Ohio State safety Josh Proctor to play in Senior Bowl

COLUMBUS — As soon as Josh Proctor announced he was returning to Ohio State ahead of last season, there was no question if he’d be turning to the NFL Draft in 2024. He had to.

This season, Proctor was one of three Buckeyes players using a sixth and final year of eligibility.

That sixth year just so happened to be his best in scarlet and gray, and now he’s heading to the 2024 Reese’s Senior Bowl with that momentum.

Proctor became the second Ohio State player to accept an invitation to the Feb. 3 pre-draft all-star game in Mobile, Alabama. He joins fifth-year linebacker and two-time Buckeyes captain Tommy Eichenberg.

Proctor started for Ohio State this season after winning an offseason competition at free safety and, most notably, swung two of his 10 games played. Proctor delivered the only Buckeyes first-half touchdown against Maryland in Week 6 when he stepped in front of a pass, picked off Terps quarterback Taulia Tagovailoa and returned it 24 yards to the house.

That interception gave Ohio State — which was trailing then-undefeated Maryland, 10-0 — much-needed life in what ended up being a 20-point Buckeyes victory.

“Proc’s always been good. I think he’s always had it together,” tight end Cade Stover said after the 37-17 win over the Terps. “I just think he’s now getting an opportunity to be great, and that’s what he’s doing.”

Proctor finished the day with seven total tackles, including 1.5 tackles for loss. That half TFL was on a goal line stop that forced a Maryland field goal and prevented the Terps from going up 14-0.

“I just called him out in our little get together there in the locker room because I think he’s the best version of himself right now,” Buckeyes head coach Ryan Day said at the time. “Guy’s been through a lot of ups and downs, injuries, things like that, and he’s playing his best football.”

Day continued: “You can’t substitute experience and maturity. And I’m proud that he’s playing like he is, but he’s got to continue to stay on that discipline. Because you can see the talent’s out there.”

Proctor followed through, maintaining his level of play throughout the 2023 season. The Owasso, Oklahoma, native recorded a career-high 552 defensive snaps, 41 total tackles, 29 solo tackles, 4.0 TFLs and eight passes defended. Proctor allowed just 14 receptions for 136 yards on 29 targets and didn’t give up a touchdown all year.

He missed only one outing the rest of the way, too, and that was because of his second truly game-changing play of his resurgent sixth season.

Proctor’s quick thinking at Rutgers in Week 10 allowed him to track a pass to a leaked out Kyle Monangai. His hit on the Scarlet Knights running back — and subsequent deflection — set the stage for a 93-yard pick-six from Buckeyes cornerback Jordan Hancock.

Rutgers was ahead, 9-7, and driving to start the second half. But, just like that, Ohio State was in the lead, 14-9. And, as was the case against Maryland the month prior, Proctor was the catalyst for a Buckeyes turnaround, this one resulting in a 35-16 road victory.

Proctor finally lived up to his top 100 prospect ranking from 2018. It just took him a while to get there.

Potential was never the issue for the 6-foot-2, 205-pound safety who was a two-way standout in high school and recruited by Ohio State during Urban Meyer’s tenure.

Proctor — the No. 80 overall prospect in the 2018 class, according to the On3 Industry Ranking — appeared in nine games as a true freshman. Most of his snaps came on special teams, but he did make his defensive debut, albeit in a brief three snaps against Tulane and Michigan State.

He saw an uptick in playing time as a sophomore. In fact, Proctor logged 129 defensive snaps, according to Pro Football Focus, plus 13 total tackles. It was also the first of two straight seasons where he picked off a pass.

After backing up future Los Angeles Rams safety Jordan Fuller his first two seasons in Columbus, Proctor got the starting nod in 2020. He played north of 70 defensive snaps in the Big Ten title game and in each of Ohio State’s College Football Playoff games.

The following year, however, Proctor suffered a season-ending leg injury two games in. Then he returned to the starting lineup last season only to quickly lose his spot to Lathan Ransom. Proctor managed to finish 2022 with a career-high 21 total tackles in a mostly rotational role.

His sixth year was his final chance to truly break out. He did just that.