Ohio State Pro Day: Live Blog as former Buckeyes showcase skills for NFL
COLUMBUS — Ohio State is hosting its annual Pro Day on Wednesday in the Woody Hayes Athletic Center. A total of 14 former Buckeyes players participating in the pre-draft showcase on campus.
The full list:
- QB C.J. Stroud
- WR Jaxon Smith-Njigba
- OT Paris Johnson Jr.
- OT Dawand Jones
- C Luke Wypler
- S Ronnie Hickman
- DE Zach Harrison
- CB Cameron Brown
- DT Jerron Cage
- LB Palaie Gaoteote IV
- S Tanner McCalister
- DT Taron Vincent
- LS Brad Robinson
- FB/TE Mitch Rossi
In addition to those former 14 Ohio State players — only some of whom will participate in drills — there are two additional participants scheduled to work out in front of NFL personnel in the Woody:
- DB Kellen Gerenstein (played for Ohio State’s national champion club football team)
- RB Allen Smith (played for Brown University and is a Westerville, Ohio, native)
LIVE UPDATES: Ohio State Pro Day
4:30 p.m. — Measurements and results are in. You can check them out here.
1:45 p.m. — Ah yes, what we’ve all been waiting for: Quarterback C.J. Stroud’s throwing session. Stroud looked great, just as he did at the NFL Combine. And wide receiver Jaxon Smith-Njigba flashed his elusive route-running ability, too. Stroud’s misses were few and far between. His zip on the ball stood out, and his timing with his receivers was seamless.
1:10 p.m. — Defensive end Zach Harrison goes through his bag and pass rushing drills. Harrison showcases his length here. Remember, he registered the longest arm length of any defensive lineman at the NFL Combine since 2014 last month.
12:55 p.m. — Center Luke Wypler and offensive tackle Paris Johnson Jr. run through their field drills.
12:20 p.m. — Defensive tackle Jerron Cage, safety Tanner McCalister, fullback/tight end Mitch Rossi, defensive tackle Taron Vincent, wide receiver Jaxon Smith-Njigba, cornerback Cameron Brown and linebacker Palaie Gaoteote IV ran the 40-yard dash.
Smith-Njigba’s second 40 time was reportedly faster than his first. Some stop watches had Smith-Njigba in the 4.4s.
12:05 p.m. — Long snapper Bradley Robinson, who spent seven years with program but suffered a midseason injury in 2022, gets his reps in.
11:33 a.m. — Defensive end Zach Harrison reportedly registers a 34.5-inch vertical.
8:30 a.m. — The numbers are out for NFL personnel at Ohio State Pro Day. It’s quite impressive.
EXPECTED NFL PERSONNEL at Ohio State Pro Day
Buckeyes current players getting early taste of Pro Day
From Lettermen Row’s Andy Backstrom:
This time next year, Marvin Harrison Jr. could easily be a projected top-five pick in the 2024 NFL Draft. The Ohio State Biletnikoff Award finalist wide receiver is already getting a sneak peak of that pre-draft experience Wednesday. Harrison headlines a group of current Buckeyes receivers who will be helping out former Ohio State quarterback C.J. Stroud with Pro Day at the Woody Hayes Athletic Center.
Harrison will be accompanied by fellow junior Jayden Ballard, graduate Xavier Johnson and possibly even senior tight end Cade Stover, according to head coach Ryan Day. Harrison, Ballard and Johnson were catching passes from Stroud in the Woody after Tuesday’s practice, the third of spring ball and the first back since Ohio State spring break.
“Kind of what we’ve done in the past,” Day said. “I believe Garrett [Wilson] and Chris [Olave] and maybe even Jaxon [Smith-Njigba] helped out with Justin [Fields] a couple years ago. And then C.J. helped out with the guys last year. And maybe even, I think Cade [Stover] might be catching some passes for him, working out at tight end. I think it just allows them the opportunity to get a feel for what that’s like.
“Sometimes it can be kind of awkward just kind of being out there and running routes and catching. But just relaxing, getting a feel for it — so when they do it next year, it won’t be the first time.”
