To this point, Ohio State has lost five underclassmen to the NFL.
Quarterback Dwayne Haskins, running back Mike Weber, offensive lineman Michael Jordan, defensive tackle Dre’Mont Jones, and defensive end Nick Bosa have all declared their intentions to enter the 2019 NFL Draft.
Haskins will be foregoing two seasons of eligibility, while the other four will only be relinquishing their respective final season of eligibility.
There are mock draft projections that have Haskins and Bosa being drafted first and second overall. Jones could end up anywhere from the late first round to the third round. Jordan is expected to go somewhere in the first four rounds, and Weber should be selected somewhere in the middle to late rounds.
Four Buckeyes have already announced their returns. Receivers KJ Hill and Binjimen Victor will be returning. Fellow receiver Austin Mack likely would have had a decision to make had he not gotten injured this season, but his return will be a huge boost as well.
Defensively, safety Jordan Fuller will be back, and linebacker Malik Harrison will be as well, which we told you about over a week before he made his announcement.
Both players will provide leadership to a defense that is losing some experienced talent, even though the only defensive senior on the roster was linebacker Dante Booker.
There could still be two more departures coming, however.
Cornerbacks Kendall Sheffield and Damon Arnette are still waiting to make their announcements official. From what we have been told, both are expected to enter the NFL Draft and begin the next step of their respective football careers.
If one or both do declare, they are expected to shine at the NFL Combine. Sheffield could be the fastest cornerback in the nation, having set the 60M dash record at Ohio State last year.
Consistency has been an issue for both players, and with what looks to be a near total defensive staff upheaval at Ohio State, they may both be ready to move on rather than deal with a third different position coach in three years.
Not knowing who the cornerbacks coach will be for the Buckeyes next season has players a little anxious, and that kind of unknown could be all of the boost that Arnette or Sheffield were looking for.
Ohio State has lost cornerbacks early in each of the past three seasons. Don’t be surprised when one or both of Arnette and Sheffield make it four years in a row.
The deadline to declare is Monday, January 14. The NFL Draft is a three-day event that begins with the first round on Thursday, April 25.