Heading into the NFL Draft, the Ohio State football team has potentially five players who could get taken in the first round. Matt Patricia kept the Buckeyes playing at a high level after Jim Knowles decided to leave. Patricia clearly elevated all of the defensive players to new heights.
There's a chance that Ohio State has three defensive players go in the top-10. With that being the case, Patricia is doing everything he can to gas up his guys. He wants them to be taken as high as possible in the draft for their own well-being. Of course, it helps recruiting for the Ohio State Buckeyes, too.
Patricia had an appearance on The Schrager Hour and really made sure that everyone knows just how good the defensive players he coached at the top of the draft are. He really had compliments for Arvell Reese and Caleb Downs, despite the rumors of his knee issues.
Ohio State DC Matt Patricia heaps praise on defensive guys in the NFL Draft
Patricia thinks Reese should be the top defensive player taken in the draft.
"One of my favorite guys to be around. I smile. He's quiet when you meet him at first. Once you get to know him, he opens up and has this amazing personality. He hadn't played a lot of football here...His ability to set the edge of the defense, his explosive power that you see on tape, his ability to run speed-to-power pass rush, compress the pocket, from the backside, it's pretty rare, and it's pretty special."
Patricia also gassed up Sonny Styles after his historic performance at the NFL Combine.
"I'm trying to figure out how to get him back to school. I mean, we gotta change his name, we gotta get him back. Certainly, Sonny and Arvell, to be able to utilize them, the luxury I had last year was so much fun. When you have guys who are that big, that fast, that athletic, and have that explosive power and violence that they both have, it was a gift."
Finally, Patricia gave a glowing endorsement of Downs.
"He's going to be the smartest player in the Draft. He is 100 percent going to be the smartest player you talk to in the interview room...As great of a football player he is, he's a better human being...He is like having a coach on the field."
All three of these Ohio State Buckeyes have a real shot to be taken in the top-10 when April rolls around.