Ohio State + NFL = Now

Molly is back and she is focuses on the future while analyzing the past. And, she has a few questions for you at the end.

As the football season approaches, the talk is not only focused on college football, but also around the equally loved (and hated) NFL. As training camps kick off, I thought I would take a look at some former Buckeyes who are currently active in the NFL.

But first, a look at some Ohio State history in the NFL draft.

There are have been over 300 Buckeyes selected in the NFL draft, with just under 70 first-round picks, and three Buckeyes selected as the first pick of the draft: Tom Cousineau was drafted to the Buffalo Bills in 1979; Dan Wilkinson was drafted by the Cincinnati Bengals in 1994; and Orlando Pace was drafted by the St. Louis Rams in 1997.

Ohio State is a close second to USC for the school with the most first round draft picks. Vernon Gholston was the 67th first round Buckeye, and the eleventh since Coach Jim Tressel began his reign. USC is now at 71, with the addition of four first round picks in the 2008 Draft.

While we are talking about the best, in the 2004 NFL Draft, 14 former Buckeyes were drafted, which is a record number for any school in a single draft. Among those drafted in 2004 were Will Smith and Michael Jenkins.

The most recently drafted Buckeyes include 2007 first round picks: Ted Ginn, Jr. and Anthony Gonzalez, Heisman-winner Troy Smith, and of course 2008 sixth overall pick Vernon Gholston.

In the meantime, there have been 54 former Buckeyes to play in the Super Bowl and six former Buckeyes named to the Hall of Fame.

According to Ohiostatebuckeyes.com, there are currently 47 active Buckeyes on NFL rosters.

I would now like to highlight some of the players currently active in the NFL that have made impacts on their teams and in the league, that have come out of Ohio State. They are in no particular order.

LeCharles Bentley:

Bentley was drafted in the second round of the 2002 draft by the New Orleans Saints. He started 14 games of his rookie season and was named Sports Illustrated’s Offensive Rookie of the Year and Pro Football Weekly All-Rookie Team in 2002.

In his second season Bentley started 13 games and was voted to the Pro Bowl. In 2004, Bentley returned to center, the position he played at Ohio State, and was voted an alternate to the Pro Bowl. In 2005, Bentley earned his second Pro Bowl spot, at center, but left the Saints at the end of the season.

Bentley has played for the Cleveland Browns since leaving the Saints, but on June 11, 2008 he asked for and was granted a release from the team and has reportedly been sought after by several teams, having yet to sign with anyone.

Shawn Springs:

Shawn Springs was the third overall pick in the 1997 NFL Draft. He was drafted by the Seattle Seahawks and played with them until he was signed as a free agent to the Washington Redskins in 2004, where he has remained.

Springs was selected to the Pro Bowl during his second season in the NFL, ’98, after recording 76 tackles, seven interceptions, and two defensive touchdowns as a cornerback.

Though his time in Seattle was injury-ridden, Springs had an exceptional year in 2004 with the Redskins. Springs became the first cornerback in the NFL to lead his team in interceptions (five) and sacks (six). Springs currently plays for Washington.

Terry Glenn:

Glenn was drafted seventh overall in the 1996 draft by the New England Patriots. His six touchdowns during his first season helped the Pats reach the super bowl that year. Glenn recorded 90 receptions over his rookie year, which at the time was the most ever recorded in a single season by an NFL rookie.

Glenn now plays for the Dallas Cowboys and has had recurring knee problems, causing him to miss the first fifteen games of the 2007 season. However, Glenn seems to be recovering and has recently renewed his contract with the Cowboys.

Dan Wilkinson:

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