Ohio State Pro Day 2015: Recap, Reaction for Devin Smith and Top Buckeyes

COLUMBUS, Ohio — With Ohio State still possessing several premier NFL prospects on its roster for the 2015 season, the biggest stars at this year's Buckeye pro day may have been standing on the sideline.

But that didn't stop the current OSU prospects from trying to put on a show, with all 32 NFL teams represented and a total of 76 personnel members in attendance. The Buckeyes won't have the heaviest presence in this year's draft, but they'll try to maintain a strong one coming off of last season's national championship.

And this year's pro day seemed to help that cause.

Devin Smith

Of the Ohio State prospects who worked out at pro day, no one drew more attention than wide receiver Devin Smith. Arguably the best deep threat in the country a season ago with the nation's best 28.2 yards-per-catch average, Smith came to pro day set on proving he's capable of doing more than just stretching the field.

So much so, in fact, that the Massillon, Ohio, product opted not to run the 40-yard dash.

Of course, it didn't hurt that Smith's speed is hardly questioned and he had already run a 4.42 40 at the NFL Scouting Combine last month. But for the 6'0", 196-pounder, his primary objective remained showing off improved route running and consistency with catching.

"I really wanted to focus on running routes. That was the main focus for me," Smith told Bleacher Report and ESPN.com's Austin Ward. "There's a few coaches that did know I could run all the other routes and a few others just wanted to see it. It's just a matter of me showing it. I did it at the Senior Bowl, then at the combine and then here at the pro day. I thought my route running was very good."

It certainly seemed that way, with Smith hauling in catches on a number of different routes thrown by former Buckeyes Heisman-winner Troy Smith. He did have one noticeable drop that went right through his hands on an out-route, but other than that, Smith seemed to catch everything clean, including a few of his signature deep balls.

Following pro day, Smith met extensively with his hometown Cleveland Browns and also said he's been hearing from the Dolphins and Chargers. Most mock drafts have Smith being selected in the second round, although he could sneak into the first, especially if there's a big run on wide receivers on the first day of the draft.

Until then, Smith will remain working out in San Diego, waiting for the April 30 first round to approach. In the Golden State he's been training with a former rival in Michigan State wideout Tony Lippett and another former Big Ten star who's stopped by the facility.

"[Wisconsin running back] Melvin Gordon was down there training with us and I kind of gave him hell [about the Ohio State's 59-0 Big Ten Championship Game win over the Badgers]," Smith said, laughing.

Michael Bennett

Another former Buckeye who has been projected by some to be a first-round pick, defensive tackle Michael Bennett saw his pro day cut short when he pulled up lame with what appeared to be a pulled hamstring in his second attempt at the 40-yard dash. The 6'2", 293-pounder didn't participate in any other drills that were open to the media for the rest of the day, but per Jeff Rapp of WTVN 610 in Columbus, Bennett is doing just fine.

Bennett's pro day—or lack thereof—shouldn't affect his draft stock too much, although it's worth noting he also sat out the NFL Scouting Combine due to a groin injury last month. Injuries cost Bennett the majority of his sophomore season in 2012, and given that he's lighter than the prototypical defensive tackle, questions about his durability are fair.

Nevertheless, it's hard to imagine Bennett would slide past the second around after a senior season that saw him record seven sacks, including five in the Buckeyes' final five games. With the versatility to also play defensive end, Bennett would fit in most NFL schemes and served as one of the primary leaders on Ohio State's national title team.

Jeff Heuerman

Tight end Jeff Heuerman didn't speak with reporters after pro day as he was busy meeting with the Jacksonville Jaguars, but he did do plenty of talking on the field, encouraging fellow pass-catchers during wide receiver and tight end drills. Heuerman also caught some passes of his own, showcasing his hands on short, intermediate and deep routes.

The 6'5", 254-pounder had trouble getting to one of the deeper balls thrown his way, although it's worth noting Smith didn't have a particularly accurate day when it came to distributing passes. Heuerman wouldn't be asked to blow by defenders much anyways, as he's most effective as a possession receiver and elite blocker.

Heuerman's measurable results at pro day are unclear—Ohio State doesn't release them—but his 26 reps on the bench press at the combine bode well for his draft prospects. CBSSports.com currently projects Heuerman as a fourth-round pick, and one team that may make some sense for the Naples, Florida, native is the tight end-needy Browns.

Doran Grant

Like Smith, cornerback Doran Grant didn't run in the 40-yard dash on Friday after a stellar showing at last month's combine. The Akron, Ohio, native clocked a 4.44 40 in Indianapolis and said that some coaches clocked him at a 4.38 and 4.37.

Grant still managed to potentially help his draft stock, showcasing strong hands and smooth running as he didn't drop an interception in defensive back drills. The 5'10", 200-pounder said he was pleased with his performance, although he still hasn't gotten a good grasp on where he'll be selected.

"All positive so far," Grant said when asked about the feedback he's received from NFL teams. "I'm not sure what round [I'll be drafted]. I've been hearing a lot, so I'm not sure what's going to happen. There's still a lot of time before the draft."

CBSSports.com currently ranks Grant as a third-round selection after a strong combine showing that included 21 reps on the bench press, a 33-inch vertical jump and a 116-inch broad jump. Grant also mentioned that he's been hearing from San Francisco, Indianapolis, Oakland, Tampa Bay, Dallas and Pittsburgh throughout the draft process.

As for where he'd like to be selected, the All-Big Ten corner said that he has no preference. "Just a kid from Akron, Ohio," as LeBron James once said, he simply can't wait to play his first game at the next level.

"Just making a roster," Grant answered when asked what would make him happy.

Reporters laughed.

"No, seriously. Making a roster."

Quick Hits

• Other ex-Buckeyes who worked out at pro day on Friday included Evan Spencer, Darryl Baldwin, Curtis Grant, Steve Miller, Kyle Clinton, Russell Doup, Drew Basil, Chris Fields, Marcus Hall and George Makridis.
• Of the bunch, Spencer stood out the most. The wide receiver appears to have added a significant amount of muscle since the end of the season and caught everything thrown to him except for one deep ball on a tough throw. With his abilities as a blocker, it wouldn't be surprising to see a team take a late-round flier on the 2014 Ohio State captain.
• Baldwin, the Buckeyes' starting right tackle last season, noted he has a workout scheduled with the Carolina Panthers.
• In addition to the Jaguars, Heuerman was scheduled to meet with the San Francisco 49ers today.
• While today's pro day may have been lackluster, next year's in Columbus could be the biggest in college football. Joey Bosa, Ezekiel Elliott, Cardale Jones and Taylor Decker will likely headline the bunch as potential first-round picks and could be joined by the likes of Eli Apple, Vonn Bell, Joshua Perry, Braxton Miller, Nick Vannett and Michael Thomas, among others.

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