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Ohio State NFL draft prospects top landing spots: Projections for Marvin Harrison, others

NFL draft week has arrived.

Starting Thursday in Detroit, former Ohio State football players will find out which NFL team they will play for in the fall.

The first round starts Thursday at 8 p.m. rounds 2 and 3 will begin Friday at 7 p.m., while rounds 4-7 will start at noon Saturday. The draft will air on ESPN, ABC and NFL Network.

Ohio State wide receiver Marvin Harrison Jr. stiff arms Minnesota linebacker Devon Williams.
Ohio State wide receiver Marvin Harrison Jr. stiff arms Minnesota linebacker Devon Williams.

Here's a look at where Ohio State prospects could land in the 2024 NFL draft.

WR Marvin Harrison Jr. NFL draft projection

Most NFL mock drafts have Harrison as the first non-quarterback off the board Thursday, going after Southern California quarterback Caleb Williams, LSU quarterback Jayden Daniels, North Carolina quarterback Drake Maye and, possibly, Michigan quarterback J.J. McCarthy.

As the fourth or fifth overall pick, Harrison is widely expected to land with the Arizona Cardinals or the Los Angeles Chargers. That would make Harrison the highest-drafted wide receiver in Ohio State program history ahead of Terry Glenn (No. 7 in 1996), David Boston (No. 8 in 1999), Ted Ginn Jr. (No. 9 in 2007), Garrett Wilson (No. 10 in 2022) and Chris Olave (No. 11 in 2022).

Harrison, an All-American, Biletnikoff Award winner and Heisman Trophy finalist, finished his collegiate career with 2,613 receiving yards and 32 touchdowns. He is the only Ohio State receiver to have back-to-back 1,000-yard seasons.

Ohio State defensive tackle Michael Hall Jr. runs a circle drill during the Buckeyes' pro day in March.
Ohio State defensive tackle Michael Hall Jr. runs a circle drill during the Buckeyes' pro day in March.

DT Mike Hall Jr. NFL draft projection

After three seasons with Ohio State, defensive tackle Mike Hall Jr. could find his NFL home as early as the second round.

Hall, a 6-foot-3, 290-pound interior lineman, spent three seasons with the Buckeyes and recorded 45 tackles, 10 tackles-for-loss and 6 sacks. He was a third-team All-Big Ten player in 2023.

A dominant Senior Bowl performance seemingly moved Hall up the draft boards, putting him just behind defensive tackles Byron Murphy II of Texas and Illinois' Jer'Zhan Newton. Hall is expected to be off the board in the second or third round, taken a by team like the Los Angeles Rams or the Atlanta Falcons with the possibility of following in the footsteps of former Ohio State defensive tackle Cameron Heyward with the Pittsburgh Steelers.

Ohio State tight end Cade Stover catches a pass over Michigan's Jimmy Rolder.
Ohio State tight end Cade Stover catches a pass over Michigan's Jimmy Rolder.

TE Cade Stover NFL draft projection

After one of the most productive seasons as a tight end in Ohio State history, Cade Stover is expected to find a home within the four rounds of the 2024 NFL draft.

Stover, a 6-foot-4, 247-pound converted linebacker, finished with 576 receiving yards and five touchdowns on 41 catches, the most by an OSU tight end since John Frank in 1983. Stover finished his final collegiate season as the Big Ten's Kwalick-Clark Tight End of the Year. He left Ohio State with 82 catches for 1,058 yards and 10 touchdowns.

Stover is viewed by many as the third-best tight end prospect in the 2024 class behind Georgia's Brock Bowers and Texas' Ja'Tavion Sanders. Expect Stover to be selected anywhere from the middle of the third round by a team like the Washington Commanders, to the middle of the fourth round by a team like the Denver Broncos.

Ohio State linebacker Tommy Eichenberg readies for the snap during the Buckeyes' 35-16 win over Rutgers.
Ohio State linebacker Tommy Eichenberg readies for the snap during the Buckeyes' 35-16 win over Rutgers.

LB Tommy Eichenberg NFL draft projection

Tommy Eichenberg made his presence felt in the middle of Ohio State's defense.

The three-year starting linebacker and a two-time captain finished his career with 268 tackles, 21 tackles-for-loss and 3.5 sacks. He was named first-team All-Big Ten and won the conference's Butkus-Fitzgerald Linebacker of the Year award. Nationally, he was recognized as a second-team All-American by the Football Writers Association of America, Sports Illustrated and Phil Steele, and was a semifinalist for the Butkus Award.

After five seasons with the Buckeyes, expect Eichenberg to be one of the first 10 linebackers selected in the NFL draft after players such as NC State's Payton Wilson and Texas A&M's Edgerrin Cooper. Eichenberg is expected to be a mid-to-late fourth-round selection and could be selected by teams like the Pittsburgh Steelers, New York Jets or the Arizona Cardinals.

Ohio State safety Josh Proctor (41) breaks up a pass intended for Minnesota wide receiver Daniel Jackson.
Ohio State safety Josh Proctor (41) breaks up a pass intended for Minnesota wide receiver Daniel Jackson.

S Josh Proctor NFL draft projection

Josh Proctor saved his best season for last.

The former four-star safety in the 2018 recruiting class finished 2023 with 47 tackles, 4 tackles-for-loss and an interception along with 8 pass deflections. The 6-foot-1-and-a-half, 199-pound defensive back showed range as the Buckeyes' free safety.

Proctor is an older prospect. But based on Ohio State's track record of developing defensive backs and Proctor's production as a starting safety in the Big Ten, expect him to be selected in either the sixth or seventh round by a team like the New Orleans Saints, Dallas Cowboys or Los Angeles Rams – teams that have selected and benefitted from OSU defensive backs in the past.

Ohio State linebacker Steele Chambers' interception was one of four turnovers the Buckeyes forced in a September game against Western Kentucky.
Ohio State linebacker Steele Chambers' interception was one of four turnovers the Buckeyes forced in a September game against Western Kentucky.

LB Steele Chambers NFL draft projection

A converted running back, Steele Chambers proved to be a solid force in the middle of Ohio State's defense.

Chambers was a three-year starter at linebacker for the Buckeyes. He was a back-to-back member of the All-Big Ten honorable mention team and led OSU in tackles in 2023 with 83. He has three games in three seasons with 10 or more tackles, including a 13-tackle performance against Michigan Nov. 25 last year.

A team could take a flier on Chambers in the sixth-or-seventh-round based on Ohio State's success at developing linebackers and his ability to fill run gaps as a former running back. If a team like the Miami Dolphins, New England Patriots or Houston Texans need a linebacker, Chambers may be selected late Saturday.

G Matt Jones NFL draft projection

Matt Jones showed his versatility in his six years with Ohio State football.

A former top-70 recruit in the 2018 class, Jones filled in as a swing guard in his first four seasons on both the right and left sides while also serving as the Buckeyes' backup center. Jones found his home at right guard in 2022 and 2023. He allowed one sack in those two seasons per Pro Football Focus.

Jones, a 6-foot-3½ and 316-pound lineman, is not expected to be selected in an NFL draft, which includes valued prospects like Oregon's Jackson Powers-Johnson and Kansas State's Cooper Beebe. But Jones could be an exceptional commodity as an undrafted free agent given his versatility.

Ohio State's Xavier Johnson catches a pass during the Buckeye's pro day at the Woody Hayes Athletic Center.
Ohio State's Xavier Johnson catches a pass during the Buckeye's pro day at the Woody Hayes Athletic Center.

WR Xavier Johnson NFL draft projection

Xavier Johnson did a bit of everything for Ohio State.

The 6-foot-1, 210-pound athlete, spent time as a running back, slot receiver and a weapon on multiple special teams units. The former walk-on spent six years with the program, and while he is not expected to be selected in the NFL draft, he should be a coveted free agent.

Expect a team like the Cincinnati Bengals or the New England Patriots – teams with a track record of taking former Ohio State players – to give Johnson a chance.

Ohio State running back Miyan Williams makes a move around Penn State linebacker Kobe King.
Ohio State running back Miyan Williams makes a move around Penn State linebacker Kobe King.

RB Miyan Williams NFL draft projection

Miyan Williams may not be the biggest running back, but the former Ohio State rusher bruised his way through opposing defensive lines and found his share of daylight at the collegiate level.

In four seasons at Ohio State, Williams averaged 6 yards per carry and scored 20 touchdowns, 14 of which came during the 2022 season. A knee injury hampered Williams' production in 2023, when he recorded 158 rushing yards on 49 carries.

Standing at 5-foot-8-and-a-half and 229 pounds, Williams will likely not be a draft pick, especially given a lack of demonstrated ability as a pass catcher. But a team like the Cleveland Browns, Dallas Cowboys or the Pittsburgh Steelers could take a look at Williams as a potential undrafted free agent option.

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This article originally appeared on The Columbus Dispatch: Ohio State NFL draft projections: Best landing spots for top prospects