Ohio State Football: Tracking 2015 NFL Combine Results for Former Buckeyes Stars

COLUMBUS, Ohio — Despite capturing the first-ever College Football Playoff championship, Ohio State only had four players invited to this year's NFL Scouting Combine. And although that's a scary thought for future opponents of the Buckeyes—who will return 14 combined starters on offense and defense next season—Urban Meyer's squad will still provide the NFL with its annual supply of talent.

It may not be quite like last year, when Ohio State put an unprecedented seven rookie starters in the NFL, but this year's crop of pro Buckeyes could include as many as two first-round picks. In fact, all four OSU alums at the combine could be instant impact players and off the draft board by the end of this spring's third round.

Of course, a lot can change between now and the actual draft, starting with this week's combine in Indianapolis. After helping lead Ohio State to an unlikely run to a national title, these four senior starters will now attempt to solidify their respective draft stocks at the annual draft showcase.

With that in mind, here's a look at how the Buckeyes have been faring in Indianapolis.

Jeff Heuerman

USA TODAY Sports

After a sprained ankle suffered against Alabama in the Sugar Bowl limited his availability in the national title game and kept him out of the Senior Bowl, tight end Jeff Heuerman heads to Indianapolis first looking to prove that he's at full strength. After that, the 6'5", 255-pounder will attempt to show that he can be a reliable pass-catcher after reeling in just 17 passes for 207 yards and two touchdowns in 2014.

Nevertheless, NFL scouts remain intrigued with Heuerman due to his unique blend of size and athleticism. According to Ohio State tight ends coach Tim Hinton, Heuerman led the Buckeyes in both the bench press and vertical-jump drills this past season.

Taking that into consideration, it's very possible that Heuerman could be viewed as a workout warrior this spring and could eventually catapult into the draft's third round. A lot of that will depend on how he performs in the coming months, as he attempts to prove that his potential is worth an early-round pick.

Results

40-Yard Dash: N/A

Bench Press: 26 reps

Vertical Jump: N/A

Broad Jump: N/A

3-Cone Drill: N/A

20-Yard Shuttle: N/A

60-Yard Shuttle: N/A

Devin Smith

USA TODAY Sports

A potential first-round pick, Devin Smith has plenty on the line this week in Indianapolis, with some speculating he'll set the high mark for the 40-yard dash. Arguably the best deep threat in the nation in 2014, the 6'1", 199-pound Smith led the country with an astonishing 28.2 yards per reception last season.

Aside from showing that his speed is worth the hype, Smith will need to prove he's a well-rounded player capable of doing more than just catching deep balls. In the Buckeyes' offense, Smith's route running was often limited, and his consistency was also questionable, particularly when it came to catching the ball.

Too often the Massillon, Ohio, native would drop the routine catch, after turning around from making the spectacular one. If Smith's going to be picked in the first round, he'll need to be more than just a one-trick pony, and this week should give him the opportunity to prove as much with strong showings in both speed and ball drills.

Results

40-Yard Dash: 4.42 seconds

Bench Press: 10 reps

Vertical Jump: 39.0 inch

Broad Jump: 122.0 inch

3-Cone Drill: N/A

20-Yard Shuttle: 4.15 seconds

60-Yard Shuttle: N/A

Michael Bennett

Joe Robbins/Getty Images

Another potential first-round pick, Michael Bennett has all the tools to be a star defensive lineman in the NFL, but like Smith, his consistency has been questioned.

A CBSSports.com All-American, Bennett posted 41 tackles in 2014, 14 of which came for a loss, and seven sacks. Of his seven sacks, however, five came in the second-to-last week of the regular season or later, an indication that he may have been holding something back to protect his draft stock.

Nevertheless, this week will provide Bennett with an opportunity to answer those questions about his consistency, as well as whether or not he's big enough (listed at 6'2", 288 lbs) to play defensive tackle in the NFL. A strong showing in events such as the bench press would bode well for Bennett, as questions remain whether or not he can overpower bigger guards on the inside at the next level.

Results

40-Yard Dash: N/A

Bench Press: N/A

Vertical Jump: N/A

Broad Jump: N/A

3-Cone Drill: N/A

20-Yard Shuttle: N/A

60-Yard Shuttle: N/A

Doran Grant

Michael Conroy/Associated Press

No other former Buckeye has more to prove this week than cornerback Doran Grant, whose draft status is the most unclear of any of the quartet of OSU alums participating in Indianapolis.

CBSSports.com currently projects the Akron, Ohio, native as the 16th-best cornerback in the draft, although in the pass-happy NFL that could make Grant as high as a fourth-round pick. NFL.com analyst Lance Zierlein admits to having concerns about the 5'11", 193-pounder's size, which isn't something that he'll necessarily be able to disprove at the combine.

"Might lack the necessary size to play outside and athleticism to star in a primarily man-based scheme in the pros," Zierlein wrote in his evaluation. "Grant plays the ball well and is smart, with a willingness to tackle. Could be headed to the slot with a more zone-based defense."

Nevertheless, Grant can make up for his shortcomings with strong showings in the 40-yard dash, vertical jump and bench press, especially considering that he was viewed as one of the most athletic players on the Buckeyes' roster. Grant has also shown a knack for making plays as well, recording five interceptions in 2014.

Results

40-Yard Dash: 4.44 seconds

Bench Press: 21 reps

Vertical Jump: 33 inches

Broad Jump: 116 inches

3-Cone Drill: N/A

20-Yard Shuttle: N/A

60-Yard Shuttle: N/A

Ben Axelrod is Bleacher Report's Big Ten Lead Writer. You can follow him on Twitter @BenAxelrod. Unless noted otherwise, all quotes obtained firsthand. All statistics courtesy of CFBStats.com. Recruiting rankings courtesy of 247Sports. Combine results via NFL.com.