COLUMBUS, Ohio – The Ohio State football program will celebrate 48 former players, including at all nine offensive/defensive positions plus two specialists, on opening week National Football League rosters as the 2023 NFL season barrels into its first Sunday of games in two days. The campaign kicked off Thursday evening with the Detroit Lions defeating the Super Bowl champion Kansas City Chiefs, 21-20, at Arrowhead Stadium.
Leading the position groups of Buckeyes are 11 defensive linemen, including the longest tenured Buckeye in the NFL, Cam Heyward, who is in his 13th season with the Pittsburgh Steelers. Nine defensive backs, including five first-round NFL Draft picks, rank second among the position groups with offensive line and wide receiver tied for third with eight former Buckeyes apiece. All nine position groups – cornerbacks and safeties are combined under defensive backs – have at least two former Buckeyes represented.
Six former Buckeyes are team captains: Justin Fields (Chicago), Jordan Fuller (Los Angeles Rams), Cam Heyward (Pittsburgh), Sam Hubbard (Cincinnati), Terry McLaurin (Washington) and C.J. Stroud (Houston). Heyward is a nine-time captain while McLaurin is a four-time captain and Fields and Hubbard are each two-time honorees.
Buckeyes in the NFL
By Team
Atlanta Falcons
DE Zach Harrison
LS Liam McCullough
CB Jeff Okudah
Baltimore Ravens
RB J.K. Dobbins
LB Malik Harrison
Carolina Panthers
SAF Vonn Bell
Chicago Bears
QB Justin Fields (Captain)
Cincinnati Bengals
DE Sam Hubbard (Captain)
Cleveland Browns
SAF Ronnie Hickman (Rookie)
OT Dawand Jones (R)
CB Denzel Ward
C Luke Wypler (R)
Dallas Cowboys
DT Johnathan Hankins
SAF Malik Hooker
Denver Broncos
OLB Jonathan Cooper
Detroit Lions
OT Taylor Decker
OG Jonah Jackson
Green Bay Packers
C Josh Myers
Houston Texans
WR Noah Brown
P Cameron Johnston
QB C.J. Stroud (R; Captain)
Indianapolis Colts
DE Tyquan Lewis
Jacksonville Jaguars
TE Luke Farrell
DT DaVon Hamilton
Los Angeles Chargers
DE Joey Bosa
C Corey Linsley
Los Angeles Rams
SAF Jordan Fuller (Captain)
Miami Dolphins
CB Eli Apple
LB Jerome Baker
New England Patriots
RB Ezekiel Elliott
CB Shaun Wade
OT Thayer Munford
New Orleans Saints
CB Marshon Lattimore
WR Chris Olave
WR Michael Thomas
LB Pete Werner
New York Giants
WR Parris Campbell
New York Jets
TE Jeremy Ruckert
WR Garrett Wilson
Phoenix Cardinals
OT Paris Johnson Jr. (R)
Pittsburgh Steelers
DT Cam Heyward (Captain)
Seattle Seahawks
DT Dre’Mont Jones
OLB Tyreke Smith
WR Jaxon Smith-Njigba (R)
San Francisco 49ers
DE Nick Bosa
Washington Commanders
WR Terry McLaurin (Captain)
WR Curtis Samuel
DE Chase Young
Buckeyes in the NFL
By Position
Defensive Line (11)
Zach Harrison, Atlanta
Sam Hubbard, Cincinnati
Johnathan Hankins, Dallas
Tyquan Lewis, Indianapolis
DaVon Hamilton, Jacksonville
Joey Bosa, Los Angeles Chargers
Cam Heyward, Pittsburgh
Nick Bosa, San Francisco
Dre’Mont Jones, Seattle
Tyreke Smith, Seattle
Chase Young, Washington
Linebacker (4)
Malik Harrison, Baltimore
Jonathan Cooper, Denver
Jerome Baker, Miami
Pete Werner, New Orleans
Defensive Backs (9)
Jeff Okudah, Atlanta
Vonn Bell, Carolina
Ronnie Hickman, Cleveland
Denzel Ward, Cleveland
Malik Hooker, Dallas
Jordan Fuller, Los Angeles Rams
Eli Apple, Miami
Shaun Wade, New England
Marshan Lattimore, New Orleans
Quarterback (2)
Justin Fields, Chicago
C.J. Stroud, Houston
Running Back (2)
J.K. Dobbins, Baltimore
Ezekiel Elliott, New England
Offensive Line (8)
Dawand Jones, Cleveland
Luke Wypler, Cleveland
Taylor Decker, Detroit
Jonah Jackson, Detroit
Josh Myers, Green Bay
Corey Linsley, Los Angeles Chargers
Thayer Munford, New England
Parris Johnson Jr., Phoenix
Wide Receivers (8)
Noah Brown, Houston
Chris Olave, New Orleans
Michael Thomas, New Orleans
Parris Campbell, New York Giants
Garrett Wilson, New York Jets
Jaxon Smith-Njigba, Seattle
Terry McLaurin, Washington
Curtis Samuel, Washington
Tight End (2)
Luke Farrell, Jacksonville
Jeremy Ruckert, New York Jets
Specialists (2)
LS Liam McCullough, Atlanta
P Cameron Johnston, Houston
Ohio State Football Official Press Release
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