Ohio State Football: Most underrated draft prospect

With the Super Bowl now over, football season is done. It’s time for teams to finish their scouting preparations and get ready for the Combine and the NFL Draft. Ohio State football players are working out to improve their draft stock as well prior to both events.

We know that a couple of Buckeyes will be first-round picks for sure. Both C.J. Stroud and Paris Johnson Jr. will be taken early in the draft. Stroud has a shot to be the first overall pick depending on how Houston likes him compared to Bryce Young.

With those two prospects out of the way, which Ohio State football player is the most underrated? Who could be the steal of the draft for the right team? If you look at the prospects who are going to be drafted, I would put my money on Ronnie Hickman.

Hickman played some great football for most of the year. He was one of the safeties that really played well for the Buckeyes up until the final two games of the year. Hickman did play his worst two games of his season against TTUN and against Georgia in the Peach Bowl.

Despite that, Hickman still showed what he could do in the course of three years in Columbus. He led the team in tackles in 2021 with 98 and showed that he can come down into the box and help stop the run. He also ended up having three career interceptions.

Hickman is likely a Day 3 pick because of those final two games that he played, but that could be an absolute steal for someone late in the draft. He very well could be someone that ends up being a starter for a team someday. He can contribute on special teams as well.