hankins– Las Vegas Raiders- Age: 29

Johnathan Hankins was one of the few Buckeyes to play for three different head coaches at Ohio State. He began his college career in 2010 under Jim Tressel, played for Luke Fickell in 2011, and then Urban Meyer in 2012.

He was drafted in the second round by the New York Giants in 2013 and would spend his first four years in the Big Apple. He had a cup of coffee with the Colts, then played two seasons in Oakland, and spent the 2020 season with the Raiders. He started all 16 games for Vegas in 2020 and will be a key member of whichever team he plays for in 2021.

CB Gareon Conley– Houston Texans- Age: 25

Conley was a great corner at Ohio State and was drafted 24th overall in the 2017 NFL Draft. He was originally drafted by the Raiders and saw limited playing time during his rookie year. He was a 14-game starter in 2018 and split the 2019 season with the Raiders and Texans. Prior to the start of the 2020 season, the Texans declined his contract, making him a free agent in 2021.

S Nate Ebner- New York Giants- Age: 32

What a career Nate Ebner has had as a special teams and defensive player. Recruited by Jim Tressel at Ohio State, Ebner has quietly turned into a very solid and dependable pro. Despite zero career starts, Ebner has had meaningful playing time in all nine of his NFL seasons.

Nate spent his first eight seasons in New England, where he won three Super Bowls. He played in all 16 games in 2020 for the Giants. This very well could be the end-of-the-road for the Dublin, Ohio native. If so, what a decorated career he has had.

LB Raekwon McMillan– Las Vegas Raiders- Age: 24

After a great three-year career as an Ohio State football player, Raekwon McMillan was drafted in the second round of the 2017 NFL Draft. He would start his pro career with the Miami Dolphins and would spend his first two seasons there.

The majority of his time spent in Miami was as a starting LB, but he was then traded to the Las Vegas Raiders for the 2020 season. He started just four games for Vegas but played in all 16. Still very young, healthy, and should find more playing time wherever he may end up.

RG Pat Elflein- New York Jets- Age: 26

Elflein was part of a dreadful New York Jets offensive line in 2020. His first three years were spent in a much better environment as a member of the Minnesota Vikings. Pat played in 14-or-more games in all three seasons in the Twin Cities but only played in 7 games for the Jets.

DE Noah Spence- New Orleans Saints- Age: 26

Noah Spence played for the Buckeyes in 2012 and 2013, before finishing his college career at Eastern Kentucky. He was drafted in the second round of the 2016 NFL Draft and began his career with Tampa Bay.

He played three seasons for the Bucs, starting a collective six games, before being traded to Washington in 2019. He played in just seven games for Washington in 2019, and was then signed by the Saints prior to the 2020 season, but was placed on the non-football injury list, and did not play.

P Cameron Johnston- Philadelphia Eagles- Age: 28

The Aussie punter was a key member of the 2014 National Championship team in 2014. He has made a decent living punting for the Eagles in the NFL. The now three-year veteran averaged 46.7 yards-per-punt in 2020, 11th most in the league. He signed a one-year deal with Philly before the 2020 season worth over $600,000. He will be punting somewhere in 2021 and continues to perform at a high level.

With a new wave of Ohio State football players that will be soon entering the NFL, the Buckeyes continue to make an impact on the league.