So there aren't a lot of sites that give a ton of comprehensive draft coverage (for free) this far in advance. Walter Football is pretty good at that - while I'm not saying they are spot on - they do cover a lot of ground. And it's an outside perspective. Here's what they're saying (by position)... most of these have been updated within the past week or so. Again, not saying this is gospel by any stretch, but they have 12 of our guys getting drafted (and not counting Jalyn Holmes, who I consider an absolute lock to be drafted despite a lack of production thus far). And they're obviously not counting JT, Sprinkle, Michael Hill or Erick Smith, who could have a shot as well. They are saying 5 guys, at this point, have a shot at being first rounders.
QB - n/a (ranked top 22)
RB - Mike Weber (#7 RB), projected round: 2-3
9/9/17: Weber sat out the season opener with a hamstring injury.
7/17/17: In a group of a highly recruited and talented running backs, Weber won the starting job to replace Ezekiel Elliott, and Weber had an impressive debut in 2016, averaging six yards per carry for 1,096 yards and nine touchdowns. He had 23 receptions for 91 yards as well.
Weber could be even better in 2017 now that he has a year of experience. There has been some buzz about the redshirt sophomore in the scouting community.
WR - Parris Campbell (#5 WR), projected round: 1-2
9/9/17: In the 2017 season opener, Campbell caught six passes for 136 yards and a touchdown.
7/17/17: Campbell made only 13 receptions for 121 yards in 2016, but sources from multiple teams have told me that Campbell has big-time ability and they believe he is going to break out. They also think Campbell has No. 1 receiver talent in the NFL. He probably will take on a bigger role for Ohio State in 2017.
TE - Marcus Baugh (#10 TE), projected round: 3-5
9/9/17: Baugh had two catches for 16 yards against Indiana, but he played better than the numbers indicate.
7/17/17: In 2016, Baugh chipped in 24 receptions for 269 yards with two touchdowns. He has good size to be a blocking 'Y' tight end in the NFL.
OT - Jamarco Jones (#6 OT), projected round: 2-3
9/16/17: Jones has been solid to open the season, minus a few plays were he was beaten and allowed his quarterback to get sacked or hit. Jones is a balanced player as a run blocker and pass protector. He is not a twitchy athlete who is especially powerful or heavy handed. Jones isn't a first-round talent, but he is a solid blind-side protector who could be a nice second-day pick from the 2018 NFL Draft.
9/1/17: With Taylor Decker in the NFL, Jones took over at left tackle for the Buckeyes in 2016. Jones had a solid season and showed improvement throughout the year. He could be poised to rise as a senior as he has a lot of athletic ability and has worked hard to get stronger with better weight distribution.
OG/OC - Billy Price (#3 OG/#1 OC), projected round: 1-3
9/16/17: Price has impressed NFL evaluators, both with his work in fall training camp and in the first games of the 2017 season. They say that Price plays within himself. They like his awareness and call him an above-average athlete. He isn't overly fast or twitchy like the Pouncey brothers, but Price has movement skills and is better than average in space. The sources also like that Price handles big nose tackles well, which can be difficult for centers and is a hard-to-find talent. As a result of his well-balanced play, Price is being viewed as a prospect who could go in the early rounds of the 2018 NFL Draft. One team source thought that if Josh Garnett and Laken Tomlinson were worthy first-round picks, than Price could be as well because they feel Price is a better player than either of Garnett or Tomlinson. Teams are projecting Price to be a starting center in the NFL.
7/17/17: Price had problems with penalties in 2016, including three in the season opener, but blocked well for the Buckeyes. He has size and some athleticism at the point of attack. His run blocking is ahead of his pass protection. The junior was wise to return for his senior year, which should help improve his pass blocking.
Price broke into the starting lineup in 2014, and his play has steadily improved. In the ground game, he helped open a lot of holes for Ezekiel Elliott while becoming more reliable in pass protection. Price has upside and could easily rise in these rankings during the 2017 season.
DE - Sam Hubbard (#5 DE), projected round: 1-2
9/23/17: Thus far in 2017, Hubbard has 10 tackles with three tackles for a loss and two sacks. He has had good moments but still doesn't always play up to his great skill set.
9/1/17: In 2016, Hubbard collected 46 tackles with eight for a loss, 3.5 sacks and two passes batted. While rotating into the game as a sophomore, he showed his potential with 6.5 sacks. Hubbard also had 28 tackles with an interception. The senior could explode in 2017 as he has an early round skill set. Hubbard has a lot of physical talent, but he hasn't produced up to it. He could rise high if that changes as a senior.
DE - Tyquan Lewis (#15 DE), projected round: 3-5
9/23/17: Lewis has three tackles and two sacks with a pass batted this season.
9/1/17: Lewis totaled 29 tackles with eight sacks, three forced fumbles, 10.5 tackles for a loss and two passes batted last season. Some scouting sources say they graded Lewis as a mid-round talent for the 2017 NFL Draft before he decided to return for his senior year. In 2015, Lewis totaled 54 tackles with 14 tackles for a loss, eight sacks and one pass broken up. It was an impressive season for the sophomore. Lewis started across from Joey Bosa and led the Buckeyes in sacks.
DT - Dre'Mont Jones (#4 DT), projected round: 1-3
9/23/17: After three games, Jones has six tackles with two for a loss. The numbers don't illustrate how much disruption he causes.
9/1/17: Jones is a redshirt sophomore who could break out in 2017. He earned a starting job as a redshirt freshman in 2016 and totaled 52 tackles with four tackles for a loss. Scouting sources say that Jones has a first-round skill set. With Sam Hubbard and Tyquan Lewis drawing attention on the outside, Jones could do some damage on the inside.
OLB - Jerome Baker (#9 OLB), projected round: 2-4
9/23/17: Thus far in 2017, Baker has 19 tackles with one for a loss and two passes broken up. He hasn't validated some of the preseason media hype with his play this season.
9/1/17: There has been a lot of media hype about Baker, but in speaking with scouts who did advance work on the 2018 class, they weren't impressed with Baker. They said that Baker runs around more blocks than he takes on and has the speed to get away with that against average offensive lines. They thought was more of a second-day to early third-day prospect. They said Baker is a good player, but not complete and isn't anything exceptional. They felt Baker was a good, solid, instinct guy who, in the right system, will play in the NFL, but over time they're a dime a dozen.
After Darron Lee was taken in the first round of the 2016 NFL Draft, Baker won the job to be Lee's replacement as Ohio State's fast run-and-chase linebacker. Baker had a quality debut with 83 tackles, 9.5 tackles for a loss, 3.5 sacks and two interceptions. He is a highly athletic linebacker with sideline-to-sideline speed. Baker could be a great fit as a Will (weak side) linebacker in a 4-3 defense.
OLB - Chris Worley (#17 OLB), projected round: 3-5
9/23/17: Thus far in 2017, Worley has 21 tackles with two tackles for a loss.
9/1/17: Worley was a starter at outside linebacker for Ohio State in 2016. He totaled 70 tackles with 4.5 for a loss, four passes batted and one forced fumble. With Raekwon McMillan moving on to the NFL, Worley is going to move over to middle linebacker. Considering he is likely a little smaller than his listed numbers, Worley wouldn't be big enough for middle linebacker in the NFL and will probably have to play on the outside unless he is able to add weight.
CB - Denzel Ward (#5 CB), projected round: 1-3
9/16/17: Ward has six tackles with five passes broken up and an interception in 2017. In the season opener against Indiana, Ward notched an interception, four tackles and five passes broken up. He also was beaten for a touchdown and some other receptions by big Indiana receiver Simmie Cobbs Jr. Ward struggled with Cobbs' size, but was good at preventing separation. In the NFL, Ward might get placed as a nickelback.
9/1/17: There has been some hype about Ward, who is set to replace Marshon Lattimore/Gareon Conley this season. Ward totaled 23 tackles with nice passes broken up in 2016. While he has gotten a lot of hype suggesting he's as good as his former teammates, he's significantly smaller than them, so he will need to show that size is something he overcomes while taking over a starting spot for the Buckeyes.
S - Damon Webb (#9 S), projected round: 3-4
9/16/17: Webb has 15 tackles thus far this year.
7/24/17: Webb broke into the starting lineup for Ohio State in 2016 and had a solid season as the strong safety next to Malik Hooker. Webb totaled 57 tackles with three passes broken up and one interception on the season. It will be interesting to see if Webb can show the versatility to play free safety with Hooker in the NFL.
QB - n/a (ranked top 22)
RB - Mike Weber (#7 RB), projected round: 2-3
9/9/17: Weber sat out the season opener with a hamstring injury.
7/17/17: In a group of a highly recruited and talented running backs, Weber won the starting job to replace Ezekiel Elliott, and Weber had an impressive debut in 2016, averaging six yards per carry for 1,096 yards and nine touchdowns. He had 23 receptions for 91 yards as well.
Weber could be even better in 2017 now that he has a year of experience. There has been some buzz about the redshirt sophomore in the scouting community.
WR - Parris Campbell (#5 WR), projected round: 1-2
9/9/17: In the 2017 season opener, Campbell caught six passes for 136 yards and a touchdown.
7/17/17: Campbell made only 13 receptions for 121 yards in 2016, but sources from multiple teams have told me that Campbell has big-time ability and they believe he is going to break out. They also think Campbell has No. 1 receiver talent in the NFL. He probably will take on a bigger role for Ohio State in 2017.
TE - Marcus Baugh (#10 TE), projected round: 3-5
9/9/17: Baugh had two catches for 16 yards against Indiana, but he played better than the numbers indicate.
7/17/17: In 2016, Baugh chipped in 24 receptions for 269 yards with two touchdowns. He has good size to be a blocking 'Y' tight end in the NFL.
OT - Jamarco Jones (#6 OT), projected round: 2-3
9/16/17: Jones has been solid to open the season, minus a few plays were he was beaten and allowed his quarterback to get sacked or hit. Jones is a balanced player as a run blocker and pass protector. He is not a twitchy athlete who is especially powerful or heavy handed. Jones isn't a first-round talent, but he is a solid blind-side protector who could be a nice second-day pick from the 2018 NFL Draft.
9/1/17: With Taylor Decker in the NFL, Jones took over at left tackle for the Buckeyes in 2016. Jones had a solid season and showed improvement throughout the year. He could be poised to rise as a senior as he has a lot of athletic ability and has worked hard to get stronger with better weight distribution.
OG/OC - Billy Price (#3 OG/#1 OC), projected round: 1-3
9/16/17: Price has impressed NFL evaluators, both with his work in fall training camp and in the first games of the 2017 season. They say that Price plays within himself. They like his awareness and call him an above-average athlete. He isn't overly fast or twitchy like the Pouncey brothers, but Price has movement skills and is better than average in space. The sources also like that Price handles big nose tackles well, which can be difficult for centers and is a hard-to-find talent. As a result of his well-balanced play, Price is being viewed as a prospect who could go in the early rounds of the 2018 NFL Draft. One team source thought that if Josh Garnett and Laken Tomlinson were worthy first-round picks, than Price could be as well because they feel Price is a better player than either of Garnett or Tomlinson. Teams are projecting Price to be a starting center in the NFL.
7/17/17: Price had problems with penalties in 2016, including three in the season opener, but blocked well for the Buckeyes. He has size and some athleticism at the point of attack. His run blocking is ahead of his pass protection. The junior was wise to return for his senior year, which should help improve his pass blocking.
Price broke into the starting lineup in 2014, and his play has steadily improved. In the ground game, he helped open a lot of holes for Ezekiel Elliott while becoming more reliable in pass protection. Price has upside and could easily rise in these rankings during the 2017 season.
DE - Sam Hubbard (#5 DE), projected round: 1-2
9/23/17: Thus far in 2017, Hubbard has 10 tackles with three tackles for a loss and two sacks. He has had good moments but still doesn't always play up to his great skill set.
9/1/17: In 2016, Hubbard collected 46 tackles with eight for a loss, 3.5 sacks and two passes batted. While rotating into the game as a sophomore, he showed his potential with 6.5 sacks. Hubbard also had 28 tackles with an interception. The senior could explode in 2017 as he has an early round skill set. Hubbard has a lot of physical talent, but he hasn't produced up to it. He could rise high if that changes as a senior.
DE - Tyquan Lewis (#15 DE), projected round: 3-5
9/23/17: Lewis has three tackles and two sacks with a pass batted this season.
9/1/17: Lewis totaled 29 tackles with eight sacks, three forced fumbles, 10.5 tackles for a loss and two passes batted last season. Some scouting sources say they graded Lewis as a mid-round talent for the 2017 NFL Draft before he decided to return for his senior year. In 2015, Lewis totaled 54 tackles with 14 tackles for a loss, eight sacks and one pass broken up. It was an impressive season for the sophomore. Lewis started across from Joey Bosa and led the Buckeyes in sacks.
DT - Dre'Mont Jones (#4 DT), projected round: 1-3
9/23/17: After three games, Jones has six tackles with two for a loss. The numbers don't illustrate how much disruption he causes.
9/1/17: Jones is a redshirt sophomore who could break out in 2017. He earned a starting job as a redshirt freshman in 2016 and totaled 52 tackles with four tackles for a loss. Scouting sources say that Jones has a first-round skill set. With Sam Hubbard and Tyquan Lewis drawing attention on the outside, Jones could do some damage on the inside.
OLB - Jerome Baker (#9 OLB), projected round: 2-4
9/23/17: Thus far in 2017, Baker has 19 tackles with one for a loss and two passes broken up. He hasn't validated some of the preseason media hype with his play this season.
9/1/17: There has been a lot of media hype about Baker, but in speaking with scouts who did advance work on the 2018 class, they weren't impressed with Baker. They said that Baker runs around more blocks than he takes on and has the speed to get away with that against average offensive lines. They thought was more of a second-day to early third-day prospect. They said Baker is a good player, but not complete and isn't anything exceptional. They felt Baker was a good, solid, instinct guy who, in the right system, will play in the NFL, but over time they're a dime a dozen.
After Darron Lee was taken in the first round of the 2016 NFL Draft, Baker won the job to be Lee's replacement as Ohio State's fast run-and-chase linebacker. Baker had a quality debut with 83 tackles, 9.5 tackles for a loss, 3.5 sacks and two interceptions. He is a highly athletic linebacker with sideline-to-sideline speed. Baker could be a great fit as a Will (weak side) linebacker in a 4-3 defense.
OLB - Chris Worley (#17 OLB), projected round: 3-5
9/23/17: Thus far in 2017, Worley has 21 tackles with two tackles for a loss.
9/1/17: Worley was a starter at outside linebacker for Ohio State in 2016. He totaled 70 tackles with 4.5 for a loss, four passes batted and one forced fumble. With Raekwon McMillan moving on to the NFL, Worley is going to move over to middle linebacker. Considering he is likely a little smaller than his listed numbers, Worley wouldn't be big enough for middle linebacker in the NFL and will probably have to play on the outside unless he is able to add weight.
CB - Denzel Ward (#5 CB), projected round: 1-3
9/16/17: Ward has six tackles with five passes broken up and an interception in 2017. In the season opener against Indiana, Ward notched an interception, four tackles and five passes broken up. He also was beaten for a touchdown and some other receptions by big Indiana receiver Simmie Cobbs Jr. Ward struggled with Cobbs' size, but was good at preventing separation. In the NFL, Ward might get placed as a nickelback.
9/1/17: There has been some hype about Ward, who is set to replace Marshon Lattimore/Gareon Conley this season. Ward totaled 23 tackles with nice passes broken up in 2016. While he has gotten a lot of hype suggesting he's as good as his former teammates, he's significantly smaller than them, so he will need to show that size is something he overcomes while taking over a starting spot for the Buckeyes.
S - Damon Webb (#9 S), projected round: 3-4
9/16/17: Webb has 15 tackles thus far this year.
7/24/17: Webb broke into the starting lineup for Ohio State in 2016 and had a solid season as the strong safety next to Malik Hooker. Webb totaled 57 tackles with three passes broken up and one interception on the season. It will be interesting to see if Webb can show the versatility to play free safety with Hooker in the NFL.
