2011 NFL Draft: The Top 10 Ohio State Buckeyes Prospects This Season
The Ohio State University has put many players in the NFL, 36 of which remain active. The 2011 NFL Draft class hopes to continue this tradition of excellence.
Interested in which graduating Buckeyes are the best NFL prospects? Read on to find out.
10. Brandon Saine
1 of 10
After his breakout 2009 season, much was expected of Saine in 2010. Unfortunately, those hopes did not come to fruition.
While Saine has outstanding speed and power, he is not very agile and can't make the sharp cuts necessary to play in the NFL. However, he has great hands and could get looked at as a slot receiver.
Projected Round: Undrafted
9. Bryant Browning
2 of 10
In terms of size, the 6'4", 313-pound Browning is NFL ready.
While he's an adequate run blocker, Browning struggles in pass protection. He's not that athletic and could get burned by athletic defensive linemen.
Projected Round: Seventh or Undrafted
8. Brian Rolle
3 of 10
Rolle is a sure tackler with good speed.
The problem is that Rolle is undersized for an NFL linebacker at 5'11" and 218 pounds. With his size, he is more suited for safety.
If Rolle can adapt to playing in the secondary, he could be a steal. A player who can hit and defend is always in high demand in the NFL.
Projected Round: Seventh
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7. Devon Torrence
4 of 10
Torrence is an inexperienced yet talented corner. For having played the position for only a couple of years, his skill level is impressive.
However, his inexperience showed, especially in the first half of the Penn State game. Admittedly, he did shut down his receiver in the second half and returned an interception for a touchdown.
Torrence is a good enough athlete, but needs to further learn the position. If he continues his progress, he could be a decent NFL corner.
Projected Round: Sixth to Seventh
6. Jermale Hines
5 of 10
Hines has NFL-ready size (6'1", 216) and speed.
Hines is particularly known for his fierce tackling, occasionally drawing personal fouls for hard hits.
Though a great tackler, Hines is not stellar in pass coverage. In the NFL, that liability will be exposed by the likes of Tom Brady and Peyton Manning.
Hines seems like a poor man's Roy Williams. That's not an insult, as Williams has been selected to five Pro Bowls.
Projected Round: Fifth-Sixth
5. Ross Homan
6 of 10
Homan has a good nose for the ball and a high football IQ.
The knock on Homan is his lack of height and athleticism. At 6'0", 227, he is an undersized linebacker, yet runs just a 4.75 40.
He is tough so that could make up for some athletic deficiency.
Projected Round: Fourth-Fifth
4. Chimdi Chekwa
7 of 10
Chekwa is a great athlete, but makes an occasional erratic play. He is a 180 from Homan, a smart player who lacks athleticism.
The Thorpe Award finalist turned in a great 2010 campaign, helping shed the erratic label. In the process, he was named a first team All-American by the FWAA and College Football News.
Chekwa did suffer a wrist injury during the Sugar Bowl, but that shouldn't affect his draft status.
Projected Round: Third-Fourth
3. Dane Sanzenbacher
8 of 10
Sanzenbacher is a tough receiver with great route-running ability. Due to these attributes, he was able to make an impact at the Senior Bowl with five receptions for 62 yards despite being a late add.
Sanzenbacher's biggest flaw is his speed, or lack thereof. For a wide receiver, a 4.55 40 isn't going to cut it. However, the importance of measurables is exaggerated and pales in comparison with actual production. Despite being somewhat slow for a potential NFL wideout, Sanzenbacher has a slew of tough catches and touchdowns to his name.
On a team like the Indianapolis Colts or New England Patriots, Sanzenbacher could have a very successful career.
Unfortunately, NFL teams will most likely be fixated on his 40 time and shy away from taking Sanzenbacher until late in the draft.
Projected Round: Fifth to Seventh
2. Justin Boren
9 of 10
Throughout his college career, Boren has racked up accolades which include selections on All Big-Ten and All-America teams. His mean streak and run-blocking skills set him apart.
His lack of quickness, however, could be exploited by NFL-caliber linemen.
Despite this, he will find a home in the NFL. He has NFL-ready size, power and has been recognized for stellar play. If he works on his pass blocking, he could develop into a very good offensive guard.
Projected Round: Second-Third
1. Cameron Heyward
10 of 10
Heyward is the best Ohio State prospect in this year's NFL draft.
He has NFL-ready size and appears to be a good fit as a 3-4 defensive end.
In the most important games, Heyward came up big. Against Penn State in 2009, he made 11 tackles, three for loss and two sacks in a dominating performance. In this year's Sugar Bowl, Heyward had 1.5 sacks on Ryan Mallett and arguably deserved to be named MVP.
However, Heyward pulled a disappearing act at times this year, something that could make NFL teams wary. Though a strong run-stopper, his pass rush could use improvement.
Heyward would be very successful on a team like the Pittsburgh Steelers, where the main responsibility of linemen is run-stopping instead of pass rushing.
Projected Round: First-Second
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