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Ohio State makes NFL Draft history during first-round pick bonanza
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Ohio State made not have had the first overall pick in the NFL Draft on Thursday night.
Big Ten rival Indiana took that lofty mantle with Fernando Mendoza going to the Las Vegas Raiders, but Ohio State still ruled the first round at the event in Pittsburgh, and it made some draft history along the way.
The Buckeyes became the first program to have 4 picks in the top 11 of the same draft since yet another Big Ten school, Michigan State, did it way back in 1967.
So, 59 years had gone by without it happening, and Ohio State managed to pull it off, starting with the No. 4 pick with wide receiver Carnell Tate going to the Tennessee Titans. The Buckeyes were just getting rolling though, with linebacker Arvell Reese hearing his name called next at No. 5 to the New York Giants.
Ohio State was back at it at No. 7, with linebacker Sonny Styles being taken by the Washington Commanders. The Buckeye draft brigade continued at No. 11, with safety Caleb Downs going to another NFL East team, the Dallas Cowboys.
Exactly 11 picks into the draft, 4 Ohio State players had heard their names called, with the Buckeyes laying the claim to being “NFL U” like this Eleven Warriors post suggested:
But that wasn’t all the history that Ohio State made on Thursday night. That program in Columbus also became the first school ever with 3 defensive players taken in the top 11 of the draft, with Reese, Styles and Downs providing the honors.
Ohio State put on an epic show on Thursday night, and the 2026 Buckeyes will surely be in the mix again for a Big Ten title. Here is what the Kalshi market is currently saying about Ohio State’s chances to unseat Indiana this fall:
