Buckeyes 'Big Winners' on Recruiting Trail After NFL Draft
When it comes to putting players in the NFL there are few schools in college football that do it at a better rate than the Ohio State Buckeyes - especially at the receiver position.
Once again the Buckeyes had a receiver drafted in the first round, with Jaxon Smith-Njigba going No. 20 overall to the Seattle Seahawks. With the Buckeyes continuing to churn out first-round receivers, Steve Wiltfong of 247Sports detailed the impact Brian Hartline has had in the process.
"It's clear that C.J. Stroud (a former Top247 five-star) made history, but the trend to me is the burgeoning pitch for offensive coordinator/receivers coach Brian Hartline," Wiltfong wrote. "Last year we saw Garrett Wilson, Chris Olave and (former Buckeye turned Crimson Tider) Jameson Williams all go in the first round."
"Terry McLaurin and Parris Campbell are two others Hartline has helped develop with Marvin Harrison Jr. and Emeka Egbuka looking like the next two future first-rounders."
Yes, having elite first-round quarterbacks in Justin Fields and C.J. Stroud helps in terms of receiver success, but it cannot be understated how good of a job Hartline has done in helping develop receivers such as Garrett Wilson, Chris Olave and Jaxon Smith-Njigba.
It doesn't stop there for the Buckeyes, either, as Wiltfong pointed out Marvin Harrison Jr. and Emeka Egbuka are both likely to be first-round picks. Harrison will be especially sought after in the 2024 draft with most mocks listing him as a potential top-five pick.
Hartline and the Buckeyes have definitely made their case to be considered "WRU" and will do so once again next season. Not only will churning out first-round picks help the Buckeyes win games, but it will also help them continue to land elite recruits cycle after cycle.
You can find Connor Zimmerlee on Twitter @Connorjz98
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