Every year, it seems like Ohio State sends half of its team to the NFL with the type of talent that head coach Ryan Day produces from his team. In the 2025 NFL Draft, 14 Buckeyes from the National Championship team were drafted, with an Ohio State player selected in each round of the draft. Four of those 14 players were selected in the first round, something Ohio State is used to.
With another amazing season happening, the Buckeyes could be due for another big year in the draft and another big year in the first round of the draft. Draft experts such as Field Yates and Mel Kiper Jr. have yet to announce their big boards, but they have been teasing things with some small mock drafts.
In one recent mock draft, Yates and Kiper Jr. have three Buckeyes being drafted in the first five picks of the draft. Those three Buckeyes are Arvell Reese going No. 2 overall to the Tennessee Titans, Caleb Downs going No. 4 overall to the Miami Dolphins, and Carnell Tate bringing up the end at No. 5 overall to the New York Giants.
— The Scarlet and Gray Podcast (@TheSG_Podcast) November 5, 2025
All three of these guys have been having massive seasons for the Buckeyes with Tate being the second best receiver for Ohio State behind Jeremiah Smith and Reese and Downs helping Ohio State stay the No. 1 defense in the country.
Right now, Tate has 711 receiving yards and seven touchdowns for the Buckeyes, helping quarterback Julian Sayin spread the ball all around the field on offense. Tate is averaging a massive 18.2 yards per catch on the field as well.
Downs and Reese have been a big part of this Ohio State offense being so locked down this season; no opponent, other than Texas, has really had a shot. Tate has 39 total tackles and two interceptions while Reese has 54 total tackles and 6.5 sacks to help the defensive line.
Either way you look at it, it seems like these guys are going to go high in the 2026 NFL Draft should they choose to leave Ohio State.