Football

Tracker: Buckeyes at The 2023 NFL Scouting Combine

by Caroline Rice0 comments

INDIANAPOLIS —Eight former Ohio State players are in Indianapolis from Feb. 26 – March 6 for the NFL Scouting Combine to get official measurements, participate in workouts, and meet with NFL team coaches and front office staff in preparation for the 2023 NFL Draft.

The Buckeye players invited to attend this year include defensive end Zach Harrison, corner Cam Brown, safety Ronnie Hickman, quarterback C.J. Stroud, wide receiver Jaxon Smith-Njigba, and offensive linemen Luke Wypler, Paris Johnson Jr. and Dawand Jones.

You can follow along with this post and it will be updated throughout the event.

The defensive linemen and linebackers were the first groups to arrive in Indianapolis. Defensive end Zach Harrison was the first Buckeye up for on-field workouts on Thursday, but he did not participate in the workouts or run the 40-yard dash due to a minor hamstring injury.

Harrison participated in the Bench Press and he completed 25 reps of 225. He measured in at 6-foot-5, 274 pounds, 10″ hands, 36 1/4″ arms and 85 1/2″ wingspan.

The defensive backs met with the media on Thursday and participated in the on-field workouts on Friday. But neither Brown nor Hickman ran the 40-yard dash. Instead, they will run at Ohio State’s Pro Day on March 22. They also did not participate in the on-field workouts.

Hickman measured in at 6’0 1/2″ and 203 pounds with 33″ arms and 9 and 3/8″ hands. Brown measured in at 6’0, 199 pounds, 31-inch arms and 9″ hands.

C.J. Stroud and Jaxon Smith-Njigba met with the media on Friday and participated in their on-field workouts on Saturday. They were the stars of the on-field workouts, with many saying the duo had the best performance at the Combine and Stroud had the best throwing session some have ever seen in Indy.

It was an excellent performance by both the former Buckeyes, who looked very comfortable on the field together once again. Stroud completed 18 throws — none of which hit the ground. Smith-Njigba caught every ball thrown his way.

Smith-Njigba also did not participate in the 40-yard dash in Indianapolis, and will run it at Ohio State’s Pro Day. Smith-Njigba said that he did not have a lot of time to prepare and train for it, and could use more time, due to his hamstring injury.

However, Smith-Njigba ran a speedy 6.57 seconds in the 3-cone drill and 3.93 seconds in the 20-yard shuttle which were both the best times of all players at the Combine.

Smith-Njigba posted a 35-inch vertical jump, and a 10-foot-5 broad jump. For reference, Garrett Wilson had a 36-inch vertical and a 10-foot-3 broad jump while Chris Olave had a 32-inch vertical and a 10-foot-4 inch broad jump last year at the Combine.

Stroud measured in at 6-foot-3, 214 pounds, 10-inch hands, and a 32 5/8″ wingspan. Smith-Njigba measured in at 6’0 5/8”, 196 pounds, 9-inch hands, and 30 1/2″ arms, and 75 1/2″ wingspan.

The offensive linemen conducted their media interviews on Saturday and participated in their on-field workouts on Sunday before departing Indy.

Former center Wypler weighed in at 6-foot-3, 303 pounds, 9 5/8” hands, and 31 5/8” arms. Jones was the NFL Combine’s largest man, leading all combine participants, measuring at a massive 6’8 1/4”, 374 pounds, 11 5/8” hands, 36 3/8” arms and an 87 7/8” wingspan. Johnson checked in at 6‘6 3/8”, 313 pounds, 36 1/8” arms good for the third-longest arms in the Combine, and an 85 1/8” wingspan.

Jones and Wypler were the only Buckeyes to run the 40-yard dash at the Combine. Jones clocked in at 5.35 seconds, and Wypler posted a 5.15 in the 40, the best time of the centers.

Johnson had 29 reps in the bench press.

WATCH

Combine Experience

Stroud and Smith-Njigba

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