Scarlet Sunrise: Ohio State sights and sounds from NFL rookie minicamps
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Ohio State sights and sounds from NFL rookie minicamps
NFL rookie minicamps are underway.
The newest Ohio State football alums are beginning their careers at the next level. It’s a group headlined by a trio of top-20 draft picks: quarterback C.J. Stroud (Houston Texans), offensive lineman Paris Johnson Jr. (Arizona Cardinals) and wide receiver Jaxon Smith-Njigba (Seattle Seahawks).
Stroud, the highest-drafted signal caller in Buckeyes history, is starting to learn about the Houston offense and some of his teammates he’ll be working with, including former Penn State center Juice Scruggs.
“When we start talking football, you can see why he was picked so high because his knowledge is crazy. … We had some crazy battles with Ohio State. Just to be able to meet him, how humble he is and how passionate he is about this game, I’m excited to work with him. I’m just trying to build that relationship and get that chemistry going.”
Houston Texans center Juice Scruggs, via HoustonTexans.com
Johnson, meanwhile, is preparing for everything but center. Although he started last season at left tackle for Ohio State, he doesn’t know where he’ll play for the Cardinals in 2023. First-year Cardinals head coach Jonathan Gannon isn’t assigning him a position yet and instead is preaching the importance of positional versatility.
It’s a concept that Johnson, who started the 2021 season at right guard for the Buckeyes, is quite familiar with.
“I feel like my role is to understand the scheme, and when I take the field, they tell me where to go and I do the best I can.”
Arizona Cardinals offensive lineman Paris Johnson Jr., via ArizonaCardinals.com
Smith-Njigba feels 100% and, as he demonstrated during the pre-draft process, has put his injury-riddled 2022 season behind him.
But the Seattle Seahawks are being careful with the former Buckeyes star. After all, hamstring issues are tricky, and it’s only rookie minicamp.
“We don’t want to go too far, too fast, there’s no reason at this point. They can still get all the learning done, there’s a lot of walkthrough plays in this process we go through, so they can get the learning and see what’s going on.”
Seattle Seahawks head coach Pete Carroll, via Seahawks.com
Seahawks.com senior reporter John Boyle reported that Smith-Njigba participated in some individual drills during the first day of camp. Except, he didn’t take part in team periods, according to Boyle.
That’s a synopsis of the latest on the Buckeyes’ first-round picks from this year’s draft. But here’s a quick look at Ohio State’s three other draftees. That includes a snap shot of former Ohio State center Luke Wypler and right tackle Dawand Jones posing together with the rest of the Cleveland Browns’ draft class.
Speaking of the Browns, undrafted free agent signing, and former Buckeyes safety, Tanner McCalister made an appearance on the team’s socials in an interception drill. McCalister, along with fellow former Ohio State safety Ronnie Hickman, is trying to make the Browns despite being a UDFA.
Rundown of Buckeyes in top 10 of PFF’s returning player position rankings
Position rankings and the offseason go hand-in-hand. It was only natural that Pro Football Focus stitched together a top-10 returning players list for every position this offseason.
Eight Ohio State players made the cut for their respective positions.
Wide receivers Marvin Harrison Jr. and Emeka Egbuka headline the bunch. They are No. 1 and No. 2 among wideouts back for the 2023, according to PFF. Both Harrison and Egbuka topped the 1,000-yard receiving mark last season. Harrison’s 14 touchdown catches were fourth nationally, and Egbuka posted five or more receptions in nine games.
To find out which other Buckeyes players PFF recognized, go here.
Progress Report: Evaluating Ohio State cornerbacks, safeties after spring practice
Lettermen Row is continuing its position-by-position “Progress Report” series with a look at where the Ohio State cornerbacks and safeties are at heading into the summer.
Both rooms added transfer portal pieces this summer. The Buckeyes brought in Ole Miss cornerback Davison Igbinosun, who started 10 games as a freshman for the Rebels last season. Igbinosun was the first of Ohio State’s transfers to shed his black stripe this spring. On the other hand, former Syracuse safety Ja’Had Carter, who started three seasons for the Orange before transferring this offseason, has yet to remove his black stripe. Carter, however, dealt with a knee injury during spring practice.
But there is more to Ohio State’s cornerbacks and safeties than the transfers who have joined the fold. For the full update on both position groups, go here (corners) and here (safeties).
Counting down
Buckeyes vs. Indiana: 113 days
Buckeyes vs. Michigan: 197 days
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