Ohio State Bowl Ban: Which Underclassmen Should Leave Early For the Draft Now?

The NCAA has decided to drop their punishment on the Ohio State Buckeyes a few days before Christmas and has made up its mind that the tattoo incident was really naughty. Ohio State will be banned from postseason play next season, and they will lose four scholarships for the next three seasons. That's on top of the five the university had decided to take away themselves.

This, of course, means that they won't be eligible for any Big Ten Championship or bowl game next season. The punishment has to do with what happened last season, where players accepted tattoos in exchange for memorabilia.

It couldn't have come at a worse time, as new Buckeyes head coach Urban Meyer is pulling in nearly every top recruit available.

While this will likely have a huge impact on the recruiting process, it may also effect the current players that are on the roster.

Here are a few players that should consider leaving for the NFL draft a little early.

John Simon

Simon had the most sacks on this Buckeyes team this year with a solid seven. At 6'2", 270 pounds, Simon is a leader on and off the field and has a great combination of power and strength. He's still a bit too small to play the defensive tackle position at the next level. Although it would be best for him to stay another year and work on his game, he would be a top-10 defensive end in this year's draft.

Jake Stoneburner

Stoneburner may not have caught a ton of balls in his college career, but he is a great red-zone target, as he had the most receiving touchdowns this year with seven. At 6'5'', 245 pounds, he's a tall and athletic target for any quarterback. Could be like a Jeremy Graham type that's currently dominating for the New Orleans Saints. In a weaker class for tight ends, he could be one of the first few tight ends taken off the board.

C.J. Barnett

Barnett may lack experience, as he's only played one full season, but he was the leading tackler this season with 68 tackles. He also has a history with injuries, as he missed the majority of last season with a torn ACL. Overall, he is a big hitting safety that has great speed and is very athletic. He does have flaws to his game but he has a ton of upside and would go in the later rounds if he left early.

Randy Chambers is a B/R Featured Columnist that covers College Football and the NFL. You can contact him @Randy_Chambers or [e-mail]