Ohio State Now Has More First Round NFL Draft Picks Than Any Other School

There are constant debates online about which college football program can claim the designation of “Wide Receiver U” or “Linebacker U.”

But after the Washington Redskins selected Chase Young with the No. 2 overall pick in the 2020 NFL Draft on Thursday night, one debate is now over: Ohio State is officially “First Round U.”

Young is the 82nd former Buckeye selected in the first round of the NFL Draft in history. That breaks a tie with USC for the most of any college program.

Behind the Trojans (81), Notre Dame entered the 2020 Draft with 69 first-round selections all-time. Miami was fourth with 65, followed by Alabama (64), Florida (53), and Oklahoma (47). Michigan and Tennessee are tied for eighth with 46 each.

While Young was the first Buckeye to hear his name called on Thursday evening, he’s not expected to be the last. Cornerback Jeffrey Okudah will likely add to the Buckeyes’ total shortly.

Cornerback Damon Arnette and running back JK Dobbins are also considered potential first-round picks.

Halfback Jim McDonald was the first Buckeye to ever go in the top round of the NFL’s Draft. He was the No. 2 overall pick in 1938.

Twice, the Bucks have had five players selected in the first round of a single season.

In 2006, AJ Hawk (6th overall), Donte Whitner (8th), Bobby Carpenter (16th), Santonio Holmes (25th), and Nick Mangold (29th) were all selected in the first round.

Then a decade later, Joey Bosa (3rd), Ezekiel Elliott (4th), Eli Apple (10th), Taylor Decker (16th), and Darron Lee (20th) were all picked early in the 2016 NFL Draft.

When Okudah is selected, it will mark the fifth straight season that OSU has had multiple players picked in the first round.