The Ohio State Buckeyes may be about to hit 100 total first-round NFL draft picks in program history this April, assuming LB Arvell Reese, WR Carnell Tate, S Caleb Downs, LB Sonny Styles, and DT Kayden McDonald all go within the first 32 selections as expected.
As Bucknuts' Steve Helwagen notes, Ohio State is about to further its lead over every other program. Only the USC Trojans and Alabama Crimson Tide are within remote striking distance of the Buckeyes. Alabama and the Miami Hurricanes have had more picks in one round than Ohio State is about to have.
"Miami (Fla.) (in 2004) and Alabama (in 2021) have each had a record six first-round picks. OSU's best showing has been five first-rounders in 2006 and 2016. OSU also had four first-round picks in 1971 and 2025," Helwagen wrote.
"Whoever goes in the first round will add to Ohio State's all-time lead in NFL first-round draft picks. OSU has had 95 all-time first-rounders, including 26 over the last 10 years. Next up are USC, 86; Alabama, 84; Notre Dame, 71; Miami (Fla.), 68; Florida, 59; Michigan, 55; LSU, 53; Georgia, 52; and Texas, 51."
Ohio State can establish itself as NFLU over the next few years
Grab that single-draft record of six, or even seven, picks, and the Buckeyes will successfully stake the claim of being "NFLU," regardless of what schools want to claim specific position groups. Of late, it's hard to say the Ohio State University isn't "LBU" and "WRU." It's only a matter of time before the Buckeyes claim "QBU" and perhaps "DBU" isn't far behind.
Ryan Day and Ohio State's brain trust have already committed to providing recruits with an NFL experience via the Matt Patricia and Arthur Smith hires. GM Mark Pantoni is certainly paying these kids like OSU is "NFLU."
The Buckeyes are so close to clinching this crown. The 2026/2027 College Football Playoff, and the regular season preceding it, could well put them over the edge after they are the first to hit triple-digit first-round picks in two months.