THE Ohio State University has produce more NFL Draft picks since the year 2000 than anyone else in college football. However, it should be noted that in the past five years, no program in the Big Ten has produced as many 1st round picks as the Illinois Fighting Illini.
82 Ohio State players have been drafted since the millenium dawned and you’ll see a few more in the next few days with potentially nine Buckeyes going in the 2013 NFL Draft.
Probably none in the first round, though.
Ohio State defensive tackle Johnathan Hankins could go in the first round, but that would be a pretty big stretch. Fellow DT John Simon could join him in the second round. The other Buckeyes are likely mid-to-late round guys and middle tier prospects. Among those 82 Ohio State draft picks are 17 Buckeyes who were chosen in the first round, including 2011 pick Cameron Heyward, by Pittsburgh. Only two teams can top Ohio State’s number of first-rounders since 2000: Miami and USC.
Most Draft Picks
1. Ohio State 82
2. Miami 81
3. USC 80
4. Georgia 75
5. Florida State 66
LSU 66
7. Gators 65
8. Tennessee 63
9. Sooners 60
10. Virginia Tech 58
Also: Badgers 57, Crimson Tide 55, Wolverines 54, Texas 52, Hawkeyes 51, Penn State 50
Most First-Round Draft Picks
1. Miami 26
2. USC 18
3. Ohio State 17
4. Florida State 15
5. Texas 14
6. Gators 13
Crimson Tide 13
9. Sooners 12
Tennessee 12
LSU 12
Also: Badgers 11, Georgia 11, Penn State 10, Wolverines 9
Ohio State has had five or more players selected in the NFL Draft 26 times in its history, including a school-record 14 players selected in 2004 with Will Smith (New Orleans), Chris Gamble (Carolina) and Michael Jenkins (Atlanta) all No. 1 picks that year. Three Ohio State Buckeyes have been selected as the No. 1 overall pick in the draft: linebacker Tom Cousineau in 1979 by Buffalo; defensive lineman Dan Wilkinson in 1994 by Cincinnati; and offensive lineman Orlando Pace in 1997 by St. Louis.
Paul M. Banks is the owner of The Sports Bank.net. He’s also an author who also contributes regularly to MSN, Fox Sports , Chicago Now, Walter Football.com and Yardbarker
Banks has appeared on Comcast SportsNet and the History Channel, as well as Clear Channel, ESPN and CBS radio all over the world. President Barack Obama follows him on Twitter (@PaulMBanks)