2025 NFL draft: Players with ties to Ohio State or Ohio who are available for selection

Orri Benatar and Zach Paquette

6 months ago

NBC4i and the NBC4 app will have full NFL Draft coverage all three nights with live updates, alerts, and more.

COLUMBUS, Ohio (WCMH) — College football’s brightest stars from the past few years will become NFL players this week, and some of them are walking in with an Ohio State title ring.

The NFL draft begins Thursday night from Lambeau Field in Green Bay, Wisconsin. The first round will take place Thursday, followed by the second and third rounds on Friday night and the final four rounds on Saturday afternoon.

15 players from Ohio State’s national championship team could be selected, and this class could break records. If all 15 are drafted, it will be the most Buckeyes selected in one draft and tie a record set by Georgia in 2022.

Outside of the Buckeyes that were key in winning the College Football Playoff, players who used to wear the scarlet and gray, those who went to other Ohio schools and central Ohio natives are in the pool of prospects.

Here is a look at the available prospects.

Josh Simmons

School: Ohio State
Position: Offensive tackle
Projected selection: Middle first round to early second round
One thing to know: Made third team all-Big Ten in 2024

Donovan Jackson

School: Ohio State
Position: Offensive lineman
Projected selection: First or second round
One thing to know: 2024 All-America selection by four organizations

Emeka Egbuka

School: Ohio State
Position: Wide receiver
Projected selection: Late first round to early second round
One thing to know: Ohio State’s all-time leader in catches

TreVeyon Henderson

School: Ohio State
Position: Running back
Projected selection: Second round
One thing to know: Three-time all-Big Ten selection

Tyleik Williams

School: Ohio State
Position: Defensive lineman
Projected selection: Second round
One thing to know: Two-time all-Big Ten selection

JT Tuimoloau

School: Ohio State
Position: Defensive end
Projected selection: Second round
One thing to know: Named all-Big Ten first team in three consecutive seasons

Darius Alexander

School: Toledo
Position: Defensive lineman
Projected selection: Second round
One thing to know: Named all-MAC last two seasons

Quinshon Judkins

School: Ohio State
Position: Running back
Projected selection: Second or third round
One thing to know: Scored three touchdowns in the Buckeyes national title win over Notre Dame

Kyle McCord

School: Syracuse
Position: Quarterback
Projected selection: Second or third round
One thing to know: Started all 12 regular season games for Ohio State in 2023

Kaleb Johnson

School: Iowa
Position: Running back
Projected selection: Second or third round
One thing to know: Hamilton, Ohio, native who was a consensus All-American in 2024

Denzel Burke

School: Ohio State
Position: Cornerback
Projected selection: Third or fourth round
One thing to know: Named first team all-Big Ten in 2023, earned two third-team selections

Lathan Ransom

School: Ohio State
Position: Safety
Projected selection: Third to fifth round
One thing to know: Named first-team all-Big Ten in 2024

Will Howard

School: Ohio State
Position: Quarterback
Projected selection: Third to fifth round
One thing to know: Record-holder for most passing yards in a College Football Playoff

Harold Fannin Jr.

School: Bowling Green
Position: Tight end
Projected selection: Fourth to sixth round
One thing to know: Holds multiple Football Bowl Subdivision tight end records, including for yards, catches and average yards

Jack Sawyer

School: Ohio State
Position: Defensive end
Projected selection: Fourth to sixth round
One thing to know: Scored clinching fumble return touchdown in Cotton Bowl semifinal win over Texas

Quinn Ewers

School: Texas
Position: Quarterback
Projected selection: Fourth to sixth round
One thing to know: Committed to Ohio State in 2021 and played two snaps

Ty Hamilton

School: Ohio State
Position: Defensive lineman
Projected selection: Fifth to seventh round
One thing to know: Set career highs in tackles, sacks and forced fumbles in 2024

Jordan Hancock

School: Ohio State
Position: Cornerback
Projected selection: Fifth to seventh round
One thing to know: Played in seven postseason games for Ohio State over four seasons

Luke Kandra

School: Cincinnati
Position: Guard
Projected selection: Fifth to seventh round
One thing to know: Named first-team all-Big 12 in 2024

Joe Huber

School: Wisconsin
Position: Offensive lineman
Projected selection: Fifth to seventh round
One thing to know: Dublin Jerome graduate who started each game for the Badgers in 2024

Luke Lachey

School: Iowa
Position: Tight End
Projected selection: Fifth to seventh round
One thing to know: Grandview Heights graduate and son of former Buckeyes and Super Bowl champion Jim Lachey

Seth McLaughlin

School: Ohio State
Position: Center
Projected selection: Sixth round to undrafted
One thing to know: Two-time national champion with Alabama (2020) and Ohio State (2024)

Kurtis Rourke

School: Indiana
Position: Quarterback
Projected selection: Seventh round or undrafted
One thing to know: Started 32 games for Ohio University before leading Hoosiers to playoff appearance in 2024