Ohio State Football first program with 90 first-round picks

Thursday night was a great night for the Ohio State football program. They were expected to have at least three guys get taken in the first round of the 2023 NFL Draft and that’s exactly what happened. They even had two guys go in the top six.

C.J. Stroud was the first of the Buckeyes taken, getting selected second overall by the Houston Texans. He will now be their franchise quarterback after they moved away from Deshaun Watson. Stroud will likely be the day-one starter once the season rolls around.

Paris Johnson Jr. was the second Ohio State football player off the board. He was taken sixth overall by the Arizona Cardinals after they traded up to get him. Arizona traded the third pick to Houston and then traded back up to 6 to get Johnson Jr. He was taken by the same team that his dad was drafted by. He should also be a day-one starter.

The final Buckeye taken in the first round was the first wide receiver taken in the entire draft. Jaxon Smith-Njigba was taken 20th overall by the Seattle Seahawks. He gives them another weapon and goes somewhere that will use him in the slot where he is most effective.

Having these three players go in the first round makes Ohio State the first program in NCAA history to have 90 first-round picks. They have the most first-round picks of any program. It’s easy to see why when quality players like this come out of Columbus.

There should be at least two more Buckeyes getting taken today in the second and third rounds. Dawand Jones should be the first one off the board. Luke Wypler should also hear his name called. Anyone after that would be a surprise to be taken this early in my opinion.