It feels like a bit of a dead period with college football. Indiana has been crowned the College Football Playoff national champion, we've seen some offseason personnel and coaching changes, and we know the date of spring ball, but there's a lack of activity in and around college campuses right now.
Soon enough, though, we'll all be able to take in the annual spectacle that is the NFL draft, and that means we'll again get to see some college football players that are near and dear to Ohio State hearts hear their names called, because that always seems to be an informercial for the OSU program with the NFL factory that it has been historically.
AdvertisementAdvertisementAdvertisementSo yeah, in between now and then, we'll be checking in on some of the most popular NFL mock drafts, and since our mothership is USA TODAY, of course, we'll keep an eye on what is coming down from above. The latest effort comes from Jacob Camenker and his latest look at what he believes will happen in the first round, and it has a very Scarlet and Gray flavor to it all.
All told, Camenker has four OSU players going off the board in the first round. You can probably make a pretty good educated guess on which four, but just in case, here's who he has going in the first round from the banks of the Olentangy and what he says about each.
No. 2 pick - Arvelle Reese, Ohio State linebacker (New York Jets)
Ohio State Buckeyes linebacker Arvell Reese (8) reacts during the game against the Wisconsin Badgers at Camp Randall Stadium on Saturday, Oct. 18, 2025 in Madison, Wisconsin.What Camenker Says
"The Jets aren't likely to take a quarterback here with Dante Moore going back to school. Instead, they'll look to add a blue-chip talent to their barren roster. Reese enjoyed a breakout season for Ohio State, racking up 6.5 sacks while showing off great versatility playing on the edge and as an off-the-ball linebacker. He's a great athlete and will be a valuable Swiss Army knife for Aaron Glenn's defense."
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Reese checks all of the boxes you want with a linebacker in today's game. He can get after the quarterback off the edge, can cover in space, and isn't afraid to get physical in the running game. There may not be another player in the draft with the athleticism he has, and there's still even some untapped potential there. He's a pretty safe pick for a defensive player because of all that he can do, so don't be surprised if he goes this early in the draft.
No. 5 pick - Carnell Tate, Ohio State wide receiver (New York Giants)
ANN ARBOR, MICHIGAN - NOVEMBER 29: Carnell Tate #17 of the Ohio State Buckeyes celebrates a touchdown against the Michigan Wolverines at Michigan Stadium on November 29, 2025 in Ann Arbor, Michigan. (Photo by Luke Hales/Getty Images)What Camenker Says
"The Giants could look at a right tackle here if Jermaine Eluemunor leaves in free agency. If not, adding a receiver to pair with Malik Nabers and give Jaxson Dart two high-end receiving targets could be in order. Tate has great size at 6-3, 190 pounds and – like many Ohio State wide receivers under Brian Hartline – is a great route-runner."
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While Tate could very well be one of the top two wide receivers taken off the board, this seems awfully high. There's no denying his talent, and I even think he's a better prospect than Makai Lemon, but it's pretty rare to see two receivers go in the top five in today's NFL game. Still, his route running, athleticism, hands, and speed will make him a lot of money at some point in the first round; I just doubt it'll be this early.
No 7 pick - Caleb Downs, Ohio State safety (Washington Commanders)
Ohio State Buckeyes defensive back Caleb Downs (2) celebrates a tackle with defensive end Caden Curry (92) and safety Jaylen McClain (18) during the NCAA football game against the UCLA Bruins at Ohio Stadium in Columbus on Nov. 15, 2025.What Camenker Says
"The Commanders would probably like to land one of the top-three edge rushers here, but all are off the board. Instead, they will settle for Downs, who fills a need at safety and is arguably the best player in the draft. The Ohio State product has great football IQ and was excellent in coverage for the Buckeyes. He should quickly emerge as a difference-maker in the NFL."
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If it's possible, I feel like Downs is being overrated. He did everything for Ohio State and was the reason Matt Patricia could do so much with the defense last year. His stats don't pop off the page, but when you look at the film, he's always in the right spot, is one of the best leaders you'll see, has an extremely high IQ, and top-end athleticism. He'll be an immediate difference maker for a team that selects him, and yeah, he has a good chance of going this high. It might be a bargain even then.
No. 12 pick - Sonny Styles, Ohio State linebacker (Dallas Cowboys)
Ohio State Buckeyes safety Sonny Styles (6) celebrates a defensive stop during the first half of the Cotton Bowl Classic College Football Playoff semifinal game against the Texas Longhorns at AT&T Stadium in Arlington, Texas on Jan. 10, 2025.What Camenker Says
"The Cowboys will likely address defense early and often in the draft as they look to rebuild the unit for the post-Micah Parsons era. Styles is well-built at 6-4, 240 pounds and has athleticism that allowed him to be a sideline-to-sideline, three-down playmaker for Ohio State. He would be a stabilizing force in the middle of Dallas' defense."
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Styles is also an athletic freak and would have gotten more notoriety if not for the emergence of Arvelle Reese. He can run and tackle, doesn't make mental mistakes, and is going to be a really, really good player for an NFL franchise. However, if I had to lay money on it, I'd say first round, yes, but No. 12 overall might be a little high. Look for there to be a bigger run on the offensive side of the ball early on, leaving the linebacker position for later.
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This article originally appeared on Buckeyes Wire: Ohio State with four players in latest USA TODAY first round NFL draft
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