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Can Ohio State tie or break the single draft first round record?

Who knows?

Mark J. Rebilas-USA TODAY Sports

It has become a bit of a running joke on GGN recently that the Jets are going to take the BOSAP, or "Best Ohio State Player Available", after the mock drafters around the internet have projected numerous prospects from Ohio State to the Jets with their first round pick. Ohio State was one of the more NFL-prospect stacked teams in recent memory and figure to have several first rounders.

Right now, the current record for most first rounders from a school in a single draft is held by Miami (FL), who had six first round picks in the 2004 draft. Those guys were

  • Sean Taylor
  • Kellen Winslow Jr.
  • Jonathan Vilma (taken by our Jets)
  • DJ Williams
  • Vernon Carey
  • Vince Wilfork

The closest anyone since has come to tying it was Ohio State in 2006, when AJ Hawk, Nick Mangold, Bobby Carpenter, Santonio Holmes, and Donte Whitner were all taken first round. Does this year's Buckeyes have what it takes to make some history? Let's take a look at some of the prospects. These will be quick blurbs, hardly comprehensive.

Joey Bosa

Joey Bosa is a lock to go in the first round. He's a strong, quick, athletic pass rusher with a motor and very good production. He'll likely be gone within the top 10 picks.

Taylor Decker

Decker is one of the mock drafters favorite Jets targets. He doesn't have the best feet for a left tackle, but he has a long frame with long arms and great height, and packs some power with that punch. He's likely going to be a first round pick, and could be a Jets option at 20.

Ezekiel Elliott

The draft's best running back, he can literally do it all. He runs with power, he has long speed, he has good vision, he's elusive, he gets yards after contact, he's a decent pass catcher and one of the best pass protection backs to come out of the college ranks in a long time. If it was 10 years ago, Elliott may very well be a top 5 pick in this draft, but the running back position has been devalued and the last back taken that high was a total bust (Trent Richardson). That said, Elliott is almost assuredly going to have his name heard sometime on the first day of the draft.

Darron Lee

Darron Lee has gained a lot of steam recently, especially after watching the rebirth of the linebacker by the two teams in the Super Bowl. Lee fits the mold of the new age linebacker as a guy who is fluid in space and able to cover a lot of ground with his speed. He's a raw player, having only played 2 years of college football as a linebacker, but he has grown quickly and looks like his could continue that growth. I suspect he's going to be taken in the first round because of his potential.

Michael Thomas

Michael Thomas is generally regarded as the next guy on the Ohio State list. He's certainly a quality prospect- he has ideal outside WR size at 6-3, 210, and he's a polished route runner with strong hands. He may remind some people, especially here in Jet land, of a receiver who is his uncle, Keyshawn Johnson. He lacks the ability to create separation with his speed and doesn't have the type of verticality to be open on every play like a Marshall or a Megatron, but he's an ideal fit as an outside possession #2 receiver. He's a fringe first round prospect and could sneak in late in the round, especially with a WR picture that's really murky.

Eli Apple

Much like WR, the cornerback rankings are very fluid. Behind Jalen Ramsey, who may be a safety instead of a corner, and Vernon Hargreaves, Apple has as much chance as anyone to be that third corner off the board. Apple is a long, physical athlete with quick feet, and he is aggressive at attacking the ball when it's in the air. Me personally, I think Apple is a guy who the Jets should keep an eye on and see how his workouts go. He's a potential riser.

Braxton Miller

The draft's true wild card. Braxton Miller certainly has first round athleticism. The guy is a phenomenal athlete and very explosive with the ball in his hands. The problem is that he doesn't have a true position. After years of playing quarterback, Miller moved to WR as a senior and looks to be one in the NFL, as well as a weapon on special teams and perhaps out the backfield as well. A creative offensive coordinator that gets his hands on Braxton Miller will have a hell of a toy to play with, but is any team going to invest a first round pick into Miller? It's been 11 years since the Jaguars used the 21st pick of the draft on Matt Jones, the 6-6 college QB with 4.37 speed who failed to make any NFL impact. However, Braxton Miller did play a year at WR, and at the Senior Bowl looked like he belonged there. I think it's possible he goes in the first round, but this one is a total ???

Joshua Perry

A thumper, Perry was an extremely productive tackle machine, notching over 100 tackles in each of the past two seasons as OSU's strongside linebacker. He's big at 6-4 255, and has a thumper's mentality to come downhill and stop the run, he almost NEVER misses tackles, and he's also a guy who can nab you a couple of sacks when he blitzes. That said, he seems to be a bit of a dying breed, and is a real stretch to project as a first round pick. Still, a guy with 3 down potential as a linebacker cannot be overlooked. I think it's more likely he's gone in the 40s or 50s, though.

What do you guys think? How many Ohio State players will have their names called in the first round? Can they match the 6 by Miami? And will any of them be selected by the Jets?