Ohio State Buckeyes
2020 NFL Draft Prospects
Damon Arnette, CB
Career Snapshot: Three-year starter who earned Second Team All-Big Ten honors and made 35 tackles with one interception and eight pass breakups as a senior in 2019. Named Honorable Mention All-Big Ten and made 40 tackles with one interception and six PBUs as a junior. Set career highs with 44 tackles and two INTs as a sophomore.
Positives: Terrific cornerback with a complete game and underrated ability. Engages receivers at the line of scrimmage, mixes it up through the route, and stays on opponents’ hips downfield. Gets his head back around extremely well to locate the pass in the air, displays terrific awareness and shows a closing burst of speed. Fluid in his backpedal, quickly flips his hips in transition and bursts to the ball out of his plant. Possesses solid overall ball skills. Tough run defender who gives great effort and squares into tackles.
Negatives: Gets a bit grabby at times. May struggle to handle a complex defense. Ran poorly during the Combine and deep speed may be an issue.
Analysis: Though overshadowed by some of his teammates, Arnette is a terrific cornerback with legitimate starting potential at the next level. He needs to polish some of the rough edges of his game, but he possesses the underlying physical skills and football ability to make an impact as a rookie in the NFL.
Branden Bowen, OT
Career Snapshot: First-year starter at right tackle who earned Second Team All-Big Ten honors as a senior in 2019. Earned the starting job at right guard before the 2017 campaign and broke his right leg six games into the season. Missed the entire 2018 season after he required a third surgery on his leg.
Positives: Big-bodied college tackle who displays terrific vision and overall instincts, squares into opponents and easily takes them from the action. Large enough to engulf defenders and smother them from the play altogether. Strong, effective with his hands and easily knocks pass rushers from their angles of attack. Showed ability in pass protection at left tackle during Shrine Bowl practices.
Negatives: Average athleticism and upside. Minimally effective in motion and lumbers around the field. Stiffness hurts his ability to finish blocks. Gets tall in pass protection and struggles with speed rushers.
Analysis: Entering the season, Bowen was a bit of a non-entity and wasn’t graded by scouts. He’s a big-bodied developmental right tackle who offers potential as a backup at the next level.
Jashon Cornell, DT
Career Snapshot: First-year starter who was named Honorable Mention All-Big Ten and made 30 tackles (6.5 for loss) with four sacks as a senior in 2019. Combined to make 29 tackles (5.5 for loss) with three sacks during his sophomore and junior seasons.
Positives: Quick, explosive three-technique prospect who comes off a terrific season. Flashes athleticism and displays the ability to get down the line of scrimmage and make plays in pursuit. Plays with leverage, works his hands throughout the action and gets the most from his ability. Shows great quickness and the ability to make plays in any direction.
Negatives: Lacks bulk. Easily outpositioned from the action by opponents. Did not move into the starting lineup until his senior season. Marginally productive.
Analysis: Cornell comes off a terrific senior season after he was not even graded by scouts coming into the year and performed well as a starter. He must get bigger, but his quickness, ability to change direction and movement skills lend well to the three-technique tackle spot at the next level.
J.K. Dobbins, RB
Career Snapshot: Three-year starter who earned Second Team All-America honors, tied for the Big Ten lead with 2,003 rushing yards and 21 rushing touchdowns and caught 23 passes for 247 yards and two touchdowns as a junior in 2019. Named Second Team All-Big Ten in both 2017 and 2018, when he combined to rush 424 times for 2,456 yards and 17 touchdowns and catch 48 passes for 398 yards and three TDs.
Positives: Skilled ball carrier who stands out in every aspect of his position. Displays great patience, waits for blocks to develop and effectively uses them everywhere on the field. Displays outstanding short-area quickness, makes defenders miss and squeezes through the small openings of the defense. Runs with outstanding vision and instincts, keeps his feet moving and tries to get as much yardage from each carry as possible. Shows a sixth sense of what’s happening on the field. Quickly cuts back against the grain and immediately gets back to top speed. Sells pass routes extremely well, settles into the underneath coverage to make himself an available target and consistently catches the ball with his hands. Tremendous blocker who gives effort and gets results.
Negatives: More of a one-speed back who lacks great burst and top-end speed. Shows some hesitation and has to gather himself into cuts. Won’t consistently pick up much yardage off initial contact or move the pile.
Analysis: Dobbins won’t wow anybody with a super-fast 40 time, but he’s a terrific running back who stands out in all areas of the position. He offers potential as a feature back at the next level as a runner and pass catcher, and his skills as a blocker provide added value.
Jordan Fuller, S
Career Snapshot: Three-year starter who was named First Team All-Big Ten and made 62 tackles with two interceptions and four pass breakups as a senior in 2019. Earned Third Team All-Big Ten honors and made 70 tackles (three for loss) with two interceptions and two PBUs as a sophomore in 2017. Named Honorable Mention All-Big Ten and posted 81 tackles (2.5 for loss), one interception and four pass breakups in 2018.
Positives: Tough, instinctive safety who works hard and always tries to make positive plays. Tracks the pass in the air, displays timing on pass defenses and gets vertical to break up the throw. Works well with cornerbacks to bracket receivers over the middle of the field and out to the flanks. Keeps the action in front of him. Strong run defender, wraps up tackling and brings opponents down at the point of attack.
Negatives: Minimal speed and athleticism. Often a half-step late to the play. Average burst out of his plant to close to the action.
Analysis: Fuller has been a consistent safety for Ohio State, but he has physical and athletic limitations. Despite this, he’s tough and instinctive and offers possibilities in a zone system that reduces his area assignments.
Davon Hamilton, DT
Career Snapshot: First-year starter who earned Third Team All-Big Ten honors and made 28 tackles (10.5 for loss) with six sacks as a senior in 2019. Combined to make 38 tackles (10.5 for loss) with one sack as a rotational lineman his first three seasons at Ohio State.
Positives: Strong, wide-bodied nose tackle who comes off a terrific senior campaign. Quick, explosive and plays with consistent leverage. Uses his hands effectively to protect himself. Resilient, stays with the action and works hard to make plays. Flashes the ability to move laterally, gets down the line of scrimmage and gives effort against the run. Possesses a terrific first step and fires through the open gaps to penetrate the line of scrimmage.
Negatives: Controlled at the point by a single blocker too often. Turned in average production for the Buckeyes despite his tackle-for-loss numbers in 2019.
Analysis: Hamilton is a hard-working, wide-bodied defensive lineman who offers potential as a nose tackle or as a zero-technique. More of a gap occupier, he’s the type of lineman whose positive play does not always show up on the stat sheet.
Malik Harrison, ILB
Career Snapshot: Two-year starter who earned Third Team All-America honors and made 75 tackles (16.5 for loss) with 4.5 sacks and four pass breakups as a senior in 2019. Named Honorable Mention All-Big Ten and made 81 tackles (8.5 for loss) with 2.5 sacks and four PBUs as a junior.
Positives: One-time highly rated linebacker best up the field or in the box. Aggressive, fires up the field and drives through tackles. Very quick and nicely redirects to the ball carrier. Stout tackler who brings opponents down at the point of attack. Possesses an explosive closing burst, plays with violence and blows through blocks to make plays behind the line of scrimmage. Effectively uses his hands to disengage from opponents. Rarely off his feet.
Negatives: Doesn’t get much depth on pass drops. Average instincts. Overruns plays at times. Inefficient and does not always take proper angles to the action.
Analysis: Harrison has limitations, but he’s a very sudden defender who stands out against the run. More of a two-down linebacker, he’s a scheme-specific player who can stand out at the next level if properly coached.
K.J. Hill, WR
Career Snapshot: First-year starter who was named Honorable Mention All-Big Ten in each of his final three seasons at Ohio State. Set career highs with 68 receptions and 865 receiving yards and caught six touchdown passes as a junior in 2018. Made 57 catches for 636 yards and a career-best 10 touchdowns in 2019. Caught 56 passes for 549 yards and three TDs as a sophomore.
Positives: Talented receiver who quickly releases off the line of scrimmage, displays a burst of speed and plays much faster than his 40 time. Shows good agility, nicely adjusts to the errant throw and competes to come away with the reception. Easily makes the catch in stride, keeps the play in bounds and works to pick up positive yardage. Turned in a terrific week of Senior Bowl practice.
Negatives: Average size and speed. Disappointed as a senior. Let passes into his body, which leads to dropped passes. Takes his eyes off the ball and loses focus and concentration. Doesn’t come back to the quarterback as often as he should. Often waits around for the pass to arrive. Rounded off routes in college.
Analysis: Hill entered the season with mid-round grades and absolutely helped himself during Senior Bowl practices, but he is a bit of a risk. He possesses average size and speed and showed a lot of flaws during the 2019 season, but if Hill is able to improve on his performance from Mobile, he could be a No. 3 receiver at the next level.
Jonah Jackson, G
Career Snapshot: Graduate transfer from Rutgers who started one season with the Scarlet Knights before he joined Ohio State and started his lone season with the Buckeyes. Earned Third Team All-America honors as a senior in 2019. Named Honorable Mention All-Big Ten as a junior. Started five games in 2017 before he was sidelined by an undisclosed injury.
Positives: Large, intelligent blocker who is best in a small area. Mostly blocks with proper leverage and pad level and stays square. Strong, controls opponents at the point of attack, and keeps his head on a swivel. Sets with an incredibly wide base, quickly gets into blocks and easily handles one-on-one assignments. Very effective with his hands, jolts defenders with an explosive punch and works blocks.
Negatives: Cannot slide in space and displays limited range. Stiff and struggles to pick up stunts and blitzes. Ineffective in motion.
Analysis: Jackson made a wise choice to transfer from Rutgers to Ohio State, as he watched his draft stock take off last season. He has athletic and agility limitations, but Jackson could be an effective backup and eventually develop into a starter in the proper system.
Robert Landers, DT
Career Snapshot: One-year starter who was named Honorable Mention All-Big Ten in each of his final two seasons at Ohio State. Made 14 tackles (six for loss) as a senior in 2019. Made 25 tackles (five for loss) as a junior.
Positives: Slightly undersized three-technique tackle who fires off the snap with an explosive first step, plays with terrific pad level and makes opponents play back on their heels. Fights with his hands, moves well about the field and displays the ability to redirect to the action. Keeps his feet moving and works hard.
Negatives: Showed limited development the past two seasons. Undersized, lacks bulk and gets easily controlled at the point by a single opponent. Comes off a poor senior season when he struggled to see playing time.
Analysis: Landers looked as though he would be the next top defensive lineman from the Buckeyes program as a sophomore, but he never elevated his game. In spite of this, he’s a quick and explosive three-technique tackle who looks like he’s been shot out of a cannon off the snap. Landers must improve his strength at the point of attack, but his movement skills, overall quickness, and ability to consistently play with leverage gives him an upper hand.
Austin Mack, WR
Career Snapshot: Rotational receiver who set career highs with 27 receptions, 361 receiving yards and three touchdown catches as a senior in 2019. Caught 26 passes for 331 yards and one TD as a junior before he was sidelined by a foot injury. Made 24 catches for 343 yards and two touchdowns as a sophomore.
Positives: Nice-sized receiver who tracks the pass in the air, displays focus and concentration and gets vertical to win out for the contested throw. Lays out to make the difficult catch and shows the ability to come away with acrobatic receptions on occasion. Makes the over-the-shoulder reception at full speed. Effective downfield blocker.
Negatives: Lets passes into his body too often. Displays average hand-eye coordination. Shows marginal speed and quickness. Never really improved the past three years.
Analysis: Mack is a physically impressive receiver who entered the season with mid-round grades from NFL scouts, but he failed to live up to expectations. He needs to display more consistency on the field and improve his production to have any chance to make an active roster.
Jeffrey Okudah, CB
Career Snapshot: Two-year starter who earned First Team All-America honors and made 35 tackles with three interceptions and nine pass breakups as a junior in 2019. Made 32 tackles with eight PBUs as a sophomore.
Positives: Terrific shutdown cornerback who has displayed consistent improvement the past two seasons. Physical defensive back who plays heads-up football and shows good awareness. Agile, flexible and easily changes direction and redirects to the play. Quickly flips his hips in transition off the line, fluidly moves in reverse, and stays on the receiver’s hip out of breaks. Keeps the action in front of him, displays an explosive burst to the ball, and quickly closes to the action. Makes opposing quarterbacks throw away from him. Gives a lot of effort on against the run and fires up the field to make plays.
Negatives: Must improve his balance. Not a secure tackler. Slow to cover receivers on crossing patterns and tends to play catch-up on occasion.
Analysis: Okudah possesses the size, skill, and overall awareness to develop into a starting cornerback at the next level. He shows a great feel for coverage and has great upside, which will make him an early pick in April’s draft.
Binjimen Victor, WR
Career Snapshot: First-year starter who set career highs with 34 receptions and 545 receiving yards and caught six touchdown passes as a senior in 2019. Caught 23 passes for 349 yards and a career-best seven TDs as a sophomore in 2017.
Positives: Tall, game-controlling receiver who has flashed ability as a top red-zone target. Quickly releases off the line of scrimmage, displays a short burst and immediately gets to top speed. Gets vertical and adjusts or contorts to grab the errant throw from the air. Comes back to the ball and uses his frame to shield away defenders. Effective when he extends his hands to make the reception away from his frame. Sells routes and extends or lays out for the difficult catch. Keeps the play in bounds and tries to pick up as much yardage as possible.
Negatives: Loses focus and concentration and often lets catchable throws slip through his hands. One-speed wideout who lacks a second gear. Average production at Ohio State.
Analysis: Victor possesses the size and has shown enough pass-catching skill to get consideration as a fifth receiver at the next level, but he must learn to do the little things well and be more consistent as a pass catcher.
Chase Young, DE
Career Snapshot: Two-year starter who earned First Team All-America honors, led the nation with 16.5 sacks and made 46 tackles (21 for loss), forced six fumbles and broke up three passes as a junior in 2019. Named Second Team All-Big Ten and made 33 tackles (14.5 for loss) with 9.5 sacks and five pass breakups as a sophomore. Suspended two games for a violation of NCAA rules in 2019 as a result of a loan he took from a family friend who was an agent.
Positives: Game-impacting defensive end with huge upside. Fires off the snap with a tremendous first step and plays with balance and body control. Impossible to knock off his feet. Nicely redirects to the action, immediately alters his angle of attack and displays speed to every area of the field. Effectively uses his hands to protect himself, displays a variety of moves to get off blocks, and quickly gets out into space to make the play. Easily bends off the edge, shows an explosive closing burst and can flatten his angle of pursuit and chase from the back side. Gives effort against the run and flashes the ability to split double-team blocks.
Negatives: Was a non-factor late in the 2019 season, including the semifinal playoff game against Clemson. Lacks bulk and struggles to get off blocks once engaged at the point. Can be slow to regain his balance off the initial hit. May struggle to defend the run at the next level.
Analysis: Young is an explosive athlete who showed terrific development as a pass rusher the past two years. He offers rare quickness and explosiveness and the ability to make plays in every direction of the field if focused on the task at hand, Young should develop into a complete player as he physically matures and adds strength to his frame.
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