When the 2024 season started, Donovan Jackson was the starting left guard for the Ohio State football team. He was expected to be the best offensive lineman and man the middle. That's not where he ended up playing at the end of the season when the games mattered the most.
Following Josh Simmons' season-ending injury, the Buckeyes had to shift their offensive line around. That meant Jackson had to play left tackle. He was fantastic in that spot, protecting Will Howard's blindside all the way to a national championship.
Jackson parlayed that move to left tackle into being a first-round draft pick. He was taken 24th overall by the Minnesota Vikings, becoming the second Buckeye to come off the board. It's a great run for him that is capped off by becoming a first-round guard.
Ohio State football player Donovan Jackson becomes a first-round pick
Jackson was the second Buckeye to be drafted on Thursday night, coming in right behind Emeka Egbuka. Ohio State will have many more players drafted over the course of the weekend, but those two players were massive parts of the Buckeyes winning the national championship.
The Vikings are a great fit for Jackson. Jackson is a leader who can really help the Vikings navigate a situation where they will have a young quarterback stepping in next year. They need players who can help protect him as he tries to learn how to be a successful NFL quartebrack.
A Buckeye will be blocking for a Wolverine. Jackson is going to love being in Minnesota, where they treat their linemen well. It wouldn't be surprising to see Jackson turn into a Pro Bowl player within the first three years of his being in the league. That's how good he can be based on what he showed in Columbus.