OC Brian Hartline Says Buckeyes Have 3 First Round Picks in 2024 NFL Draft

After producing likely another top-10 draft pick in receiver Jaxon Smith-Njigba, Hartline has confidence still in his current receivers and their NFL potential.

Author:
Matt Guzman
Feb 5, 2023 10:40 AM EST

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Ohio State Buckeyes

Ohio State has confidence.

More specifically, Buckeyes offensive coordinator Brian Hartline has confidence.

In a recent tweet, Hartline replied to a user asking about Ohio State receiver Emeka Egbuka, and what he would have to do to become a first-round draft pick after next season, stating that Egbuka — along with two other unnamed players — were already going to be “first-rounders”.

Egbuka had himself a year in 2022, amassing 1,151 yards and 10 touchdowns, and is no doubt looking to do it again in his third year, alongside another returning star receiver in Marvin Harrison Jr., who finished just above Egbuka with 1,263 yards and 14 touchdowns.

The wide receiver duo has caught the attention of the media, and other football programs who will have to plan their defenses accordingly — some even calling Egbuka and Harrison Jr the best receiving duo in the country.

For Hartline, those two going in the first round of the NFL draft next season is a no-brainer. But a little more unknown is the third receiver he sees as a future first-rounder.

Third in receiving behind Egbuka and Harrison Jr. is rising senior Julian Fleming. He finished the year with 533 yards and six touchdowns, making him a vital part of the Buckeyes' receiving corps. And with another offseason to prepare and work with Hartline, he very well may be the third first-rounder that Hartline sees in his group.

Hartline’s claim is not totally outlandish, either. Since 2000, Ohio State has produced 153 NFL draft picks — more than Alabama — to lead the nation in that category, with 87 of them coming in the first round, also a first-place statistic.

Most recently for Hartline were back-to-back first-rounders in receiving duo Garrett Wilson and Chris Olave, who went pick No. 10 and 11 in the 2022 draft, as well as star receiver Jaxon Smith-Njigba, who is projected to go in the top 10 of this year’s draft.

So, producing first-round receivers is nothing new for Hartline or the Buckeyes. The only question that remains is who and how many more he will produce during an upcoming season with already-high expectations as Ohio State continues to search for its first national title under Hartline and coach Ryan Day.