Ward is Buckeyes’ top prospect entering NFL combine
Once again, a parade of Ohio State Buckeyes is set to descend on Indianapolis for the NFL scouting combine.
“I think they’re tied with Alabama for 33 players to the combine in the last three years,” NFL Network draft analyst Mike Mayock said. “Kind of crazy.”
Eleven Ohio State players will be at the combine, compared with eight in 2017 and 14 in the Buckeyes’ monster 2016 draft class.
But unlike the past couple of years, there’s no guarantee that multiple Buckeyes will be taken in the first round in April’s draft. The only lock is cornerback Denzel Ward, who is expected to go in the top half of the first round.
“The only question about him is how light and lean he is,” Mayock said of Ward, who is listed at 5 feet 10 and 191 pounds. “He tackles. I’m not questioning his physicality — just potentially durability over time. I think he is going to be a top-10 pick more than a top-15 pick. But a lot of that depends on how many quarterbacks go early.”
Ohio State’s quarterback at the combine won’t go early in the draft, but J.T. Barrett will be one of the more intriguing players in Indianapolis. For all his honors, Barrett faces many questions about his viability as an NFL quarterback.
“His passing skills, his accuracy, his (on-field) decision-making — that’s the big question mark,” ESPN draft analyst Mel Kiper Jr. said. “I’d probably look at him more as an undrafted free agent.”
Mayock is somewhat more positive, projecting Barrett as a likely lateround pick and predicting that he will be in the NFL for “a lot of years.”
“J.T. Barrett is a hard one for me because I love the kid,” Mayock added. “You can see the leadership attributes. Everything you want in a quarterback he has, except for the high-level talent.”
Between Ward and Barrett on teams’ draft boards are a number of Buckeyes who can help themselves this week. Billy Price, whose LB Jerome Baker 2-3 QB J.T. Barrett 7-UFA TE Marcus Baugh 7-UFA DE Jalyn Holmes 2-3 DE Sam Hubbard 2 OT Jamarco Jones 3 DE Tyquan Lewis 3 C Billy Price 1-2 CB Denzel Ward 1 S Damon Webb 7-UFA LB Chris Worley 7-UFA UFA-Undrafted free agent
NFL draft
April 26-28, AT&T Stadium, Arlington, Texas weightlifting prowess is legendary, is likely to put on a show in the bench press. The center is projected as a possible late first-round pick.
Ohio State’s three defensive ends — Sam Hubbard, Tyquan Lewis and Jalyn Holmes — are regarded as second-day picks (second and third rounds). Hubbard has a chance to sneak into the first round, Mayock said.
Linebacker Jerome Baker also is an interesting prospect. He was inconsistent last year, but he has the physical attributes that NFL teams covet. It wouldn’t be a shock if he runs 40 yards in 4.5 seconds or less. That could help solidify him as a second-rounder.
“I didn’t like the Iowa tape at all,” Mayock said, “but I think there were some mitigating circumstances. He can fly.”
Left tackle Jamarco Jones also has a chance to be a second-day pick. The other Buckeyes — linebacker Chris Worley, safety Damon Webb, tight end Marcus Baugh — will try to boost their stock from their current projection as late-round or undrafted players.