Two Buckeyes in Todd McShay’s top-10 NFL mock draft

“The more I watch this kid, the more I think he’s a legitimate first-round talent.”

- Todd McShay, ESPN

In Todd McShay’s 2019 Mock Draft 1.0, two Buckeyes find themselves on the board through the first 10 picks. To nobody’s surprise, at No. 1 overall McShay has Nick Bosa. Bosa has been a consensus top-three NFL Draft pick since the moment he stepped on campus. Bosa played in only three games this season before suffering a core muscle injury, choosing to sit out the remainder of the season to focus on the draft. In 29 career games at Ohio State, Bosa registered 29 tackles for loss, 17.5 sacks, two forced fumbles and a touchdown.

A slight surprise, however, is the second Buckeye to crack the top ten: Dwayne Haskins. McShay is projecting Haskins as a the No. 10 pick (to the New York Giants) as the second QB off the board, behind only Justin Herbert. The pick would make a lot of sense for New York, as Eli Manning is probably going into his final season in 2019, and could make for an explosive offense centered around Haskins, Saquon Barkley and Odell Beckham Jr. Haskins finished the season with 4,580 yards passing with 51 total TDs and eight interceptions, with a chance to showcase his skills one final time in the Rose Bowl against Washington.

“Victor is also a senior next season and could possibly be the only senior. Very quickly, that unit could go from one of Ohio State’s most experienced units to one of its youngest.”

- Stephen Means, Cleveland.com

Ohio State’s wide receiver core in their first year under now full-time wide receivers coach Brian Hartline was spectacular. Four different players finished with (or near) 1,000-yard seasons, including Parris Campbell, Terry McLaurin, Johnnie Dixon and K.J. Hill. The problem for the Buckeyes is that three of the four of these guys will not be on the roster next year, with the possibility that all four are gone should Hill declare for the NFL Draft.

Binjimen Victor is going to have to step up in a way big next season, especially if Hill and Austin Mack leave for the NFL. We all saw what freshman Chris Olave is capable of in his increased role late in the season, and the Buckeyes will have the No. 2 recruit at wideout in the country in Garrett Wilson, but it will fall on Victor’s shoulders to be the veteran leader as potentially the only senior in his unit.

Victor is a very tall and skinny receiver, coming in at 6-foot-4, 200 pounds. In his first three years at Ohio State, he has hauled in 46 passes for 733 yards and 12 TDs. While he has had his share of brilliant plays, like the long TD against Penn State this season, he has also had his fair share of wide open dropped passes. Hopefully with another year under Hartline, Victor can become more consistent and be a big-time target in the passing game next season.

“A star was born, however, as White arguably played the best game of football by any OSU safety all season that afternoon against the Huskers. And he did it in just 2-1/2 quarters after Fuller’s ejection.”

- Steve Helwagen, 247sports.com

At the beginning of the season, Ohio State had a real tough time replacing the starting safety position opposite Jordan Fuller, formally occupied by Damon Webb. They tried rotating guys like Jahsen Wint and Isaiah Pryor, even rotating in cornerback Shaun Wade in an attempt to shore up the position. However, it would not be until a first-half targeting call against Fuller forced Brendon White into action that the Buckeyes would find their man.

In that game against Nebraska, White had one of the most impressive games on the defensive end of any player all season. After registering only five total tackles over the team’s first four games, White finished the Nebraska game with 13 total tackles, including two big-time tackles for loss in a tight contest. White would start at safety the remainder of the season, finishing with 38 total tackles and an interception — in the Michigan game, no less.

Around Campus

Wrestling

No. 2 Ohio State opened up Big Ten play with a 23-13 victory over Wisconsin on Sunday. Freshman Ethan Smith had an impressive comeback win over No. 9 Ryan Christensen in the 174-pound match, as other victorious Buckeyes included Micah Jordan, Myles Martin, Joey McKenna, Kollin Moore and Luke Pletcher.

Women’s Soccer

Senior goalkeeper Devon Kerr was named a third team All American by TopDrawerSoccer.com on Tuesday. Kerr can add the accolade to her 2018 Big Ten Goalkeeper of the Year award as well as first team All-Big Ten honors. Kerr tied for third in the conference with eight shutouts and posted a .826 save percentage good for fourth in the Big Ten.

Gymnastics

The Ohio State women’s gymnastics team was ranked No. 18 in the Women’s Collegiate Gymnastics Association (WCGA) preseason poll. It is the team’s highest preseason ranking since 2015. The Buckeyes are one of five ranked teams in the Big Ten, including Michigan (No. 9), Nebraska (No. 11), Illinois (No. 22) and Minnesota (No. 23).

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