The 2025 season is over, the portal has closed, and college football is transitioning into spring practices. Ohio State is filling out its roster with freshman recruits and incoming transfers, but it will have to replace a handful of elite talents. While this year’s crop of draft-bound Buckeyes won’t break the record for most players in a single draft, it has a chance to tie the most first-round picks from a single school. Given that there would have to be one massive surprise, but Damon Arnette was once a first-round pick, so anything can happen.
Each year, the NFL invites 300+ draft prospects to participate in the NFL Scouting Combine at Lucas Oil Stadium in Indianapolis. For some, it’s a chance to just measure and verify height, weight, and various lengths. For others, it’s the best shot for some to put it all out there and boost their draft stock. Some, like Indiana’s Fernando Mendoza, won’t participate in individual drills because there is nothing to gain; he’s projected to be the first-overall pick, and he only stands to lose. This year,319 players were invited, featuring 11 former Buckeyes.
11 Draft-Bound Buckeyes Picked for 2026 NFL Scouting Combine
According to the NFL’s release, the 11 Buckeyes set to compete in Indianapolis are:
At this point, the Buckeyes have a handful of players who are expected to be drafted high. According to theNFL Mock Draft Database, a site that compiles mock drafts and big boards from across the internet, Ohio State has three of the top eight talents in the draft.
Reese is expected to be the first non-quarterback taken in the draft and is currently the consensus second-best player on the board. Tate is next as the seventh-best prospect. Despite being a safety, a position theNFL Draft doesn’t tend to take early in the first round, Downs is currently the eighth-best player.
Styles returned to Ohio State for the 2025 season to continue developing, and it looks like it is paying off as the 13th-best prospect. The final first-round grade among Buckeyes is McDonald at 28th.
The borderline first-rounder has to be Igbinosun (75th on the big board). He’s a sticky, physical corner…but he has a history of struggling with penalties. Of course, he improved in 2025 after being the most-penalized player in 2024. If Arnette can be a first-round pick, Igbinosun could make his case.
The Rest
Klare transferred to Ohio State from Purdue after the 2024 season. While his counting stats took a hit, he got what he wanted out of the move: he improved as a blocker. The NFL loves its blocking tight ends. Klare has a decent ceiling as a receiver, so he could be a value as the 77th-best talent.
Curry’s breakout season helped him jump from borderline UDFA territory to late-day-two/early-day-three territory. He’s currently considered the 136th-best prospect.
The final three Buckeyes are currently projected to go undrafted at this point. However, with how many running backs get drafted, Donaldson might have a decent chance to hear his name at some point. Kacmarek is the true blocking tight end, so it would be a surprise if a team doesn’t take him late as a Drew Sample-type of player (but maybe not in the second round as the Bengals did…).
Finally, Styles Jr. was the slot/nickel corner for the Buckeyes last year. He may need to test well to have his name considered.
Missing The Cut
Naturally, with 319 invitees, a few players will miss the cut. While none of the Buckeyes who were left out aren’t quite as egregious as players like Tyren Montgomery, Mikail Kamara, Landon Robinson, or James Brockermeyer.
However,Ethan Onianwa andTywone Malone will not be taking part. Onianwa is not as much of a surprise, considering he was not a starter this year. He had good days at both the Shrine Bowl and Senior Bowl. With a solid Pro Day, Onianwa should earn some looks despite not cracking the Buckeyes’ starting lineup.
Malone is in the same boat. He had the third-most snaps among Ohio State defensive tackles with 298. He was often in the rotation and even out-snapped Eddrick Houston seven times.
All in all, Ohio State has plenty of talent to replace. It shouldn’t be any different than how Ryan Day was able to replace 13 draft picks ahead of the 2025 season.
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