Ohio State football: Several Buckeyes sign UDFA deals

After the Draft is over, it’s a mad scramble to sign undrafted free agents. Several Ohio State football players signed such deals after not being drafted.

Ten Ohio State football players were drafted over the weekend in the 2021 NFL Draft. Those Buckeyes will get to live out their NFL dreams knowing the team invested a pick in them. A few others didn’t get drafted but will have a chance with a team anyway.

Drue Chrisman is one of those players. The punter announced that he is staying in the state of Ohio after signing as a UFDA with the Cincinnati Bengals. He has a chance to make the team that way, as most punters aren’t drafted anyway.

Blake Haubeil, his kicking teammate, also signed an UDFA deal. He signed with the Tennessee Titans, which had kicking issues all season in 2020. Haubeil definitely has a good shot to not only make the team but win the kicking job there as well.

Justin Hilliard signed a deal with the San Francisco 49ers after going undrafted. Hilliard took the long road to the NFL, playing six years at Ohio State. He now gets a shot to make the team in the Bay area. It’s good to see a guy who worked so hard in college get a shot at the pros.

Tuf Borland also signed a UDFA deal. He signed with the Minnesota Vikings. He certainly is one of the *tuf (get it?) guys in this year’s class of guys. He’s going to have to work harder than some of these other Buckeyes to make the team to make up for his lack of speed.

Jake Hausmann is the last UDFA for the Buckeyes. He only played two years at Ohio State and only caught three passes. He is definitely more of a blocking tight end. For him to make the team, he is going to have to provide value on special teams.

All of these guys have an opportunity to make their NFL dreams a reality. We will certainly be following their journeys.