Ohio State: 5 Buckeyes to get a long look at before they (maybe) depart

This time of year, college football players are getting a bit of rest after a grueling regular season, polishing off the semester’s remaining academic obligations and preparing for bowl games.

Oh yeah, and some underclassmen have to decide whether those bowl games will be their college finales.

For juniors and redshirt sophomores who might be professional prospects, that decision is huge. Declare for the NFL Draft and bid goodbye to college life? Risk being undrafted, which happens to dozens of players every year who declare for the NFL? Or gamble that, by staying in college for one more year, you can improve your draft stock and make a lot more money in 2020?

At Ohio State, which has had 37 players selected in the NFL Draft in just the past five years, this decision merits attention every year.

Nick Bosa has already made made his decision. The All-America defensive lineman announced months ago, after he was injured early in the season, that he would leave the OSU program to prep for the NFL Draft. Nobody should blame him at all — several draft analysts project him as the No. 1 overall pick and that means an enormous amount of money. Even mid first-round draft status would make him a rich man overnight and nobody thinks he’ll fall nearly that far. If Nick is as good in the NFL as his older brother Joey, another former Buckeye and star pass rusher for the Los Angeles Chargers, then the younger Bosa will be worth every bit of draft equity and every penny of his contract.

Several other Buckeyes have to weigh whether coming back to Columbus next season is worth the risk to their draft prospects and their health.

So here are 5 Buckeyes who fans might want to get a long look at on Jan. 1 in the Rose Bowl against Washington. The game might be the finale for these guys in Scarlet and Gray:

Junior DL Dre’Mont Jones

He’s in the first round of several mock drafts and rising. It’s easy to see why — his athleticism for a defensive tackle is enticing. He and Robert Landers can wreck offenses from the inside out. Jones indicated that he might not even play in the Rose Bowl and there seem to be strong indications that the 6-foot-3, 286-pound junior is leaning toward turning pro.

Junior C Michael Jordan

He was named a second-team midseason All-American and has been the steadiest presence on an inconsistent offensive line. Jordan could be the latest in a long line of interior linemen to come out of OSU and be productive pros in recent seasons, should he leave OSU. The question is, could his status as an NFL prospect benefit from an extra college season?

Junior CB Kendall Sheffield

In the past two NFL Drafts, the first Buckeye off the board has been a defensive back. That’s not happening this year with Bosa available. Recent OSU defensive backs like Denzel Ward, Marshon Lattimore, Malik Hooker, Gareon Conley and Eli Apple have been picked in the first round. Sheffield isn’t projected that high but the 6-0, 193-pound junior could impress scouts with a strong Rose Bowl.

Junior RB Mike Weber

A couple of mock drafts have him listed as a mid-round pick. Weber’s case is interesting — he isn’t even entrenched as the starter, having split carries with sophomore J.K. Dobbins. Weber is second on the Buckeyes in rushing yards with 858 on 157 carries. At 5.5 yards per carry his average is only down slightly from his 2016 peak (1,096 yards, 6.0 ypc) and his O-line was better that year than in 2018.

Sophomore QB Dwayne Haskins

We saved the biggest question for last. Haskins is a redshirt sophomore, meaning he is three years out of high school at the end of this academic year. Under NFL rules, that means he can declare for the draft. No need to rehash Haskins’ stats or credentials to be a Heisman Trophy finalist. Like Jordan, it’s an open question as far as whether he needs another year. Quarterbacks often benefit from staying but they’re also worth the most if they find the right fit in the NFL.

Jim Tomlin

Longtime newspaper veteran Jim Tomlin is a writer and editor for saturdaytradition.com and saturdaydownsouth.com.