COLUMBUS, Ohio — The countdown is on. With the 2026 NFL Draft just 10 weeks away, the buzz around the Woody Hayes Athletic Center isn’t just about who’s leaving—it’s about a race to three digits. Ohio State sits at 95 all-time first-round selections. They need five more to become the first program in college football history to hit the century mark. The projections? They might just hit that number on opening night.
The Top Dogs: Top-10 Locks
The Buckeyes aren’t just sending bodies to the league; they are sending franchise cornerstones. The top of the board is painted Scarlet and Gray.
Arvell Reese | LB/EDGE | Projected: Top-3
Reese is a violent disruptor. Period. Scouts are drooling over his transition from a traditional off-ball linebacker to a pure edge terror. His first step is lethal, and he converts speed to power better than anyone in this class. While he played off-ball in Columbus, NFL decision-makers see a 15-sack-per-year potential off the edge. He isn’t just the first linebacker off the board; he might be the first non-QB to hear his name called.
Caleb Downs | Safety | Projected: Top-5
Downs is the safest bet in the draft. His football IQ is off the charts—he processes plays before the quarterback even snaps the ball. While safeties rarely crack the top five, Downs is the exception to the rule. He hits like a linebacker and covers like a corner. The floor here is incredibly high; he starts Day 1 and contends for Defensive Rookie of the Year immediately.
Carnell Tate | Wide Receiver | Projected: Top-8
Forget the 40-time; watch the tape. Tate is a surgeon on the field. His route running is fluid, crisp, and deceptive. He doesn’t just get open; he creates acres of separation. In a league that values separation above all else, Tate’s ability to track the ball and win at the catch point makes him WR1 on many boards. He attacks the ball in the air with an aggression that defensive backs hate.
Round 1 Contenders: The History Makers
These are the names that could push Ohio State over that 100-pick threshold.
- Sonny Styles (LB): The modern NFL craves speed at linebacker, and Styles delivers. A converted safety, he covers tight ends in the slot and fills run gaps with equal ferocity. He doesn’t miss tackles. If a team needs a green-dot leader who stays on the field for all three downs, Styles is the pick.
- Kayden McDonald (DT): McDonald is a pocket-collapsing nightmare. He isn’t a stat-sheet stuffer with sacks, but he wrecks game plans by resetting the line of scrimmage. He projects as a dominant 1-technique who demands double teams, freeing up guys like Reese to feast.
Day 2 & 3: The Value Picks
Davison Igbinosun (DB | Round 2-3): You want physical? Igbinosun bullies receivers at the line. Press-man teams will love his length and aggression. The downside? That physicality draws yellow flags. He needs to refine his hand placement, but the tools are elite.
Max Klare (TE | Round 2-3): The transfer paid off. Klare proved he can separate from linebackers and find soft spots in zones. He’s a “move” tight end who acts as a big slot receiver. Blocking is a work in progress, but his hands are reliable chains-movers.
Caden Curry (DL | Round 3-4): The motor never stops. Curry lacks the prototype size of a top-10 pick, but his production speaks volumes. He led the Buckeyes in sacks by simply outworking blockers. He’s a scheme-dependent prospect who will thrive in a rotation.
Late Round Sleepers & UDFAs
“You look at a guy like CJ Donaldson, dropping that weight to get faster? That shows me he gets it. He knows what the NFL demands. That’s a pro mindset.”
— Anonymous AFC North Scout
- Will Kacmarek (TE): A classic Y-tight end. He puts his hand in the dirt and moves bodies. He won’t catch 50 passes, but he’ll play 10 years as a blocker and red-zone specialist.
- CJ Donaldson (RB): The weight loss narrative is real. He shed pounds to add burst and it showed. He’s a between-the-tackles brawler who can get the tough yards.
- Ethan Onianwa (OL): The Rice transfer struggled to lock down a tackle spot, but 6-foot-6 guys with his wingspan always get a look. Practice squad candidate with upside.
- Lorenzo Styles Jr. (DB): The speed is real, but the technique is raw. Being Sonny’s brother helps the narrative, but his special teams value will be his ticket to a roster spot.
What’s Next
The Combine in Indianapolis is the final hurdle. Reese and Styles need to blow up the athletic testing to cement their statuses. For guys like Igbinosun and Curry, the agility drills will be make-or-break. If five Buckeyes go in Round 1, Ryan Day hasn’t just built a team; he’s built an NFL factory.
