Both Malik Hooker and Marshon Lattimore entered 2016 as first-time starters in Ohio State’s secondary.

Both took over for NFL players. Both were stars for one of the top defenses in the country. Both left Columbus early for the NFL.

Now, both appear to be heading toward a first-round selection in the 2017 NFL draft.

If NFL.com draft analyst Daniel Jeremiah was making selections, he’d have both of the Buckeye defensive backs picked early. Really early. Jeremiah rated the top 50 draft prospects and in spots No. 2 and No. 3 were Hooker and Lattimore.

Jeremiah threw out some extremely loft praise of Hooker.

“(Hooker) has the best ball skills of any safety I’ve ever evaluated in college,” Jeremiah wrote. “…Hooker has the potential to be one of the league’s best safeties very early in his NFL career.”

As for Lattimore, Jeremiah is also high on the underclassman making an immediate impact at the next level.

“He has all of the tools to develop into a No. 1 cornerback at the next level,” Jeremiah wrote.

Jeremiah rated only Texas A&M defensive end Myles Garrett ahead of the Buckeye duo. In total, 10 B1G players made the top 50, including four from Ohio State and three from Michigan.

  • 2. Malik Hooker, Ohio State S
  • 3. Marshon Lattimore, Ohio State CB
  • 14. Ryan Ramczyk, Wisconsin OT
  • 23. Taco Charlton, Michigan DE
  • 29. Gareon Conley, Ohio State CB
  • 33. Jabrill Peppers, Michigan S
  • 34. T.J. Watt, Wisconsin LB
  • 39. Malik McDowell, Michigan State DT
  • 41. Curtis Samuel, Ohio State WR
  • 49. Jourdan Lewis, Michigan CB