Ohio State Buckeyes head coach Ryan Day hosted NFL scouts on Wednesday as part of the school's Pro Day, with 17 players involved ahead of the 2026 draft. Needless to say, Day was not shy about the day his coaching staff pulled off because of the product they put on the field.
Per Day during his presser with the media, “I think we’re just under 20 guys in the last seven or eight years that we’ve had here that have come out after three years. And that, to me, speaks a lot about the development here. And so Sonny reclassified, but you talk about Carnell (Tate), you talk about Caleb (Downs), you talk about Arvell (Reese), you talk about Kayden, those guys are all juniors. So for them to be ready to where they are right now in three years, again, says a lot about what we do.”
With four Buckeyes, including linebackers Arvell Reese and Sonny Styles, receiver Carnell Tate, and safety Caleb Downs, potentially going in the top 10, Day has never had more leverage to tout his program than on Ohio State's Pro Day.
Ohio State may have a historic NFL draft class in 2026
The Buckeyes have the chance to make NFL draft history next month in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. Never before have there been four players from the same program taken in the top 10 of the same draft.
Three players being drafted from the same team happened only once before. In 2021, the Alabama Crimson Tide had Jaylen Waddle, Patrick Surtain II, and DeVonta Smith taken following a championship season. Ohio State is probably about to match that. The question will be if they surpass it.
The answer to that question will come from the teams' interest in Styles. Reese is a shoo-in for a top-five pick, Tate might be too, and Downs' talent may be too undeniable despite not playing the biggest position of need for most teams.
We'll see if the planets will align for OSU in a month's time. Either way, the Buckeyes put on a Pro Day for the ages on Wednesday at the Woody Hayes Athletic Center.